Next Steps

We would be happy to provide you with detailed advice in person or online. We take the time to answer all your questions. All documents and information will be sent to you immediately online or provided on-site. Since we know from our own experience that most questions only arise after the consultation, we have no consultation time limit. We are happy to advise you online as often as you wish. Our consultation hours are completely flexible, including weekends and evenings. A consultation is completely non-binding!

You can freely choose your school in all countries. We know many schools and school representatives personally and have traveled to all countries. We are happy to arrange online meetings with the school representatives of your preferred school for a personal discussion. We will take as much time as you need with the school selection process to accommodate the changing needs of the students.

Once you've selected a school or program, you'll begin preparing your application. We'll help you complete the application and send it to your desired school as quickly as possible to receive a placement offer.

To best prepare you and your parents for your student exchange, we hold a preparatory meeting a few weeks before your departure, usually online. Here, you'll not only learn all the ins and outs of your host country, but we'll also discuss general topics like packing lists, accounts/cash, insurance, as well as initial contact with your host family, what to do if you're homesick, and everyday school life at your high school. On this day, you and your parents will be supervised by two Switch You staff members, so there will also be a separate student and parent meeting. It's always particularly interesting to see several students who are currently spending a year abroad join us live. So that you can also connect online, we'll set up WhatsApp groups for anyone who wants to join.

Visas are required for all countries (except Ireland). You must apply for this visa online. But we're not leaving you to fend for yourself here either. Switch You provides you with detailed instructions explaining every step of the visa process.

We'd be happy to give you tips on booking flights or recommend a travel agency that (where possible) groups our students together. This usually offers the option of an escorted group flight.

Yes, we offer a short summer program in both Canada and Ireland. This allows you to improve your English skills over the summer break while discovering a new culture.

Typically, a high school stay of at least five months (semester) is typical. In New Zealand, Australia, and some schools in Canada, a stay of at least three months is possible.

Yes and no, some countries have more rules than others. However, if you're between 14 and 18 years old and attending school, you're definitely safe. For more information, check out our country pages for New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA, and Ireland.

No problem, we'll help you find a suitable school in your area.

After completing your secondary school leaving certificate (Mittlere Reife), a stay abroad is definitely possible. However, if you already have your Abitur (university entrance qualification), only certain countries/schools are possible. We would be happy to help you find the right school.

That depends entirely on you and your current school. Students on a student exchange lasting five months (half a school year) generally don't have to repeat a grade.

Your English is better than you think! So don't worry about your English skills. One of the goals of your high school stay is to improve your English. For the USA, you'll have to take a short online English test before your flight. But you can do it!

In Canada, you have the unique opportunity to participate in a bilingual student exchange. In eastern Canada, you can choose to stay with a French host family and attend an English school (or vice versa). In all other parts of Canada, there are schools where you can take half of your subjects in English and the other half in French.

We give you a tip for an escorted group flight to Australia and New Zealand and also for a group flight to Canada.

Then you'll change host families! This is relatively easy to do in all programs (except the Classic Program in the USA). However, always give yourself and your host family two weeks to get to know each other.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, it's become somewhat difficult to offer good Welcome Days. We're working on it and hope to be able to provide good information about Welcome Days again starting in 2025.

If you are enrolled at a German school, you are required to attend school. Unfortunately, the grades you receive abroad cannot be credited in Germany. However, the German school will be happy to grant you time off for your time abroad. In Austria, you must attend school abroad for at least five months and one day. Our partners and we are well-versed in this and will help you find the right school.

Simply send us a brief application or schedule a consultation with us. We will tailor the application process to your needs. Before our initial consultation, we will be happy to send you suggestions and a cost breakdown tailored to your needs. In one or more consultations, we will clarify all your questions and clarify the process before you begin your written application to your dream school.

This varies greatly depending on the program and country. On average, it's 1–2 months before your departure.

In the Classic Program, you don't choose your school; instead, your host family chooses you. However, the costs are significantly lower than in the Select Program. In the Select Program, you choose the school based on your preferences. There are also minor differences, such as the application deadline. Learn more about your student exchange in the USA here.

Yes, in Nova Scotia in Canada.

• with at least one detailed consultation
• with a Zoom meeting with the school coordinators of your desired school
• with a preparatory seminar (with former and live)
• with a detailed handbook and many other documents

First, we'll inform you and your parents about all the options, conditions, pros and cons, and all the associated costs. We'll suggest schools and discuss your preferences. Since we know that most questions only arise after the initial consultation, we're happy to schedule a second or third consultation. Schedule your appointment here.

Of course! Rejoice—you don't need a visa! Find out more about your high school stay in the USA here.

Switch You doesn't award its own scholarships. We keep our prices as affordable as possible and offer various options for referred friends or siblings. Many schools in our partner countries offer a wide variety of partial scholarships. Learn more here.