Classic High School Exchange in Chile

Next possible start dates: February 2025 and July 2025. Apply now!

Student Exchange in Chile: Study in a local high school and live with a Chilean host family

Nacel's student exchange programs in Chile offer you the unique opportunity to live with a Chilean family and study at a local high school. Like just another Chilean teen! 

Exchange students will enjoy the Latin American spirit of the Chilean culture. European influence is clearly felt in Chilean art, architecture and music. The geography of Chile is perhaps the most impressive: the country extends some 4300 km from the desert north to the glacial south. As a result, exchange students will discover a huge variety of landscapes and weather conditions.

What should I expect from this High school exchange in Chile?

• You can study one trimester, a semester, and up to a complete academic year at a Chilean High school.
• You will live with Chilean host families who will welcome you as a new family member.
• As soon as you arrive in the country, you will attend an orientation session with your local coordinator who will provide you assistance and support throughout your program. We will keep your parents informed of your adventures in the country.

Your High School in Chile

General basic education is compulsory and lasts for eight years, divided into two cycles of 4 years each. Secondary education (Educación media) lasts for four years. Around 13 to 15 different subjects are offered during each school year, such as:

• Spanish,
• Math,
• Economics,
• English,
• Biology,
• Physics,
• Chemistry,
• Government,
• Philosophy,
• Sports,
• Algebra, etc.

Grades 9 and 10 are standardized. From Grade 11 though (Tercero Medio) Chilean students choose to focus more on sciences or humanities. In this case they focus on:

• either Maths / Physics / Biology / Chemistry
• or Literature / Philosophy / History. 

​A uniform is usually required in Chilean high schools. 

Study Abroad in Chile

Exchange students are placed in selected private high schools. The average size of schools varies from 400 to 1,200 students; schools include all levels (1st to 12th grade).

Schools starts at 8 or 8.30am and end between 4 and 6 pm, with one lunch dedicated to lunch break. School usually takes place form Monday to Friday (sometimes Saturday).

Adds on: 

You will eventually have the opportunity to travel to Easter Island or to the North of Chile once within a six-month period. Don't miss this opportunity!

Graduation is not possible during your experience during your High School exchange in Chile.

Your Exchange Program Duration

Academic year:  March to December
Semester: 

• March to July
• July to December

Visa information: Information regarding visas is provided after acceptance into the program. To learn more, visit the Embassy of Chile website.

Sign up for this authentic exchange program in Chile with Nacel! 

We also offer various other destinations for your Spanish-speaking High School Abroad:

• High School exchange in Argentina 
  
• High School exchange in Ecuador
  
• High School exchange in Mexico
  
• High School exchange in Spain
  

Teenage life in Chile includes extracurricular activities that Chilean students attend at school or in local clubs. At school, students usually attend two extracurricular activities, like sports, music, arts, etc. The offer depends on schools.

We encourage you to sign up for extracurricular activities: you make new friends, practice Spanish in a different environment than the classroom, stay fit and busy, and build strong relationships with teens from different backgrounds. This is an additional value to your exchange program in Chile. 

During your High School Study Abroad in Chile, you live with a volunteer host family providing all meals taken home (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Your journey starts by meeting at the airport in Santiago your Chilean host family who opens their home and heart to you. Your Chilean host family does not just host you and provides you with room and board. They introduce you to the family culture and Chilean life and are your passport to this immersive Chilean adventure!

They are your family away from home and guide you throughout the experience with the support of your local coordinator!

You create memories of a lifetime and build a strong relationship with your Chilean family for the rest of your life.

Travel & Orientation

Once you land in Chile, you are warmly welcomed by your host family andyour local coordinator. Your local coordinator remains in touch with you throughout your stay in Chile and is a support worker: you can rely on this staff to help you at any time during your exchange in Chile. Your local coordinator will conduct an orientation so that you settle in in your new life and can start this adventure with all the necessary information and tips!  

Enrolling in our High School Exchange Program in Chile is a straightforward and exciting process!

Follow our step-by-step application guide:

1. Learn more about our Study Abroad Programs in Chile: Carefully read our Program Booklet, available on request, have a look at country information, and be inspired by former participants of the High School Study Abroad in Chile. Compare durations and start dates. 

2. Contact Us: Get in touch with our dedicated Advisor to ask questions and even schedule a call to discuss the program further. We are here to clear any doubt, answer your questions, discuss your needs and preferences, and guide you throughout the process. 

3. Book your Program: Ready to join us on this immersive journey in Chile? Book your program online and receive a login and password to prepare your application package. 

4. Prepare Your Application Package: Complete your application package. It usually includes an application form, a host family letter, school records, medical records, and sometimes an introduction video. 

5. Attend an Interview: Upon receiving your application package, we schedule an interview with you to get to know you better and learn more about your motivation, expectations, and preferences towards your exchange program in Chile. We also answer any remaining questions you may have. 

6. Receive your Program Acceptance: You submit your application package and we assess it. If you are accepted into the High School exchange program in Chile you receive a letter of acceptance and a deposit invoice. Payment of your acceptance deposit confirms your commitment to attend the program. 

7. Placement Process and Ongoing Orientation: While our local in-country team works on securing the most suitable school and family placement for you in Chile, you receive from us ongoing program information, orientation on Chilean family life, introduction to the Chilean school system, and pre-departure information. 

8. Apply for your Chilean Visa: If you need a visa to study in Chile, our team provides you with visa guidance and all necessary documentation to apply for your Chilean Student visa. 

9. Work on your Travel Arrangements: Once you have your visa on your passport, it's essential to plan your arrival and departure according to the program dates and destinations. Book your flight accordingly and we arrange your pick-up and transfer. Do not hesitate to consult your Advisor for guidance! 

10. Departure: Prepare your suitcase and check in! Our in-country support team welcomes you in Chile and provides you with assistance during the first few days to make sure you settle in smoothly! Rely on your local coordinator and Nacel support team to support you throughout your student exchange in Chile. 

Begin your journey with Nacel now: take the first step on this incredible adventure.

High School exchange in Chile

* Price in Euros per participant. 

Not included : Application Fees (65 EUR)

​High School Abroad in Chile:​

• Semester Abroad Chile
  
• School Year Abroad Chile
• ​High School Summer Abroad Chile

Start Dates: 

• March start
  
• July start (not for school year, only term and semester)

Price includes

• 20+ years of experience providing high-quality study-abroad programs
  
• Processing of student applications
• Host family accommodation with full board
• Airport pickup and transfer from Santiago de Chile to the host family after orientation at the airport, by unaccompanied bus transfer if the host family does not live far away from Santiago (please note that students may have to pay an additional transfer by flight if they are placed far away from Santiago; for arrivals and departures outside of official dates/hours, an extra fee is charged)
• Orientation on arrival by the local coordinator at the airport
• Local health, accident and private liability insurance
  
• Necessary documentation for the student to obtain a student visa for Chile and visa guidance
  
• Support, assistance, and 24/7 Hotline
• Regular Progress Feedback
  
• Access to an in-country support team, and Nacel Student Support staff
  
  

Price does not include

• International airfare
• Travel insurance (luggage lost, flight delay etc.)
• Visa, passport and medical exam fees
• Extra activities organized by schools and others
• Extra language courses
• Local transport (to and from school for example)
• Extension fee (800 euros), late application fee (570 euros)
• School uniform (around 160 Euros) and shoes, school lunches (around 3 Euros /day), school books (around 150 Euros) and material 
• Personal expenses and pocket money 
• Liability and Emergency Repatriation Insurance

For this High School Abroad in Chile, you:

• must be between 14 to 18 years old.
• need to be interviewed by our counselor before being accepted for a High School Program in Chile.
• need to have a minimum of one to two years of Spanish study (either in a face-to-face language class or online).
• need to have good grades at school.

If your Spanish level is rather low, we advise you to attend a local 2-week Spanish Language Course on arrival.