High School in New Zealand

Eligibility Requirements

Participants must be between the ages of  16 – 17,6 years old on the day of departure.

The AFS Program

After your host parents greet you with traditional hospitality, it shouldn’t be long before you feel at home in their open, friendly community. By going to a local high school, you’ll be totally immersed in a new language and customs, and what you learn during the day will be reinforced at night when you spend time with your host family. This is your chance to break out of your comfort zone and join in this diverse and ever-evolving culture.

Your high school

You’ll likely attend a public school – and remember, since New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, their school year is opposite the U.S. in terms of start and end dates.  Depending on what classes you’ve already taken, you may take math, English, art, and science. You’ll also have the opportunity to do extracurriculars like agriculture and outdoor recreation. There are also lots of sports clubs, Maori cultural groups, choirs, and drama clubs that you could get involved with.

For more information on fees and scholarships.

Returning Home

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad.
“Transformed” is another one. When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and feel like you can do anything you set your mind to. That transformation isn’t visible only to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers, ranging from language fluency to intercultural competence and critical reasoning. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning.