High School in France

Bienvenue en France!

Studying abroad with Greenheart Travel’s high school program in France will give you a chance to live and study in one of the world’s most creatively-charged countries. Immerse yourself in a culture that inspired Monet to paint, Bridgette Bardot to act, and Edith Piaf to sing, and learn to speak French like a local during your semester or academic year abroad. As an exchange student in France, you will soak in the French way of life through full language and cultural immersion, allowing you to gain a new perspective during your academic adventure abroad.

Who fits best on this program? 

• You LOVE the French language and are committed to speaking it every day
• You can’t wait to immerse yourself in a specific region with unique architecture, food, history, and landscape
• You’re ready to be academically challenged
• Saturday school and half day Wednesdays are calling your name
• You like the idea of tasting all 365 (up to 400) kinds of cheeses

Here’s the quick overview:

• Host family accommodation provides a full language & culture immersion experience
• Must have 2 years of French language experience
• You can choose between 1 or 2-months, trimester, semester or academic year length programs
• Start dates available in spring or fall

Get a glimpse into what life is like in France living with a host family:

Spring 2025 Dates

Application Deadline: September 15, 2024

• Trimester: January 6 – March 28, 2025
• Semester: January 6 – June 13, 2025
• Academic Year: January 6 – November 28, 2025

You’ll know your exact arrival and departure dates after being placed in a host family and in a school! Program dates vary depending on region and school placement.

Can’t commit to going during the school year but still want to learn French? Check out our summer language camp options in France and Canada!

Arrival and Departure 

All students are required to book flights on their own. An airport transfer upon arrival is included in the cost of the program. We will provide your exact arrival and departure dates after acceptance, as well as the exact timeframes you should arrive/depart, so that you can start to search for possible flights. We require prior approval of a proposed itinerary before you purchase any flights.

Nervous about flying on your own? We recommend students and parents sitting down together to review the following resources:

• How to navigate an international airport blog
• Flying internationally video
• Webinar with tips on flying internationally

For many Greenheart Travel students their first time flying is across the world to start their exchange program! You can read our alumni experiences on our blog, such as Emily’s or Madison’s blogs on their experiences flying to Japan or Rachel’s tips on what you actually need to know about flying.

Program Fees for Fall 2024 – Spring 2025:

• Academic Trimester: $10,830
• Academic Semester: $11,960
• Academic Year: $14,470

Packaged into the Price:

• Airport pickup upon arrival
• Host family accommodation and 2 meals per day during the week, 3 meals per day during the weekend
• Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
• Local arrival orientation with your assigned local coordinator
• Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the program for use on college applications.
• Access to Greenheart Travel Facebook groups to connect with alumni and others on your start date ahead of your program.
• Greenheart Atlas Program 
• Greenheart Travel T-shirt & other Greenheart swag

Our Support and Services: 

• Visa Assistance in applying for the visa ahead of arrival, including visa paperwork and extensive directions and support.
• Extensive pre-departure advice and support from your US-based program manager. They will be with you from your first inquiry, all the way through preparing to leave and your arrival in France.
• Support from in-country staff upon arrival to France.
• Online pre-departure cultural and logistical orientation before you leave.
• 24-hour in-country and emergency support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach a program manager at any time.
• Opportunity to apply for a Greenheart Grant to give back to your community at home or abroad

What’s Not Covered in the Program Fee

• International airfare to/from France
• Weekday lunches at school
• Personal spending money for extracurricular activities, entertainment, public transportation, cell phone bills, toiletries, etc.
• Optional weekend excursions or school trips
• Excursions, outings, or meals out with your host family. (You should be prepared to pay your portion.)
• Any additional foods purchased due to dietary restrictions or preferences
• The required 2-week French language intensive if you have less than 2 years of French (~$1500-2000 USD)
• Any extra French lessons or academic tutoring

Payment Details

• $1,500 Application Fee due by the program deadline to formally apply
• $5,000 Commitment Payment due 14 days after acceptance
• Remaining balance is due 16 weeks prior to your start date. If your program starts within 16 weeks of acceptance, the remaining program balance payment will be due at the same time as the commitment payment. 

Please note there is a non-negotiable $450 late application fee for any applications received after the stated application deadline.

Worried about the program fee?

Our goal is to help make travel accessible to everyone and we are here to help when you are deciding if this experience is financially do-able. Each year we offer scholarships for high school study abroad students! We also have a guide to fundraising your program fee, and many high school students fundraise in their hometown ahead of their program.

We also offer discounts for applying early (plus there are many other benefits to applying early!) for each start date and for US families that have hosted an exchange student with Greenheart Exchange.

Please inquire with us here if you have questions about the program fee, scholarships, or fundraising for your program.

In researching a study abroad program, you have already shown you are a leader and open-minded in your academic pursuits. These are just a few of the traits that our exchange students possess. You’re motivated to immerse yourself in another culture and flexible enough to live outside your comfort zone. You should also:

• Be between 14 and 18 years of age (at the time of travel)
• Be from the United States or Canada
• Possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75/4.0
• Be in great mental* and physical health
• Have a genuine interest in becoming a part of your host family and community
• Have at least 2 years of French language instruction**

Interested in gaining French fluency before you go? Check out our Teen Summer Language Camp in Arcachon!

*What does it mean to be in good mental health?

Moving to a new culture and staying in unfamiliar surroundings without your normal support structure can be very stressful, even to a well-adjusted student. Sending a student with pre-existing conditions on a long-term exchange program could exacerbate whatever challenges the student was previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we must be rigorous in our pre-screening of all high school abroad applicants.

Therefore, we may not be able to accept students who have struggled with any kind of mental illness, specifically within the last 2 years and/or are reliant on medication to address their existing mental health condition. Each student will be addressed on a case by case basis and ultimately it is Greenheart Travel’s in-country partner who holds the right to accept or decline a student based on their individual policy.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Eating disorders
• Chronic debilitating migraines
• Bipolar Disorder

All students who currently experience one or more of these conditions will be required to submit an addendum to the terms and conditions as well as a letter of support from their current mental health specialist. If the student’s mental health issue has been managed (post-medication) for over 2 years, we will still require a note from his/her relevant practitioner (psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, etc) as part of the application process.  We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Please note that students who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD will not be guaranteed any academic accommodations plans by the host school abroad.

**What if I haven’t studied French for at least 2 years?

If you have less than 2 years of French language instruction, no worries! You’re still eligible for the program. You will automatically be enrolled in a mandatory 2-week French intensive at the beginning of your program. The cost of this program (~$1500-2000) will be added to your total fee. Check out the Activities & Excursions tab for more information!

Additionally, you will be responsible for any additional costs if we require you to take additional French classes prior to or during your exchange.

So, what about credits? 

Neither Greenheart Travel nor the host school abroad provides high school credit. All credit must be granted through your home school in the U.S. or Canada. All U.S./Canadian schools have different policies. Here’s a blog post to read more about how some alumni have transferred credits.  

In France, we cannot guarantee your host school will provide you an official transcript. If your school will not, some host schools will provide documentation, letters, and any other materials you require upon request. You must have good behavior, attendance, and performance in order for the school to fulfill this request.  

Then, you should take this documentation back to your home school as proof of your participation in the program. Your home school is responsible for awarding you credit for this program or not.  

Before You Go Abroad

You should meet with your U.S./Canadian high school before you leave and share the general curriculum guidelines for France with your guidance counselor and/or teachers.  

Because the curriculum will vary by school and we cannot guarantee you’ll take any specific classes, it is important that you arrange the required classes required for your graduation, such as U.S. History, before or after your time abroad.  

Greenheart Travel will be able to provide information about the general curriculum for your age level in France, but you will not know your course schedule until after you arrive in country and start attending school.  

Access your High School Curriculum Guidelines for France here!

Once You’re Abroad

Again, it is the student’s responsibility to request evaluation of academic performance or transcripts from the host school. Please keep in mind that the grading system in France is different than the US, and some host schools will not grant grades or transcripts as it is too difficult to evaluate your work due to the language barrier. If your host school is able to award you grades, they won’t be an exact match to what you would get in the US.

What to know about attending a French high school:

• Since early 2019, most public high high schools have become more specialized. Some are more scientifically oriented, while other are more focused on humanities. We place students in high schools that are the most efficient option and easiest in terms of public transportation from your host family.
  • We cannot guarantee enrollment in a specific specialized high school, but we can take your preferences. It is always up to the local high school board to accept the international student.
• There are 3 trimesters (3 month grading periods) per school year, starting in September.
• Most French state schools are now operating on a four day week with Wednesday remaining free and school on Saturdays, but it depends on the lycée. Students can go to school on Wednesday and/or Saturday depending on the policies of the particular school.
• A school day in France generally begins at 8:00 am, at noon there is a 1 1⁄2 to 2-hour lunch break, and the day ends at 5:00 or 6:00 pm. (The actual start and finish times will vary according to each local school.)
• You’ll have Physical Education 2-4 hours a week. Some schools will also offer special sports clubs.
• Academics are the focus of the program. We encourage students to become involved in hobbies and sports, but you’ll find that teens in France have less autonomy in general than other countries. Social life happens more often within the classroom rather than outside of school.

There are three grade levels in the French high school or lycée:

• Classe de Seconde (10th grade, 15-16 y. old) 
  Students in this grade have a set curriculum and do not choose any electives.
• Classe de Première (11th grade, 16-17 y. old)
  Students in this grade have compulsory subjects and choose three electives.
• Classe de Terminale (12th grade, 17-18 y. old)
  Students in this grade have compulsory subjects and choose two electives.

As a High School in France participant, we will support you and welcome you to the program in a variety of orientation activities.

These include:

• Online pre-departure cultural and logistical orientation before you leave with the Greenheart Travel staff.
• Greenheart Travel Atlas Program will provide pre-departure activities to complete ahead of arrival, on program, and for reflection after returning home.
• Arrival Orientation (Conducted by the student’s local coordinator 1-2 weeks after arrival)
• Local coordinators will meet you personally after arrival in your host family placement

The best way to learn about a new culture and language is to be fully immersed in it which is why all Greenheart Travel high school abroad students live with local host families. All of our host families are volunteers and will treat you as a member of their family. By being a part of your family’s daily life, you will learn to live and speak like a local.

Prospective host families undergo a rigorous screening process. Participants can rest assured that only suitable host families will be selected. In fact, many of our current host families have hosted students in the past, showing what an impactful experience it was.

In order to qualify as a host family, the prospective hosts must:

• Successfully pass a criminal background check
• Undergo and pass an in-person interview with program staff
• Agree to and pass a home inspection

We will connect you with your host family prior to your arrival in your host country. By e-mailing and speaking with them before arriving, it will help break the ice when you finally meet in person. It will also show that you are as excited to live with them as they are to host you!

ost families have many reasons why they want to welcome you! Our host families are volunteers, meaning they don’t receive compensation for housing and feeding students during their program. Many host families love the experience of cultural exchange – they learn just as much about your country as you do theirs. Many are also former exchange students and want to return the favor, or they have children who have gone or will go to study in the U.S. Having an exchange student exposes their children to new languages and cultures.

Greenheart Traveler, Ian, and his host family in France.

Pre-Program Language Intensive Course

At the start of the fall and spring term, there is an optional 2-3 week language intensive (mandatory for students with less than 2 years of French instruction) for students to practice their French, meet other exchange students, and participate in fun activities!

The schedule includes 15 hours per week of French instruction, which includes an introduction to the French way of life – vocabulary, literature, civilization – and two cultural activities per week.

Students will stay with a host family during their time at the language intensive. They are then transferred to their primary host community on the last day of the course. The cost of transfer is included in the cost. Students will travel independently between locations, but there will be CEI staff and/or host families at their departure and arrival points. 

Fall – Saint Malo (2 or 3 weeks available)

Some example activities include:

• Touring Saint Malo
• Mont-Saint-Michel
• Making crêpes
• Beach games
• Sand sculpture contest

Spring – Paris (2 weeks only)

Some example activities include:

• Touring Paris like a local
• Visit famous monuments and locations
• Enjoying Parisian cuisine

Optional Excursions for 2023-2024

Each semester there are optional trips that students are invited to sign up for if they are interested. These are an additional fee (usually between 400-600 euro for the weekend) and generally include lodging, meals, and entrance tickets (if applicable) in the fee.

Discover Paris and Asterix Park (October 24-27, 2023)

This 3-day trip to Paris offers students the opportunity to explore many of Paris’s cultural treasures alongside other exchange students!

Exploring the French Riviera (June 6-11, 2024)

Get your dose of sun and sand while admiring the iconic blue of the Mediterranean and enjoying the company of your fellow exchange students! During this 5-day trip, students will visit Nice, Cannes, and Monaco and gain additional perspective on the culture of Southern France.

Greenheart Travel has been working with high schoolers for many years, and there are advantages of applying for this program through us:

• 33 years of experience with cultural exchange programs
• Friendly, responsive, and professional support from your program manager.
• Connect with alumni and others on the program via our Greenheart Travel only Facebook forums, before you even leave!
• We try and make our program fees as inclusive as we can. We include things like medical insurance so you don’t run into any hidden fees down the line.
• Greenheart Atlas Program. The Greenheart Travel Atlas is a cultural training interactive guidebook alongside five videos where you will find three main topics covered: Personal/Professional Development, Cultural Understanding, & Environmental Awareness.
• Our alumni recommend us! GoOverseas.com Reviews // GoAbroad.com Reviews
• Hands-on support and personal attention every step of the way
• 24/7 emergency phone number to reach a staff member at any time
• Pre-departure “Culture Shock and Adjustment” Webinar before you leave
• Discounts for future Greenheart Travel programs
• We are a non-profit, mission-based organization
• Continued support throughout your time abroad

We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel students and alumni!

Greenheart Global Impact Grants (GIGs)

Greenheart GIG Grants are funds awarded to Greenheart Travel participants to use for community development projects in their host or home country. A GIG is the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain an impactful, community-focused project abroad or at home. Grant funds could be applied to supporting women’s cooperatives, schools, community centers, or health clinics, for example. Grant winners will be featured on our website, social media, and blog. You can see our past winners on our blog here.

Greenheart Alumni Program

We created the Greenheart Travel Alumni Program to provide resources and a community to support alumni in their advancement as global leaders, and a way to celebrate and reward our participants for being ambitious, inspiring catalysts of cultural exchange!

Junior Greenheart Global Leaders Conference

Each May Greenheart offers full-ride scholarships to around 10 teen alumni to attend our annual conference in Chicago. You can see more about what Jr. GGLC is and what you could do at the conference here.

Have questions or want to talk to one of the program coordinators? Set up a time to have a phone call below.