Study Abroad During High School in France

Study Abroad in France

Ever dreamed of cycling down a cobblestone street with a fresh baguette in your basket? If that’s you, then you’re bound to feel at home in France’s quaint countryside and charming, historic cities. French culture is world-renowned for its artistic, architectural, and culinary achievements. These influences and more will broaden the cultural horizons of any high school student studying abroad in France!

By studying at a local high school in France, you’ll be immersed in French language and customs. What you learn during the day will sink in at night when you go home to your host family and community. You’ll be much more than a tourist snapping quick photos of the Eiffel Tower. As an exchange student, you’ll eat, drink, and breathe French culture. You’ll study the French language in its birthplace. France is an ideal place to discover a new culture and rewrite your high school experience.

Things to Know About France

French people are generally hospitable, and most will be interested in learning about you and your culture. Food is at the heart of French culture, and you really will see locals strolling down the street with a baguette under their arms. You’re unlikely to find many berets, though.

France is a historically Catholic country. So, you’ll discover some of the most astounding churches in the world, even in the smallest, most remote villages. However, in modern culture, laïcité (secularism) is highly valued, and French students are banned by the government from wearing overtly religious symbols to school.

70 Years Experience

Eligibility

Graduates Eligible?	No, high school graduates are not eligible to participate.
Minimum GPA	2.5
Age Range (at program start)	15 years and 0 months to 17 years and 9 months
Language Skills	Preferred, not 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 France

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 France 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 French culture, living with a host family, safety, and support structures.

Your Accommodations

AFSers have lived in communities all throughout France when studying abroad in high school, but you’ll most likely find yourself in a rural area. You’ll get a feel for the French countryside, where the people tend to be friendlier and more relaxed than those in the city. Your host family could live anywhere from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. No matter where you’re placed, there will be something amazing to see!

Meeting Your Host Family

Like anywhere in the world, all families in France are different. But, no matter who they are, your host family will probably greet you with a bise, a friendly kiss on the cheek. Then, once you’re settled into your new home, you can expect to be treated like a regular family member, helping with chores and becoming part of the daily routine. As so many AFSers explain, it’s not just a trip; it’s a second life, home, and family.

France tends to have large and active local AFS chapters. Staff and volunteers, who are very involved, plan fun local and regional events, like weekend trips to Paris! At these events, you’ll make lasting connections with international exchange students from other AFS countries around the world, AFS Alumni, and more.

Your High School in France

Students often attend a public lycée (10th-12th grade) or collège (9th grade) depending on your age, but you could also be enrolled in a private school. France has 3 different specializations at most lycée for the equivalent of 11th and 12th grades. They are (L) arts, humanities, and languages; (S) natural sciences and math; and (ES) social science, economics, and history.

These specializations would only be your focus, not the entirety of your class schedule. You’ll still take a broad range of classes. While specific classes and specializations cannot be guaranteed, we do everything we can to let students concentrate on the subjects that most interest them.

The average day’s schedule is likely longer than what you’re used to (beginning around 8:15 am and ending around 5 or 6 pm), but students get a lot of breaks between classes. Wednesdays are usually half days with classes getting out around noon. Some lycées might also have class on Saturday mornings. But don’t worry – quality of life and leisure time are high priorities in France. You’ll usually get two weeks of vacation for every six weeks you spend in school.

What's Included

75+ years of experience delivering high-quality programs through a worldwide network of 30,000 dedicated volunteers
Accommodations with a vetted host family
Round-trip international airfare for the designated program dates
School enrollment fees
Free Language Proficiency Testing: after your immersive study abroad experience, take an AAPPL (ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages) language proficiency test to be able to add your language skills to your resume or possibly your high school transcript!
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
International secondary medical travel coverage
Visa support and guidance
Inclusion in a worldwide returnee and alumni network of over 1,000,000 people

What's Not Included

Domestic travel to your international departure city
Visa and passport fees
Spending money
Fees imposed by the airlines outside of your international ticket, such as luggage fees.
COVID-19 testing
Additional fees may apply depending on the specific host country. Please email [email protected] for additional details.

We invite you to learn more about where your dollars go, our payment and refund policy, and answers to our Frequently Asked Questions.

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 France ?	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)	Complex
Estimated Visa/Residence Permit Expenses ($ – $$$)	$$$
Frequently Asked Visa Questions	Visit our general visa FAQ page for more information.

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 from your study abroad in France, 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 France.

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