Studying abroad in high school offers benefits that extend far beyond the classroom, shaping students academically, personally, and socially.

• Language development. Students develop and improve new language skills through full immersion in a foreign-language environment.
• Cultural immersion. Living abroad means immersing yourself in a new culture and an entirely different way of daily life.
• Independence. Navigating life in a new country builds self-reliance and confidence.
  Broader perspective. Students gain a new outlook on their home country, their destination country, and the world at large, developing a deeper appreciation for diversity.
• Lasting relationships. Living with a host family and attending a local high school creates opportunities to make friends and build international friendships that can last a lifetime.

Bottom line: A High School Abroad program delivers language gains, cultural immersion, personal growth, and lifelong international friendships, benefits that make the experience valuable well beyond the exchange year itself.

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 a 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!

Credit transfer for High School Abroad programs depends entirely on the country and school system of your host school, so there's no single guaranteed answer.

Here's what typically affects whether credits transfer:

• Type of record issued. Some host schools can only issue a certificate of attendance, not a grade report. Others provide a grade report similar to what local students receive, but it isn't customized for foreign students and may not cover every subject you'd need.
• Grading scale. Host schools grade on their own country's scale, not your home country's. This scale generally can't be converted directly into your school's grading system.
• Credit systems vary by country. Formal "credits" and GPA are mainly used in the United States and Canada. Most other countries issue a grade report listing subjects, grades, and sometimes teacher comments, but no credits or GPA equivalent.

Your home school makes the final call. You'll bring your host school's grade report back to your home school, and administrators decide independently how many credits, if any, to award based on that report.

Accredited international schools may help. Boarding schools accredited by bodies like IB World Schools, or by British or American accreditation organizations (for schools teaching British or American curricula), often produce records that are easier for home schools to evaluate.

Bottom line: Nacel cannot guarantee credit transfer for any High School Abroad program, since this decision rests with your home school and its educational authorities. Before applying, talk with your school counselor about their specific credit-transfer requirements so there are no surprises when you return.

Yes. Making friends and building cultural understanding are core goals of every High School Abroad program, and extracurricular activities are one of the best ways to achieve both.

• School-based activities. Many host high schools offer clubs, sports teams, and other extracurricular programs where students can get involved alongside local classmates.
  If your school doesn't offer your specific interest. Not every host school will have a club or program matching your particular hobby, but that's rarely a limitation in practice.
• Community options. Your host town will typically have clubs, community facilities, and sports centers outside of school where you can keep developing your skills and interests.
• Building friendships. Whether through school clubs or community activities, these opportunities create natural, ongoing chances to build lasting friendships with local students.

Bottom line: Between school clubs and community resources in your host town, High School Abroad students have plenty of ways to stay active in their interests and form genuine, lasting friendships with local peers.

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. A High School Abroad experience can meaningfully strengthen your college applications and set you apart from other candidates.

• Stand out academically. A school exchange abroad gives you a unique academic experience that distinguishes your application from those of students who haven't studied internationally.
• Language gains. Immersion abroad leads to dramatic improvement in language skills, a concrete, demonstrable outcome admissions officers notice.
• Personal growth. Students return more independent, flexible, and open-minded, qualities that come from navigating a new country and culture firsthand.
• Intercultural skills. Exchange students develop cross-cultural competencies that most university applicants simply don't have.
• Recognized value. Colleges, universities, and employers widely value exchange program experience as a marker of maturity, adaptability, and global awareness.

Bottom line: A High School Abroad program isn't just a personal experience; it's a competitive advantage for college applications, giving students language skills, independence, and intercultural fluency that employers and admissions committees consistently value.

Timing your application well in advance gives you the smoothest path to studying abroad, so when you should start depends on which session you're targeting.

• ​For a September departure (recommended timeline). Contact Nacel between September and December of the prior year. This gives you enough time to gather information, discuss your plans with your parents and high school counselor, and carefully complete your application.
• For a September departure (accelerated timeline). If you're ready to move quickly, you can wait until January through March, but you'll need to stay on top of documents and communications, since the timeline is tighter.
• For a January departure. Start inquiring in July or August, and begin working on your application in September.

Bottom line: Early planning is key to a stress-free High School Abroad experience. Start the process 9-12 months ahead for a September departure, or about 5-6 months ahead for a January departure, to leave enough time for applications, school placement, and visa processing.

Yes. Once your placement is confirmed, you can start getting to know your host family right away, well before you depart.

• Timing. Introductions typically begin as soon as your host family match is finalized, giving you weeks or months to build a relationship before your High School Abroad program starts.
• Communication channels. You're free to connect however works best for you and your host family, including email, phone calls, or video calls.
• Why it matters. Early contact helps ease the transition, lets you ask questions about daily life and house rules, and gives both you and your host family a head start on feeling comfortable before you arrive.

Bottom line: You don't have to wait until you land to meet your host family. Nacel confirms your placement early so you can start building that relationship right away, using whichever communication method suits you both.

Packing thoughtfully for a High School Abroad program helps students settle in smoothly and stay prepared for both daily life and travel logistics.

• A gift for the host family. Not mandatory, but a small, modest gift that reflects your home country and culture is a thoughtful way to break the ice.
• Electronics and adapters. If your child is bringing electronic devices, check whether the destination country requires a plug adapter and pack one if so.
• Language tools. A small, two-way language dictionary is considered a must-have, along with a travel guide or map of the host city or area.
• Luggage. Students are responsible for handling their own luggage, so packing light is strongly recommended.
• Essentials to include. Passport and travel documents, school supplies, and a photo album from home are all worth packing. Checking the local weather in advance also helps your child pack appropriate clothing.
• What to keep in hand luggage. Any necessary medication for illness or ongoing treatment, acceptance letters, passport, visa documents, insurance certificate, host family contact details (or details of whoever is picking them up), the program's emergency phone number, electronics like a camera or music player, and any jewelry or glasses.

Bottom line: Smart packing for a High School Abroad program means traveling light, keeping critical documents and essentials in hand luggage, and bringing a few practical extras, like a dictionary and a small host-family gift, that make the transition abroad easier.

​

Students participating in a High School Abroad program are expected to follow a clear set of behavioral guidelines throughout their stay, designed to keep them safe and in good standing with their host family and school.

• Daily school attendance. Students must attend school every day for the duration of the program.
• Host family and school rules. Students are expected to follow the rules set by both their host family and their host school at all times.
• Prohibited activities. Students may not drive, smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs at any point during their participation in the exchange program.

Bottom line: High School Abroad participants are held to consistent expectations, daily school attendance, respect for host family and school rules, and no driving, smoking, drinking, or drug use, for the full duration of their exchange.

Your child’s trip abroad will be a rewarding experience, but he/she has to be ready to change his/her way of life for some time and to adapt to the host family.

Here are some tips to check if your child is ready for this challenge:

• He/She is the one who wants to participate in the study abroad program. Never force your child to go abroad if he/she doesn’t want to! At best, he/she won’t enjoy his/her trip as much as if he/she had decided him/herself. At worst, he/she will be repelled by his/her language studies back home!
• He/She shows interest and curiosity about the language or the country he/she is going to visit.
• He/She is independent enough to be able to cope with problems that may occur (flight delays, loss of luggage, waiting time…), or with homesickness (has he/she already been far away from home? How did he/she cope with that?)
• He/She is mature enough. In some of our programs, supervision is high, and activities are planned all day long. But in others, students are less supervised and must be mature and responsible enough to behave according to the program’s rules and to find occupations.
  

If you are not sure if your child is ready or not, we can advise you! Meet the team of Nacel!