High School Study Abroad
My Ciee
Click to Open
Menu
  1. Home
  2. Go Abroad
  3. High School Study Abroad Programs

High School Study Abroad Programs

Click to scroll down and read more

Ready to Be a CIEE Global Navigator?

Our Global Navigator high school study abroad programs take you around the world to gain independence, flexibility, a broader worldview, and new friends, too. Go abroad during high school or after graduation for as little as 3 weeks to a full semester or academic year. Explore our full range of student travel programs below. 

  • Summer Abroad

    3-4 Weeks

    Experience a summer of language immersion, art courses, STEM courses, service-learning abroad, and other topics in one of 30+ destinations. 

    Learn More

  • Semester Abroad

    1-2 Semesters

    Live the life of a local teen and attend high school for a semester or an academic year in Spain, Japan, France, Germany and more! 

    Learn More

  • GAP YEAR ABROAD

    1 semester to 1 year

    Take your language and intercultural skills to new heights on a post-graduation adventure before you start your college career. 

    Learn More

Follow @cieeglobalnavigators on Instagram & TikTok! 

 
 

Can You Study Abroad in High School?

Yes, studying abroad in high school is possible and that's what CIEE Global Navigator programs are all about!  

Our full range of study abroad programs give high schoolers the opportunity to spend anywhere between 3 weeks and a full academic year abroad. Our scholarships make summer abroad accessible to more students as we give away close to $6 million in scholarship funds to U.S. high school students each year. Students who may otherwise not have had a chance to travel as teenagers get to make lifelong friendships with students from across the U.S. and the world, helping them see themselves and other cultures in a new light. 

Studying abroad in high school is not only transformative; it helps students stand out in college applications and job interviews. Unlike other countries where studying abroad is common during high school, only about 2% of U.S. students get that opportunity every year!  

  • Studying abroad in high school with CIEE
    Click to open video overlay
    Click to close video overlay
  • High school students walking down the street in Prague
  • Learning a foreign language abroad with CIEE
    Click to open video overlay
    Click to close video overlay
  • High school students on a boat in Venice

Questions About High School Study Abroad

What are the benefits of studying abroad in high school?

Click to Open

Studying abroad while still in high school offers many benefits for teens, such as: 

  • World language proficiency 
  • Credentials for college applications and job interviews 
  • Life skills, like independence, intercultural awareness, and a global perspective, that can’t be learned in the classroom 
  • New friendships to last a lifetime 

After participating in CIEE high school study abroad programs, Global Navigator alumni are on the path to becoming global citizens with the cultural competencies that prepare them for the future. 

What types of experiential learning does CIEE offer?

Click to Open

High school study abroad is all about experiential learning. 

Discussions, group work, hands-on workshops, excursions and time for reflection are types of experiential learning offered on Global Navigator programs. 

Students who learn through direct action, experience, and reflection can gain greater knowledge of a topic, develop more skills, and make better connections with the subject-matter in and out of class.  

What is the best age to study abroad?

Click to Open

While everyone is different and there is no specific age when it is best to study abroad, high school is a special time of life when studying abroad can make a real difference. It helps students grow into more independent adults and shapes college and career choices! 

CIEE high school study abroad programs are designed for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Most students on CIEE Global Navigator programs are in their junior and senior year. 

Parents and teachers are sometimes concerned about their freshmen high school students studying abroad. However, approximately 20% of our students are rising sophomores. A study abroad experience with three full years of high school remaining provides the foundation for greater growth in language and independence over time. 

Why study abroad in high school with CIEE?

Click to Open

Since 1947, CIEE has been opening doors for U.S. students to study abroad.  

We’re the longest-running, non-profit study abroad organization and operate our own study centers around the world. Every year, we support more than 2,500 U.S. high school students traveling abroad. We also administer the largest study abroad scholarship fund for high school students in the U.S. and award $6 million every year, making our programs accessible to everyone! 

High School Blogs

    • Taking a GAP Year in Japan
    By High School Gap Year at CIEE

    Post submitted by Emma C, Gap Year in Japan '23 When I was 13 years old, I decided I wanted to study abroad. I had visited a museum that featured...keep reading

      What People Are Saying

      • "My Paris experience was life-changing in several ways [...] My CIEE experience has made me more independent, has given me a more open mind and more global perspective, has significantly improved my French and has made me more enthusiastic about incorporating French into my daily life."

        Dahlia S. | Global Navigator Alum | French Language & Culture in Paris, France

      • "This trip has had a great impact on how I see the world, myself, and the USA. It is absolutely a trip I will never forget and will take with me through my life." 

        Julia H. | Global Navigator Alum | Leadership & Service Through Mandela's Example in Cape Town, South Africa

      • "Not only have I made lifelong friendships with lots of new, amazing people, but I have learned about a topic I am passionate about in one of the most beautiful places in the world... I learned to speak basic Setswana and about human-wildlife conflict and conservation. I also got to learn about water and soil erosion/conservation. This meant the world to me!" 

        Kayla W. | Global Navigator Alum | Botswanan Wildlife Conservation in Gaborone, Botswana

      • "I can't express to you how grateful my family is for the amazing opportunity [...] This experience has changed my daughter in profound ways, and it is such an unexpected surprise for us all. This year in high school, she attributes her ability to make friends more easily and open herself up directly to her CIEE experience! We talk about this often, and just wanted to let you know that this program changes lives."

        Kimberly K. | Parent of Global Navigator Alum | Spanish Language & Culture in Madrid, Spain
      CIEE high school study abroad students

      Your Donation Holds the Keys to Global Change

      High school students are open-minded and ready to learn about themselves and the world. With your help, a small seed of change, planted at this point in their development, can influence the trajectory of their lives in a positive, lasting way.

      Donate today