AFS short programmes give students the benefits of going on exchange (language learning, confidence, cultural immersion, CV boost), without missing much school or family time! Whether spending the Christmas break in France or taking a language learning trip to China or Egypt, a short time abroad will have a big impact. Recently returning from 8 weeks in Italy, Luke says that his journey “was a build-up of small, everyday experiences that slowly changed how I see things…. It has stayed with me in ways that are difficult to measure, but impossible to ignore”.
Be part of the #AFSeffect
AFS has been providing Kiwis with extraordinary intercultural learning opportunities for more than 75 years. We have the tools to help you live your dreams.
Discover all the places you can go
Round the World
SUNDAY, 31 May 2026 | 1pm – 4pm
Come and learn more about the 50+ countries we send students to, meet recent returnees, volunteers and staff.
Taitamariki Hall, 8 Auburn Street, Takapuna, Auckland
Welcome the World into Your Home
Host a Student this Winter
Ready to have an intercultural experience in your own home?
Our short programme students are arriving in June/July 2026. They will be in New Zealand for 2-3 months.
Check out their profiles and choose the perfect family member to welcome this winter!
Expand your horizons & dive in to a new adventure
AFS Aotearoa Scholarships Are Open! | Ngā Karahipi Kaitiaki o Te Ao
Intercultural exchange programmes should be accessible for all students in Aotearoa New Zealand. With support from the AFS Educational Trust, AFS New Zealand provides a range of grants and scholarships for students from all walks of life.
News & Blog
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After AFS: Opportunities Beyond the Exchange
An AFS exchange doesn’t end after returning home. AFS returnees often continue to travel, take up leadership opportunities, and tap… -
From the 60s to Today
Two Returnees from the 1960s share their perspectives on how AFS shaped their paths, and why our mission is still… -
Returnee Rachel’s Exchange Reflections: Resilience
Written by Rachel Lilburn: I didn’t want to go on an AFS exchange to figure out my identity in the…
Let AFS guide your intercultural adventure
With over 75 years of experience in student exchanges, we know what we’re doing when it comes to support and education! AFS provides comprehensive orientation for all students and families before, during and after your exchange – AFS volunteers and staff will be there to support and guide you the whole way through. In-person orientation camps in New Zealand and your host country are supplemented by our world-leading online Student Learning Journey, an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to develop essential global skills, learn intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact. This journey will help you maximise your experience, cope with the challenges of navigating a new culture and community, and gain knowledge, skills, and a global understanding throughout your time abroad and as you return to your home country. Find out more about our educational expertise here!