A STUDENT EXCHANGE

Is an opportunity to discover your potential while experiencing a new country, family, friends and school.

An exchange allows you to explore who you are, what excites you and helps you to focus on your next steps. You’ll move to a new country, live with a family, just like you do at home, attend school and integrate into a new culture and life. Our world-leading online and in-person orientations will help you prepare and make the most of your experience! AFS will transform your life with new countries, new cultures, new people and experiences, helping you become a global citizen.

These aren’t tourist trips, you’ll live like a local and get a genuine taste for life in another culture. You’ll be treated as one of the family and get great support from AFS.

The first thing that AFSers say

It’s hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for university and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning. It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in your host country. In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.

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EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS AND DIVE IN TO A NEW ADVENTURE!

AFS Aotearoa Scholarships

Intercultural exchange should be accessible for all students in Aotearoa New Zealand. With support from the AFS Education Trust, AFS New Zealand is providing a range of grants and scholarships for students from all walks of life. Click below to find out more about our funding options in 2024 and beyond.

Find out more about our scholarship options here!

What makes AFS different from other international programmes?

AFS students are not tourists. Most students live with a volunteer host family, who along with AFS volunteers and staff will help your transition to your new school and become an active member of your community. Depending on the program, some students stay in other types of living arrangements—but all are supported by trained AFS volunteers and staff committed to making your experience meaningful and enjoyable as a member of a friendly community.
Through the AFS support network, you will become an active member of the host community, whether you go to a local school or volunteer

Why should I study abroad?

Living, learning and making friends in another country helps you connect with a world larger than your own.
Studying abroad builds confidence and helps you become more comfortable in new and cross-cultural settings—in your home community or across the world.
Learning how to become a global citizen will help you understand, define and take your place in the world.
Exchange programs provide practical skills and understanding you need to communicate, collaborate and make friends with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Learning another language or strengthening your language skills allows you to see the world through the eyes of others and experience a new culture in a much more personal way.
Staying with a host family will help you appreciate perspectives of other people, as well as their cultures, values and traditions.
Joining a global community like AFS helps you embrace differences and realize that our world is stronger and more interesting because of them.
You’ll build your academic portfolio and CV/resume and stand out from the crowd when you apply to university.
New opportunities that can help you discover your path in life will be opened to you

Why should I choose AFS?

AFS offers carefully-designed international adventures that are fun, challenging and and will change your life forever.
AFS has an excellent reputation for providing high-quality, safe and satisfying international programs for more than 70 years.

Your AFS experience will help you mature and develop skills that you will use throughout your lifetime:

Explore and discover a new culture
Learn to live and enjoy life outside your comfort zones
Get accustomed to making more decisions on your own
Enjoy amazing adventures with new friends from around the world
Try out new sports and unfamiliar activities
Share everyday life and cultural traditions with your host family and classroom

How much does AFS cost?

Each programme has a different price due to insurance, cost of living and support costs in each country.

Our administration fee is the first payment you will make of $450 at the time of submitted your full online application. You will then receive a payment schedule for your fees over 4 payments across 6 months prior to your departure.

There are scholarships and funding available and some students fundraise for the money. Every year hundreds of exchange students raise money to do an exchange.

To get started, send us an enquiry about the destination or programme you are interested in.

Will AFS help me adapt to my new family, school and community?

Absolutely! AFS staff, volunteers and host families or dorm counselors want to help make your experience enjoyable and memorable.

The AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum program will help you become more comfortable with your new family and school, make friends and develop skills and understanding to communicate and make friends with people from different cultures. The journey is:

Facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff.
Based on the well-established AFS Student Educational Goals that are valued by universities and employers around the world.
Made of fun and informative orientation sessions and useful learning materials in your home and host countries.
Guided by the AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum that includes, activities, role playing exercises and discussions that will help you fit into your new family, school and community.

Where will I live?

Most AFS students live with a volunteer host family. Our families are carefully chosen, screened and prepared to welcome an AFS student into their home. You’ll be treated like one of the family and welcomed to join in family routines, meals, activities and traditions.
Although much less common, some students live in dormitories, with weekend homestays to experience everyday life in a new community. For a very few short-term programs, students may even live in camp-like settings, if appropriate.
Once your application is accepted, AFS volunteers and staff in the host country will look for a community and family that are right for you. We encourage you to be as open and flexible as possible when it comes to placement.
All living facilities and situations are inspected and closely monitored by AFS throughout the exchange experience.

Let AFS guide your intercultural adventure

AFS provides comprehensive orientation for all students and families before, during and after your exchange – AFS volunteers 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, which is 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!

Study Abroad

Oh the places you'll go!

Choose Programmes:

A STUDENT EXCHANGE

Is an opportunity to discover your potential while experiencing a new country, family, friends and school.

The first thing that AFSers say

It’s hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one.

The Essentials

Information for parents

NCEA/IB and other FAQs

Who are we?

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS AND DIVE IN TO A NEW ADVENTURE!

AFS Aotearoa Scholarships

FAQs for Students