Go on a high school exchange in Canada!

Go to Canada for an exchange year

It isn’t hard to see why Canada is attracting an increasing number of international high school students for their year abroad. Canada isn’t just the second-largest country in the world, where the people are friendly and life is easy-going. It also has beautiful natural scenery, wide-open spaces, the great outdoors and plenty of wildlife.

When you go to Canada for your year abroad, you get to choose from a high school year spent in French-speaking Montréal, in the international atmosphere of Toronto, in magnificent Ottawa, near the beaches of Lake Ontario, or among the skyscrapers of Vancouver. We work with schools all across Canada, from British Columbia in the west to Quebec in the east. Let us know what’s important to you – whether that’s skiing or studying photography and media – and we’ll help you tailor the best possible exchange year for you.

The STS exchange program in Canada

STS High School Select gives you the chance to design a high school exchange year that is exactly what you want it to be. Choose your city and school based on academic subjects, sports, or other interests offered there. We work with carefully selected schools that offer high-quality academic studies, with wonderful locations and carefully chosen host families. In Canada, we work with French, English and bilingual schools. Whatever the language, our schools provide students with a high-quality education in a superb school environment. To be a high school exchange student with STS, you need to be 15-18.5 years old at the start of the exchange year.

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Read all about STS High School, our destinations and your time abroad – the adventure of a lifetime! Fill in the form below to receive our digital brochure via email.

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How to become an exchange student in Canada?

To become an exchange student in Canada, you need to follow these steps:

Submit an application. The application is not binding.
Schedule a free and non-binding interview with us. You are also welcome to attend an informational meeting, where we will explain more about going on an exchange year in Canada.
You will be offered a preliminary place in the program, receive our agreement, and pay the application fee. Then you pay for the exchange year according to a predetermined payment plan.
The application process begins. This is where you tell us about yourself, provide your previous grades, do a medical exam and more. We are here to offer tips and advice!
Now we wait for the decision on admission from the school. During this time, we will also look for a suitable host family that lives near the school you’ve chosen. Final approval is also given from the Canadian school authorities.
Visa preparation begins. We’ll let you know when it’s time to apply for a visa and provide you with instructions and the documents you need.
Now it’s time to attend our departure meeting, where you will receive details on everything you need to know for your exchange year.
Time to go!

Throughout your stay, we are always available for you – 24/7! Detailed information on the application process can be found here.

How much does it cost to be an exchange student in Canada?

In addition to the program fee that you pay to STS, you and your family will need to cover additional costs, including insurance, visas, toiletries, any trips you want to take, leisure activities and pocket money.

See the full list of additional costs here.

How much money you need per month is individual to you and depends on your lifestyle and what you want to do. We recommend that you have at least USD 400 per month, as well as a buffer of around USD 800, so that any unexpected expenses are covered.

Who can go: 15–18 years on arrival
Departure month: January/August/December
Language requirements: Good English skills. Some schools in French speaking areas require prior French knowledge
Visa: Yes. Additional cost
STS Welcome Camp: Yes, STS Welcome Camp included
School year: August–June
School day: Usually 09.00 – 15.30
Subjects: Compulsory and optional

What it’s like to be an exchange student in Canada

Canada is a bilingual country, so as an exchange student, you will have the chance to learn both English and French. English is the most common language, but some of the population speaks French as their first language. With our Select program, you can choose to tailor an English, French, or bilingual high school experience. It’s up to you!

Canadian schools also have prom, homecoming, yellow school buses and other wonderful American school influences that you’ll recognize from the movies. Teachers and students are also in close contact, creating a positive atmosphere that will quickly help you feel at home.

Get the true story! Read real-life stories from students who spent their exchange in Canada.

The Canadian school system

The Canadian school system has an excellent reputation, and the results of the OECD’s PISA survey also confirm that the level of education is very high. Schools have twelve grades, with high school beginning at grade nine. Most exchange students are placed in grades ten, eleven, or twelve. Your placement depends on your age, previous grades, and local school regulations.

The language spoken in your area is often a compulsory subject at school, but other than that, you have the opportunity to choose what you want to study – so why not choose from subjects like digital media, tourism, horseback riding, or ice hockey? You’ll also meet with a counselor who will help you put together your schedule. No matter what classes you choose, the school will do everything it can to make you feel at home!

The academic year starts in September and ends in July, and you’ll spend around 32 hours per week at school. You’ll have a Christmas break in December and spring break in March. You’ll also have several long weekends off to explore your new country.

What can you do during your free time in Canada?

During your free time, take the chance to explore your new city and country! Skip the cell phone and social media and join your new friends in different activities. That’s how you’ll really get into Canadian culture!

As they should be, Canadians are proud of their mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, and they really know how to enjoy nature all year round. The country is famous for ice hockey, but there are also a variety of other popular winter sports here: curling, dog sledding, winter fishing, tobogganing, ice skating, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling… well, you name it. Grab your gear and head out!

When the snow melts in spring, there are still plenty of outdoor activities. Spring and summer are perfect for camping, canoeing, or kayaking in the mountain streams. Other popular sports in Canada include soccer, football, baseball, golf and tennis. If you’re active and interested in sports, then Canada is a great choice!

However, Canada is much more than just a country with fantastic nature. It is also a country for anyone who loves big cities, beautiful architecture and food from all over the world. Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa are as diverse in their landscapes as they are in their cultures. You’ll find concerts, festivals, shopping and everything you would expect from big-city life.

Living with a host family

Canadian host families are open to cultural differences and will make you feel at home. The language spoken in your host family will vary – some families speak English, others speak French, and some are bilingual. What they all have in common is that they are welcoming and friendly!

Like many families around the world, there will be some days when you have breakfast together and other mornings when you don’t. If you have similar schedules within the family, you might go to school with one of your host parents; otherwise, you will probably take the school bus.

In the afternoons, as an exchange student, you will often be busy, either with a school team or with friends and family before having dinner with your host family.

STS Welcome Camp

Get the best possible start to your high school exchange in Canada at our fantastic Welcome Camp. Meet other exchange students from all over the world and share your expectations for your year abroad.

Take part in an exciting program of activities, including lectures, team-building activities and of course, sightseeing in New York or Toronto. You will be given more information about what to expect from the experience and how to get help and support if you need it. This is a great chance to ask questions and talk about the adventure ahead. 

 Welcome Camp is included for all students going to Canada starting in the fall. If you are going in spring, there is no Welcome Camp.

This is what is included in our exchange program for Canada:

Departure month: August or January
Placement with a carefully selected host family
School placement based on your preferences
Materials and departure meetings to prepare you and your parents
Free interview
Full board with host family
STS Welcome Camp
STS backpack
STS Diploma
24-hour emergency service by phone
Personal service and contact person in both your home and host country

Extras:
In-country trips: You will have opportunities to travel to places like Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Niagara Falls. Please note that these trips are not included in the program fee and the selection may vary depending on where in Canada you spend your exchange year.

Add-ons 

Would you like a little more control over your high school exchange, or prepare yourself a little extra?
With our add-ons, your dreams may become reality.

Preparatory language course – English

€800

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Our destinations

Your exchange year can take you to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, or Oceania. Each destination offers unique cultures, school systems, and everyday experiences — and the choice is yours. Where will you go?

Show all destinations