Looking for an affordable study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country? Take a look at our High school exchange in Mexico!
Being bilingual opens many doors! Work that Spanish abroad and live a unique experience that will help you in your personal and academic development. Live with a Mexican family and attend school as if you were a local Mexican student. Nacel accompanies you during this adventure studying abroad!
Next possible start dates: January and August 2026. Apply now!
Be an exchange student in Mexico
Your student exchange in Mexico with Nacel:
Exchange students who are interested in studying the Spanish language should not overlook the wonderful opportunities to discover the Mexican culture. Exchange students will discover 3000 years of history that have built this nation. They will feel the influence that the indigenous population and the Spanish have exerted in the development of its culture. The High School exchange in Mexico will offer them the opportunity to live with a Mexican host family eager to share its way of life and to become a member of the local community and school.
What should I expect from my school year in Mexico?
Public schools in Mexico serve 87% of all students in the country. The Mexican School system is divided as follows: the prescolar, the primary, the secundary and the preparatory school. Most of the exchange students will attend classes in a Preparatoria school Grade 10 to 12). In the preparatoria schools, students must choose one of 4 professional areas:
- physical-mathematics,
- chemical-biological,
- economic-administrative,
- or humanities.
Courses are held in Spanish and include
- Math,
- Biology,
- History,
- Spanish language and literature,
- Physical Education,
- Art,
- Music,
- French,
- and Italian.
All schools offer English courses, some of them French courses also.
Schools may have extacurricular activities or clubs; some sports activities or theatre and music may sometimes be offered. You may wear a uniform (sometimes a t-shirt with school name or entire uniform).
Study Abroad in Mexico
Exchange students are not placed in a particular district of Mexico City but are usually not placed outside of Mexico City. The host family welcomes the student as a new member of their own family. We recruit families through schools (because one of the family members attends the school). They are all middle-class families who receive a small stipend, but they do not host for money; the family expects the exchange student to participate in their daily life and speak Spanish, making new friends . In Mexico, students are in school for 5 to 6 hours a day.
Graduation is not possible during your exchange program in Mexico.
We also offer exchange programs in the below-listed countries:
High School Study abroad in Mexico and live with a host family, providing half board on weekdays, full board on weekends.
High School exchange in Mexico
* Costs in Euros per participant.
Not included : Application Fees (65 EUR)
High School Abroad in Mexico:
- Semester Abroad Mexico
- School Year Abroad Mexico
- High School Summer Abroad Mexico
💰 What's Included in the Price?
- 20+ years of experience providing high-quality study-abroad programs
- Administration fees
- Host school placement (private) and basic text books, basic uniform if necessary
- Host family accommodation with full board
- Orientation on arrival
- Airport pick-up and transfer on arrival and departure
- Visa support and guidance
- Necessary documentation for the student to obtain a student visa
- Regular Progress Feedbacks
- Access to an in-country support team, and Nacel Student Support staff
🚫 What's Not Included?
- Round-trip international airfare
- Non compulsory insurances (luggage lost, flight delay etc.)
- Visa, passport and medical exam fees
- Extra activities organized by the school and others
- Extra language courses
- School material (notebooks, pens, pencils etc…)
- School lunches
- Personal expenses and spending money
- Medical, Liability and Emergency Repatriation Insurance
Exchange students must be interviewed in their home country before being accepted for a High School exchange in Mexico.
A minimum of two years of Spanish study and good academic results are required to study in Mexico.
Graduated students are also welcome but for a trimester.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some tips for you:
1) Communicate! Please talk about everything and be open with your host family. For example, tell them about your school life, where you are going, and what time you will return. Make a point to discuss host family rules, and schedules (such as when you can take a bath) right away.
2) Ask Questions. When in doubt, ask your host family for help. You might not understand everything at first, but your host family wants to help. You might feel less independent in the beginning, but these feelings will go away eventually. Don’t hesitate, or feel it is impolite to ask many questions. This is normal.
3) Discuss Issues. Sometimes there will be small problems adjusting for you and your host family. It is important to talk about these frustrations even if they seem small. Always talk to your host family first about any problems. If you become sick, tell your host family right away.
4) Allow adjustment time. You may form an image of your host family within the first couple of days that isn’t accurate. Your host family might take you sightseeing, fix special foods, or be extra polite when you first arrive. Little by little, you and your host family will feel more comfortable around each other and act naturally.
5) Participate in Family Life. Don’t hide in your room. If you are feeling homesick, hiding in your room will only make it worse. Have fun with your host family, and share in evening or weekend activities.
6) Keep an Open Mind. Look at differences as new and fun experiences. This is your chance to try many new things that you might not be able to do in your home country. Take advantage of the opportunity!
7) Be polite and friendly. This is important. You might not talk very much with your family in your home country, but if you shut yourself off from your host family they will assume that you are homesick or unhappy. When you like something, be sure you tell them. A “thank you” and a smile can go a long way!
8) Help with Housework and Chores. Seriously, you would be surprised at how much an offer to do the dishes will mean to your host family.
Remember, your host family will also be nervous, especially if it is their first time hosting. They worry about whether you like the food or their family. If you are open and friendly, you will help to put them at ease. At the end of your stay, you will probably find that you do not want to leave!
The benefits of studying abroad are multiple.
Here are some that you may want to consider:
- Develop and improve new language skills.
- Immerse yourself in a new culture and way of living.
- Become more independent.
- Gain a new perspective of your country, the destination country and the world while appreciating diversity.
- Find a family, make new friends and establish international friendships that could last a lifetime.
Most certainly! Among the purposes of our programs are acquiring cultural understanding and making new friends. One of the paths to obtain them is via extracurricular activities.
It's possible that your high school may not offer programs related to your interests or hobbies. However, this shouldn't be a problem as your host town will likely have various clubs, community facilities, and sports centers where you can continue to develop your skills and make lasting friendships.
Usually, students bring a small gift from their home country to their host family but it is not mandatory at all. It should not be a high-value gift but something typical of your country and culture.
If your child plans on taking electronic devices with him/her, you should check if he/she will need an adapter and buy one if he/she does.
A small, two-entry language dictionary may be very useful (must-have!), as well as a travel book of the city/area, with a plan.
Participant must be aware that they are responsible for the handling of their luggage. We advise you to travel with light luggage.
Aside from essential documents (passport and travel information), school supplies, and a photo album from home, we suggest reviewing the local weather for the time your child will spend abroad so he can adapt his clothes and bring what is necessary.
Take your most important belongings with you on board (hand luggage): necessary drugs if you are sick on board or have medical treatment; acceptance letters, passport, visa papers, and insurance certificate, details of your host family and/or of the person who is supposed to pick you up at arrival, emergency phone number for the program, electronic devices like camera and music devices, jewels if any, glasses, etc.
Students attending a High School exchange program are expected to follow the host family and school rules and attend school daily.
They are not allowed to drive, smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs during the time he/she participates in the exchange program.
The student will be helped by our local representative and his/her host family to visit a local doctor and get the necessary medical treatment. If hospitalization, surgery, or repatriation is needed, the insurance should be first informed.
If necessary, our team at the headquarters located in France, which delivers a 24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year, may assist you. The phone number of this service will be given to you before the student’s departure.
Please be sure to have a medical insurance. We can provide you with one, for an additional cost. Ask us for more information about the insurance policy!
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 toadapt to the host family.
Here aresome tips to check if your child is ready for this challenge:
- He/She is the one who wants to participate in thestudy 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 would have decided him/herself. At worst he/she will be repelled by his/her language studies back home!
- He/She showsinterest and curiosity about the language or the countryhe/she is going to visit.
- He/She isindependent enoughto 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 ismature 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 teamof Nacel!
Homesickness may happen to everyone, even people who have already been abroad without having faced any problems before. To prevent homesickness, keep in touch with your child, but not too much/too often (see below), and follow our preparation tips. If it is your child’s first experience abroad, a short-term experience would probably be the best choice for you to make, so that your child can “test” himself/herself.
The purpose of most of our programs is the immersion in another country’s language and culture. During the first days, it is normal if your child feels a bit homesick, and too frequent communication with his/her natural parents could delay his/her integration into the host country.
You can suggest she/he get involved in local activities, clubs, and sports to help her/him make friends with similar interests.
