Go to Canada for an exchange year

It isn’t hard to see why Canada is attracting an increasing number of international high school students for their year abroad. Canada isn’t just the second-largest country in the world, where the people are friendly and life is easy-going. It also has beautiful natural scenery, wide-open spaces, the great outdoors and plenty of wildlife.

When you go to Canada for your year abroad, you get to choose from a high school year spent in French-speaking Montréal, in the international atmosphere of Toronto, in magnificent Ottawa, near the beaches of Lake Ontario, or among the skyscrapers of Vancouver. We work with schools all across Canada, from British Columbia in the west to Quebec in the east. Let us know what's important to you – whether that’s skiing or studying photography and media – and we'll help you tailor the best possible exchange year for you.

The STS exchange program in Canada

STS High School Select gives you the chance to design a high school exchange year that is exactly what you want it to be. Choose your city and school based on academic subjects, sports, or other interests offered there. We work with carefully selected schools that offer high-quality academic studies, with wonderful locations and carefully chosen host families. In Canada, we work with French, English and bilingual schools. Whatever the language, our schools provide students with a high-quality education in a superb school environment. To be a high school exchange student with STS, you need to be 15-18.5 years old at the start of the exchange year.

This is what is included in our exchange program for Canada:

• Departure month: August or January
• Placement with a carefully selected host family
• School placement based on your preferences
• Materials and departure meetings to prepare you and your parents
• Free interview
• Round-trip airfare
• Full board with host family
• STS Welcome Camp
• STS backpack
• STS Diploma
• 24-hour emergency service by phone
• Personal service and contact person in both your home and host country

Extras:
In-country trips: You will have opportunities to travel to places like Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Niagara Falls. Please note that these trips are not included in the program fee and the selection may vary depending on where in Canada you spend your exchange year.

Read more about our Select program

How to become an exchange student in Canada?

To become an exchange student in Canada, you need to follow these steps:

1. Submit an application. The application is not binding.
2. Schedule a free and non-binding interview with us. You are also welcome to attend an informational meeting, where we will explain more about going on an exchange year in Canada.
3. You will be offered a preliminary place in the program, receive our agreement, and pay the application fee. Then you pay for the exchange year according to a predetermined payment plan.
4. The application process begins. This is where you tell us about yourself, provide your previous grades, do a medical exam and more. We are here to offer tips and advice!
5. Now we wait for the decision on admission from the school. During this time, we will also look for a suitable host family that lives near the school you’ve chosen. Final approval is also given from the Canadian school authorities.
6. Visa preparation begins. We’ll let you know when it’s time to apply for a visa and provide you with instructions and the documents you need.
7. Now it's time to attend our departure meeting, where you will receive details on everything you need to know for your exchange year.
8. Time to go!

Throughout your stay, we are always available for you – 24/7! Detailed information on the application process can be found here.

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

In addition to the program fee that you pay to STS, you and your family will need to cover additional costs, including insurance, visas, toiletries, any trips you want to take, leisure activities and pocket money.

See the full list of additional costs here.

How much money you need per month is individual to you and depends on your lifestyle and what you want to do. We recommend that you have at least USD 400 per month, as well as a buffer of around USD 800, so that any unexpected expenses are covered.

What it's like to be an exchange student in Canada

Canada is a bilingual country, so as an exchange student, you will have the chance to learn both English and French. English is the most common language, but some of the population speaks French as their first language. With our Select program, you can choose to tailor an English, French, or bilingual high school experience. It’s up to you!

Canadian schools also have prom, homecoming, yellow school buses and other wonderful American school influences that you'll recognize from the movies. Teachers and students are also in close contact, creating a positive atmosphere that will quickly help you feel at home.

Get the true story! Read real-life stories from students who spent their exchange in Canada.

The Canadian school system

The Canadian school system has an excellent reputation, and the results of the OECD’s PISA survey also confirm that the level of education is very high. Schools have twelve grades, with high school beginning at grade nine. Most exchange students are placed in grades ten, eleven, or twelve. Your placement depends on your age, previous grades, and local school regulations.

The language spoken in your area is often a compulsory subject at school, but other than that, you have the opportunity to choose what you want to study – so why not choose from subjects like digital media, tourism, horseback riding, or ice hockey? You'll also meet with a counselor who will help you put together your schedule. No matter what classes you choose, the school will do everything it can to make you feel at home!

The academic year starts in September and ends in July, and you'll spend around 32 hours per week at school. You'll have a Christmas break in December and spring break in March. You'll also have several long weekends off to explore your new country.

What can you do during your free time in Canada?

During your free time, take the chance to explore your new city and country! Skip the cell phone and social media and join your new friends in different activities. That's how you'll really get into Canadian culture!

As they should be, Canadians are proud of their mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, and they really know how to enjoy nature all year round. The country is famous for ice hockey, but there are also a variety of other popular winter sports here: curling, dog sledding, winter fishing, tobogganing, ice skating, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling... well, you name it. Grab your gear and head out!

When the snow melts in spring, there are still plenty of outdoor activities. Spring and summer are perfect for camping, canoeing, or kayaking in the mountain streams. Other popular sports in Canada include soccer, football, baseball, golf and tennis. If you’re active and interested in sports, then Canada is a great choice!

However, Canada is much more than just a country with fantastic nature. It is also a country for anyone who loves big cities, beautiful architecture and food from all over the world. Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa are as diverse in their landscapes as they are in their cultures. You'll find concerts, festivals, shopping and everything you would expect from big-city life.

Living with a host family

Canadian host families are open to cultural differences and will make you feel at home. The language spoken in your host family will vary – some families speak English, others speak French, and some are bilingual. What they all have in common is that they are welcoming and friendly!

Like many families around the world, there will be some days when you have breakfast together and other mornings when you don’t. If you have similar schedules within the family, you might go to school with one of your host parents; otherwise, you will probably take the school bus.

In the afternoons, as an exchange student, you will often be busy, either with a school team or with friends and family before having dinner with your host family.

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 Select 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.