High School Abroad

The benefits of studying abroad are multiple.

 Here are some that you may want to consider:

• Develop and improve new language skills.
• Immerse yourself in a new culture and way of living.
• Become more independent.
• Gain a new perspective of your country, the destination country and the world while appreciating diversity.
• Find a family, make new friends and establish international friendships that could last a lifetime.

Nacel International offers twenty destinations around the world. Please select one of the links below corresponding to the country you are interested in.

• High School Abroad Argentina

• High School Abroad Brazil

• High School Abroad Canada

• High School Abroad Chile

• High School Abroad China

• High School Abroad Ecuador

• High School Abroad France

• High School Abroad Germany

• High School Abroad Ireland

• High School Abroad Italy

• High School Abroad Japan

• High School Abroad Mexico

• High School Abroad Netherlands

• High School Abroad New Zealand

• High School Abroad Portugal

• High School Abroad Russian Federation

• High School Abroad South Africa

• High School Abroad Spain

• High School Abroad United Kingdom

• High School Abroad United States

Each country has different requirements.  In general, these are the most important:

• Age requirement: The student must be between 13 and 18 years old  (See the country you are interested in for specific information)

• Language skills: Two or more years of language studies.

• Academic record: An excellent academic record, with good grades.

• Attitude: Having an open mind and flexible attitude are crucial. 

• Motivation: Exhibiting willingness to adapt to a new country, culture, school system, and family customs is critical to success.

• Having a spirit of adventure!

Most certainly, you can choose the length that is more favorable to your needs. It could be a term, semester or an academic year.

We also offer short-term homestay and school integration experiences in various countries, starting from just two weeks.

It will depend on each country and school system. 

In some countries, the host schools are only allowed to issue a certificate of attendance to their exchange students; in other countries, host schools may issue a grade report which cannot be adapted to your specific needs. It would be a similar report to the ones given to their local students. 

You may not be graded in all subjects. The grading scale used is the one of the destination or host country and cannot be adapted to your country’s scale. 

The credit system is mainly used in the USA and Canada. In most other countries of the world, you earn a grade report listing your subjects, your grade, and perhaps a teacher comment, but no credits or GPA. 

You will need to provide your home school with your grade report, and they will determine which and how many credits they may award you based on your host school’s grade report.

If you attend an international private school, which is typically a boarding school, the school may be accredited by international organizations such as IB World Schools, or by British or American accreditation bodies if they teach British or American curriculums.

Nacel International cannot guarantee credit transfer. We always advise our exchange students to discuss the credit requirements with their home high school prior to applying to the program.

Most certainly! Among the purposes of our programs are acquiring cultural understanding and making new friends.  One of the paths to obtain them is via extracurricular activities.

It's possible that your high school may not offer programs related to your interests or hobbies. However, this shouldn't be a problem as your host town will likely have various clubs, community facilities, and sports centers where you can continue to develop your skills and make lasting friendships. 

The cost will depend on:

• The country.

• The type of school you’d be attending: public, private, international, boarding school.

• The length of your program.

The price range can be quite diverse, from the most affordable options, starting at 1,500 USD, to the most comprehensive programs, priced at around 35,000 USD.

Once you know the Nacel study abroad program you are interested in, refer to its Price tab section to review what is and is not included. Generally speaking, international airfare, visa and passport fees are not included. 

The type of accommodation provided, whether it's a host family, boarding school or a student residence, varies for each program and it may or may not be included in its price. Similarly, transfers from the airport to the program's location or the accommodation may be included or not.

For students under 18 years old (minor children), we highly suggest booking the Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service offered by major carriers to avoid any difficulties during the travel. Parents of underage children will be requested to sign a Parent’s Travel Release.

The Nacel application process for an exchange student program involves several stages to ensure a thorough evaluation of candidates and to match them with suitable host families and high schools.

It's important to note that the specifics of the application process may vary depending on the country involved. 

Here's an overview of a typical application process for an study abroad program:

• After you have decided with your family to become an exchange student with Nacel, you start your application.
• The application form collects personal information, academic background, motivations for participating, and preferences.
• You must submit supporting documents such as academic transcripts, recommendation letters, an introduction letter, video, medical records, and any other relevant documents as specified by the program.
• Successful candidates are notified of their acceptance into the program. The local coordinators then work on matching the student with an appropriate host family and high school based on compatibility and availability.
• If a visa is required, Nacel obtains an enrollment letter from the local high school so you can attach it to the rest of the requirements to process your student visa at the consulate of your country of residence.
• Nacel will provide guidance on travel arrangements and itinerary planning.

Absolutely! Participating in a school exchange program abroad will help you stand out with your college and university applications. 

Studying abroad can provide you a unique academic experience that sets you apart from others. Besides that, your language skills will improve dramatically, you will learn to be more independent and gain more flexibility, open-mindedness, and intercultural skills that fellow university applicants will not possess. 

Colleges, universities and employers highly value exchange programs abroad experiences.

To ensure a smooth and stress-free experience, it is advisable to plan and prepare in advance. We recommend contacting Nacel between September and December if you want to travel the following September. This will give you enough time to gather information, discuss your plans with your parents and high school counselor, and prepare your application form carefully. 

If you are ready to work on your application quickly, you may wait until January to March, knowing that you must be on top of documents and communications. 

For those planning to start their exchange program abroad in January, it is best to start inquiring in July or August and begin working on your application in September. 

You will stay with a local host family who will welcome you as an additional family member. Your host parents and siblings will provide encouragement, support, full board and share their daily life with you. 

Your safety is our main concern so, depending upon the country's regulations, every eligible host family is fully vetted by our Local Coordinators. Our screening includes a criminal background check for each member of the household who is 18 and older, as well as in person interviews and visits to the host family’s place of residence.

Our programs revolve around the warmth and comfort of host family accommodation, and we've got over 60 years of experience in making it happen!