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High School in Colombia

Live in Colombia for a year to improve your Spanish fluency and explore lush landscapes, colorful communities, and a diverse mix of cultural heritages.

Study Abroad in Colombia

Study abroad for high school in Colombia to discover its diverse cultural influences and natural beauty. Colombia has a variety of environments to explore, ranging from the snow-covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to desert zones in La Guajira. Or, you can appreciate colorful and historic architecture in La Candelaria, the charming old heart of Bogotá. By living with a local host family, you’ll truly become a part of Colombian daily life as you share conversations and cultural insights around the dinner table.

Things to Know About Colombia

Dancing and music are also important elements of Colombian cultures. Colombia has a huge variety of types of music from all over Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s socially important to dance, but don’t worry—there’s no shortage of Colombians willing to teach you!

The Colombian perception of time is quite relaxed; in general, they are not very punctual. “Hora Tipica” – Colombian time – means that the person will arrive 20 or 30 minutes late. This also goes for deadlines. Being on time for a party or social gathering usually means that you’ll have to wait a while for the other guests to start arriving!

What's included in your experience

  • Airfare

Eligibility

Graduates Eligible? No, participants cannot have graduated high school prior to the start of the program
Minimum GPA 2.5
Age Range
15yrs, 0 months to
18yrs, 0 months at start of program
Language Skills Preferred, but not required
COVID-19 Vaccine Required

Based on differences in culture, strict government regulation of medications, and other local customs, it has been our experience that not all of our international AFS partners are able to support students with certain diagnoses, including but not limited to, severe allergies, strict dietary restrictions, ADD/ADHD, and those currently taking or who have taken psychotropic medications and/or received counseling for mental/psychological issues within the past year. If this applies to you, please get in touch with an AFS Study Abroad Specialist early so that we can determine the right experience for you.

Your Journey to Colombia

Visa Information

AFS will provide visa guidance and support documents (if applicable). Visa processes can be lengthy and complex; you may be required to travel long distances to apply for the visa if there is not an embassy, consulate, etc. close to your home. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond a return date from your host country. We urge you to apply for or renew your passport as soon as possible if applying to an AFS program. We recommend not taking any trips (domestically or internationally) within 2 months prior to your AFS program as it may interfere with the visa application process and result in a late program start date.

Travel & Orientation

In the months before your departure, AFSers have the opportunity to participate in various preparatory activities, including an online Student Learning Journey, which is an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to learn how to develop essential global skills, intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact, maximizing the outcomes of the AFS learning experience.

Also during this time, AFS-USA will coordinate and share your international travel with you.You will need to coordinate your own travel to the point of international departure. From there, your journey in Colombia will begin when you land, where you’ll be met by staff and volunteers…as well as your fellow AFSers from around the world! Shortly after arrival, you will attend an arrival orientation and get a crash course on Colombian culture, living with a host family, safety, and support structures.

Accommodations_Colombia

Your Accommodations

Students can be placed with host families in bigger cities like Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, Cucuta and Bucaramanga, or more traditional towns in the south of Colombia.

Host Family_Colombia

Meeting Your Colombian Host Family

Family life is extremely important in Colombian society (as it is in many Latin American cultures due to the influence of the Catholic religion). For most Colombians, family is the basic element of community and social order. Families are very close, and they stay close. Colombian families can be conservative and protective of their children, no matter how old they are! It is not unusual to find grandparents living at home and many young people continue living with their family throughout their time at university and even beyond, when they are financially independent.

Don’t be surprised to find that you have ten uncles and ten aunts, never mind all the cousins! They will tend to be very friendly; your host family may hope that you’ll spend as much time as possible with them, especially on weekends. Expect to attend plenty of celebrations with your host family, like weddings, birthday parties, and christenings.

col-hs-afs-students-in-colombia

Your High School in Colombia

High schools in Colombia will offer an amazing opportunity for you to make friends, learn Spanish, and exchange cultures. While living in Colombia with native speakers, you will develop the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish. You’ll learn to produce and understand oral and written Spanish language as you gain intercultural and global awareness.

In Colombia, you can expect to wear a school uniform. You will be placed in either a public or private school. Some schools may also be religious. Like your school in the U.S., you can expect to take math, English, history, and geography. In most of our hosting cities, students go to school by school bus. The bus will pick you up between 6-7 am and school is usually from 8 to 3 pm. Schools are more traditional and conservative in Colombia, though in bigger Colombian cities, schools may be more open-minded. Many schools offer extracurriculars, but it can depend on schools and towns.

What's Included

  • 75+ years of experience delivering high-quality programs through a worldwide network of 32,000 dedicated volunteers
  • Accommodations with a vetted host family
  • Round-trip international airfare for the designated program dates
  • School enrollment fees
  • Worldwide, 24-hour emergency assistance
  • Access to an in-country support team and network, as well as our Participant Support Department based here in the U.S.
  • Orientations and intercultural education before and during your program
  • Secondary medical coverage
  • Visa support and guidance
  • Inclusion in a worldwide returnee and alumni network of over 1,000,000 people

Scholarships and Aid

We believe that studying abroad should not be contingent on personal finances. When you apply, we work with you to understand your family’s needs and match you with available scholarships and aid. 100% of accepted applicants with demonstrated need receive funds.

Learn More

Visa Info

Do I need a visa/residence permit for Columbia? YES. Visa
How do I apply for the visa? (By mail, In-person, In host country) In-person
Visa/Residence Permit Process Difficulty Level (Easy, Average, Complex) Average
Estimated Visa/Residence Permit Expenses
($ – $$$)		 $
Frequently Asked Visa Questions Visit our general visa FAQ page for more information.
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Returning Home

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one.
When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning.

It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in Colombia.

In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.