Becoming a Foreign Exchange Student: Guide

There is a big world out there, full of places to visit and people to meet! Maybe books or movies are your escape, but what if you could experience everything yourself?

By becoming an exchange student, you get to learn more about a country, its people, language, culture, and traditions of a foreign country. And what better way to explore a country than by living with a native family? You will learn things you would never learn in a classroom, make connections that will last a lifetime, and have an experience you will never forget. 

If you're interested to know more, below we present our guide on how to become a foreign exchange student, including the best foreign exchange student programs from the state department.

What Is a Foreign Exchange Student?

First, what is an exchange student? A foreign exchange student is a high school or college student who moves to a foreign country to study through an exchange program. The word "exchange" refers to the other institution accepting that student, but it does not mean they have to send someone to the "exchanged" student's country. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs states that the meaning behind "exchange" is to exchange cultures and ideas rather than exchanging students or family members.

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Exchange students enroll in classes at a local high school or college and usually live with a host family. In other cases, they can live in an apartment or student lodging. Programs have various costs, depending on the country and institution. Students usually go for scholarships or fund the program by themselves.

The benefits of becoming an exchange student include the chance to experience a different country's culture and learn more about its history, make new friends and create lasting connections, learn new skills, and develop a global perspective. For example, exchange students in the U.S. are encouraged to have extracurricular activities to enrich their experience.

How to Become a Foreign Exchange Student

The process of becoming a foreign exchange student requires some research, organization, and planning. Start by researching programs and choosing a host country while considering aspects like your financial situation. Search for scholarships and prepare for your departure. The process is an easy one if you follow our guide below.

Prepare

This section refers to mentally preparing yourself to become an exchange student and considering a few aspects. Before you decide to embark on this journey, there are some questions you must answer: 

  • Are you ready to get out of your comfort zone to explore different cultures?

  • How long can you go without your family and friends?

  • Are you financially prepared to become an exchange student?

  • Is this the right time in your life to take such a decision? 

Being an exchange student can be challenging, and you need to be aware of it before applying for a program. Find exchange student stories online, or talk to people that were part of an exchange program. Talk to your parents and consider the financial aspect. Lastly, you can discuss with your guidance counselors at your school to check whether there will be a problem with transferring your grades or whether it will impact your graduation.

Research a program and choose a host country

After you've decided to become an exchange student, it's time to choose a host country and research a program. 

So, think about what country you would like to travel to, as there are various programs and destinations you can pick. While making your decision, research and ensure the country you choose is safe from civil wars, minority discrimination, etc., and has a proper health system.

Next, move on to researching study programs. You can choose from numerous programs, so do your research and select the one that fits you best. You can start by asking for recommendations from your school guidance counselors to learn more about what programs other students went for in the past. Search universities and programs online to get information about them. You can also check international university rankings.

Check the last section below for the state department's best foreign exchange student programs.

Provide language proficiency scores

Language requirements may vary depending on the program or country. But, unless your native language is English, you usually need to provide language proficiency scores. 

Providing language proficiency scores as part of an application process is usually done through tests such as the following: 

So, an important step is preparing for your test, as it will affect your application. 

Apply

After deciding on a program, it's time to prepare and submit your application. Applying to a foreign exchange program usually has deadlines months before semesters start. So if you intend to begin in the fall, you must submit your application by the end of April. On the other hand, spring semester deadlines are usually around the end of October.

Use an agency to begin your application process, and make sure you write the perfect exchange application. In addition, you will need to provide information about your family and home, background checks, etc.

Search for scholarships

Many students benefit from the scholarships offered by programs worldwide. So, when considering the financial part of becoming an exchange student, keep in mind to search for scholarships as they would be a huge help. Even if not full, a partial scholarship is better than none. However, apply for as many scholarships as you can so that you can choose what suits you best. 

As a student and visitor to a new country, you must also take care of travel costs and living expenses besides paying for college or university. In addition, think about all those souvenirs, visits, activities, etc. you will need to spend on. 

Prepare for your departure

After going through every step and having your application to become an exchange student accepted, there are a few things you need to take care of before you begin your journey.

Start by sorting your passport, visa, and other paperwork needed to book your flight. Next, get travel insurance, as it is crucial before your departure. If you have any ongoing medical condition, pay a visit to your home doctor. Furthermore, contact your host family so that you feel safer and more ready.

Your exchange agency can help you get organized by providing you with a checklist of things to do before your departure, or you can even check for one online. 

Best Foreign Exchange Student Programs From the State Department

There are many great exchange programs worldwide, some international and others regional. Generally, such programs are facilitated as partnerships between schools, whereas others take place outside school environments. To help with your search for a suitable exchange program, we have compiled a list of programs certified by the Council on Standards for International Student Exchange.

NorthWest Student Exchange AFS-USA

This excellent program was established as a non-profit organization in 1987 and since then continues to provide American and international students with exchange opportunities for full academic years, semesters, reciprocal, and summer programs. Some of the countries included in the program are Germany, France, Japan, Spain, and England.

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

The CIEE offers a myriad of different programs, including gap year programs, half and entire academic years, as well as short summer experiences. Their programs take place in countries such as Ireland, Spain, Norway, Chile, New Zealand, and Denmark.

International Student Exchange (ISE)

ISE offers exchange programs that last anywhere from three to twelve months, as well as cultural programs that can last one to eight weeks. They place students in various countries, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, and Italy.

American Scandinavian Student Exchange (ASSE)

Established in 1976, the ASSE offers students opportunities to travel to over 30 countries. Although the name suggests otherwise, many countries their exchange students travel to are not Scandinavian, like Argentina, Australia, China, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and many others.

The U.S. Department of State also offers various scholarships for U.S. citizens who want to study outside the States and non-U.S. citizens who would like to travel to and explore the U.S. Some of the scholarships they provide to U.S. citizens include:

Whereas some of the best scholarships for non-U.S. citizens are the following:

Conclusion

Becoming an exchange student, traveling to a different country, and studying there can help you develop professionally and personally. Being aware of different cultures and connecting with people from other countries is an excellent way to grow and learn more about the world.

If you are interested in the many benefits of an exchange program, follow our guide and try your luck with one of the many excellent exchange programs available. Remember, the world is your oyster.

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