Exchange year in New Zealand – attend high school abroad

With a high-quality education system, lots of different sports, and the opportunity to choose which subjects you will study, schools in New Zealand are a true point of pride. As an exchange student here, you will also get to see this spectacularly beautiful country, consisting of two main islands and numerous smaller islands, all with incredible natural scenery. The journey is long, but we promise it’s worth it.

Our exchange programs in New Zealand

High School Classic is the classic exchange program, which most of our students choose. You could end up anywhere in New Zealand, but if you’re looking for an adventure and are open to surprises during your year abroad, then this is the perfect exchange program for you.

With our High School Select program, you can have a customized high school exchange year that suits you perfectly. Write a list of what’s most important to you and we will help you find the right school. Our carefully selected schools might be located in cities like Auckland, Wellington or Dunedin, in the southern part of the country or out in the wild Westland.

In New Zealand, the school year is divided into four terms, but with our Classic program, you can be there for up to three terms. If you choose our Select program instead, you can stay for all four terms. To be a high school exchange student with STS, you must be between 15–18.5 years old when the exchange year begins.

How do you become an exchange student in New Zealand?

To be an exchange student in New Zealand, you need to have studied English for at least three years. Beyond that, all you have to do is follow the application process:

1. Submit an application. The application is non-binding.
2. Schedule a free and non-binding interview with us. You are also encouraged to attend a infomeeting to learn more about what a year abroad involves.
3. You will be offered a preliminary place in the program, see our contract, and pay the registration fee. After that, you pay for the year abroad as per the predetermined payment plan.
4. The application process begins. At this point, you will tell us about yourself, share your grades, undergo a medical exam and more. It’s also time to write a personal letter to your future host family and get signatures from your current school. We’re here for you with tips and advice!
5. Now there’s some waiting time as we await confirmation on admission to a school. Meanwhile, we will search for a suitable host family and you will also receive approval from the local school authorities.
6. Visa preparations begin. We will let you know when it is time to apply for a visa and provide instructions and the documents you need.
7. It is also time to attend our pre-departure orientation, where you will get more details on everything you need to know before your year abroad.
8. Time to go!

During your stay, we are available to you around the clock, 24/7! Detailed information on the application process can be found here. 

A limited number of spaces are available for exchange students in public schools, so secure your place today by submitting a free and non-binding notification of interest!

School in New Zealand

A high-quality school system, lots of different sports, and school uniforms that unite students and give them something to be proud of – that’s how we would sum up high school in New Zealand.

The education system in New Zealand has 13 academic years. The last five years constitute high school and as an exchange student, you will usually be in one of the higher years. If you are placed in the last year, you will also round out your year in New Zealand by attending a school ball. The ball is often seen as the event of the year and you’ll get to dress up to the nines for a night!

School usually begins at 8:40 am and ends around 3:20 pm. English, math and science are mandatory subjects at most high schools. To complete your schedule, you get to choose four or five additional subjects, known as electives. This is a great chance to study something that interests you and that might not be available at home!

We also offer an Outdoor Education Program, which is a great way to combine high-quality studies with extreme sports. Otherwise, practically every school in New Zealand also offers slightly more common sports. You could play rugby, netball, soccer or hockey.
New Zealand has both public and private schools, and sometimes schools for girls and schools for boys. We’ll find the best school for you.

What’s it like to be an exchange student in New Zealand? 

You’re going to have an exciting time at school – that much is for sure. Because New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere and the seasons are different than in Europe, schools have summer break in December. The school year begins again in January and as an exchange student, you can start in either January or July.

Get the real story! Read stories from our students who spent their year abroad in New Zealand.

What kinds of things can you do in your free time in New Zealand

The North Island has a warm climate and the South Island, closer to Antarctica, has fjords, ski slopes, and glaciers. The amazing thing about New Zealand is that you can go skiing on a volcano and bring your surfboard to catch the perfect wave down at the coast – all in one day! It’s truly a country of contrasts.

Do you like adventures? Maybe? New Zealand is a great place for you to boldly try something new, because the options are endless. There are tons of extreme sports, like skydiving, whitewater rafting, and bungee jumping – which actually originated in New Zealand. Of course, there are calmer activities too. Why not try golf, sailing, or swimming in hot springs?

If you’re a fan of New Zealander Peter Jackson’s Tolkien movies, like the magical world of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” then your stay in New Zealand definitely won’t disappoint. The beautiful and dramatic filming locations are real places that are perfect for an excursion when you’re not in school.

One fun fact about New Zealand: there are 15 times as many sheep as people in the country. Yup, you’ll see fuzzy sheep all over the place. There are sheep-related competitions – yes, that’s really true! There are herding competitions and sheep jumping competitions. You can even compete in sheep shearing! Shearing wool is harder than you might think. Take a chance and try something new – it’s a unique experience!

Extra trips during your year abroad in New Zealand

In New Zealand, you’ll have the chance to take a round trip to the North Island in April and the South Island in September/October. These round trips cost extra and the fee includes travel by bus, accommodation, most dinners and breakfasts, and extra activities. The round trip to the South Island is an 11-day adventure, during which you’ll get to experience the wild natural scenery and glaciers of New Zealand. You might even see whales or sea lions. The 11-day round trip to the North Island is also a fantastic adventure. We’ll visit Wellington, the country’s capital, as well as Auckland, its biggest city, and enjoy the lovely climate and beautiful coast. Contact us for more information!

How much does it cost to be an exchange student in New Zealand?

In addition to the program fees that you pay to STS, there are some expenses that you and your family are responsible for. That includes the costs of your visa, insurance, hygiene items, any trips you want to take, free-time activities, and pocket money. See the complete list of what is included and what costs extra.

How much money you need per month is individual and depends on what you want to do and your lifestyle. We recommend having at least USD 400 per month, as well as a buffer of about USD 800 so that you can rest assured in the event of any unexpected costs.

Your Kiwi family

New Zealanders are often called Kiwis. Our Kiwi host families live on both the South and North Islands. They usually live in the countryside or in smaller towns, but some also live in bigger cities.

There is no typical New Zealand family. Everyone is different, and might have younger children, teenagers, adult children or no kids at all. But one thing they all have in common is that they have been carefully selected and you are welcome in their homes.

Families in New Zealand spend a lot of time with friends and will be happy to show you their country. Ask questions to get the best insider tips on what things you’ve got to see and do – you might find a new favorite hobby!

The price of your exchange year varies depending on the length of time you choose to be away and any optional extras. See the table below for starting prices for our Classic program. Please note that the transport to your destination and back is not included the program fee.

Please contact us if you are interested in a program that is shorter than 5 months, which can usually be arranged.