What are Student Exchange and Travel Programs and Are They for You?

Written by Brian Li

Many students have a passion for travelling — they want to explore different cultures, learn a different language, and experience life in a new and different way that would probably not happen if they stay at home! Some students may even choose to pursue multiple countries and continue to travel the world; however, while this may be the dream scenario for many students, there are many restrictions that may affect the likelihood of this happening. Nonetheless, there is a gateway to taking the first step towards this dream: student exchange and travel programs!

What are Student Exchange and Travel Programs?

To put it simply, a student exchange and travel program is when you travel abroad to a different country, where you live with a host family and have the opportunity to explore what life is like in that country. While there, you will attend class through the country’s/region’s education system at a partnered institution and work towards your academic credits. You will also get to develop relationships with your host family and other students in the community during your stay. These types of programs are generally available to secondary school and post-secondary students.

Here are some things to consider when planning to pursue a foregn exchange program:

1) Does your school offer an exchange program?

The first thing you should think about is whether or not your school offers a student exchange program. Talk to your guidance/academic counselor or do some research on whether your institution offers this. It is also important to check your eligibility criteria if you do choose to pursue this program. For post-secondary institutions in Ontario, there will usually be specific websites for you to browse to help gain better insight on what is offered (see our list at the bottom of this article).

2) How will the program benefit you?

After completing some research on the student exchange programs available to you, consider the benefits this program(s) can bring to you. One of the prime benefits includes being able to hone your communication and language skills since travelling to a different country will inherently force you to learn a new language, and this can be a lifetime skill that you will hold onto. Being multilingual helps you find opportunities once you finish your education and allows you to connect with people who you would have never been able to before.

You will also be able to improve your communication and interpersonal skills because you will be connecting with your host family and likely need to make many interactions in the foreign community during your exchange program. Speaking to strangers is a valuable skill!

Another benefit is gaining responsibility and independence. Although you are going to live with a host family, you are still far from home. An exchange program allows you to take care of yourself and learn new life skills (cleaning, cooking, etc.) while you are away. This prepares you for future events that require you to move away from home so that you can easily adapt to your new environment. For those planning to move away from home for post-secondary education, this can be especially beneficial in helping you comfortably transition.

Of course, one of the pinnacles of this is that you get to travel to a different country and explore its culture! You will experience something different from your regular life and something you will hold onto for your lifetime. Immersing yourself in different lifestyle practises will broaden your knowledge about how different your way of life is compared to the rest of the world. It also increases your awareness of global problems and helps you realise what issues exist in other communities that otherwise would not have occurred to you.

Now that you know the benefits, ask yourself whether you want to head into a student exchange program. This list briefly described what interested exchange students would generally want, but if you have no interest in all of these factors, then heading an exchange program may not be a very useful experience for you. If you do, then your travel will most likely benefit you in more ways than one.

3) Plan your exchange year ahead of time

It is best to start planning your exchange program trip at least a year or two in advance. For secondary school students, you need to start planning for your exchange with your guidance counselor before your school year even starts. This means asking about transferring credit eligibility during your exchange year, discussing what prerequisite criteria you may need to meet, and establishing a clear way of communication with your teachers back at home.

For post-secondary students, decide whether you want to complete only one semester abroad, or an entire year. This is crucial since exchange programs in different institutions vary and differ from each other. Contact your registrar or academic counsellor to discuss your program’s eligibility criteria and how the transfer of your electives will work.

4) Finances

Can your family financially support your exchange year? There is a formula by Education First (EF) that helps you determine how much money you need to pay to make your exchange year possible. The basic equation: price per week + pocket money ($100/week is reasonable) + flight + insurance + visa = total cost of the exchange. Also consider checking with your school and online if you can apply to scholarships to help fund your trip.

5) Host Family Conditions

Some exchange programs require your own family to host another student while you are away for your exchange year. In this case, you essentially swap locations with another student. Be sure to check if your family is eligible to host another student under their household if this is a requirement.

6) Safety Concerns

As of now with the COVID-19 pandemic, this isn’t the correct time to participate in an exchange program. While this might not always be the case, safety is still an important factor nonetheless when deciding if you want to head into an exchange program. See what your insurances cover, what your safety nets are, and if there will be any other concerns when heading into your specific exchange country.