Information for term High School Abroad in Australia
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenEnjoy new foods, world-class beaches, and maybe even the outback as you attend high school Down Under.
A thriving arts and music scene. More than 10,000 beaches for surfing or volleyball. Meat pies, Vegemite, and coconut raspberry slice. There’s so much that makes up the Australian student experience. What’s not to like? During the school week, you’ll attend classes (in English) for eight hours a day with your Australian peers — and still have plenty of time for intercultural activities with friends and home-cooked meals with your homestay. When you study abroad with CIEE, you choose your school, subjects, sports, and where in the country you want to live. You can decide to live and study in popular areas, like the Gold Coast or Sydney, and school courses can include surfing and diving. If it’s important to you to have an influence on certain parts of your time as an exchange student, this is the program for you!
Special Offers
- Apply to a Fall Semester or Academic Year term by our 2/15 priority deadline and get $400 off the cost of your program.
- Program fee includes international airfare and iNext travel insurance.
Follow our Travels:
The Take-Aways
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Global Citizenship
After immersing yourself in unfamiliar practices and customs, you’ll become better equipped to interact with people from other cultures.
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College Readiness
Studying abroad gives you the kinds of life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom — and shows college admissions reps that you’re already one step ahead in terms of initiative, maturity, and independence.
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Independence & Resilience
Come home better prepared to make transitions, take control of new situations, and appreciate challenging experiences for what they are: opportunities to learn and grow.
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said their experience made them more aware of global issues.
93% -
said their experience with CIEE helped shape their college applications.
79% -
said they regularly use the knowledge and skills they acquired while abroad with CIEE.
96%
Location & Culture
Click to Open
The Destination
From the rugged Outback to sandy beaches, Australia offers a variety of rich environments for learning (and fun!).
What’s it like to go to high school on a different continent? Picture this:
Watching the sun set over the Great Dividing Range from the porch of your homestay’s house. Discovering a talent for Australian football during a scrimmage with your classmates, or learning about Australia’s literary giants during English class.
From Sydney to Perth, Australia beckons. Regardless of your placement abroad, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the country’s vibrant history, both in class and through your own explorations. You’ll gain a true understanding of what it means to be an Australian through your relationships with new friends and your homestay, and gain important life skills needed to be successful in college and beyond.
Orientation
Upon arriving in Australia, you will be greeted by your homestay. Within a few days of settling in, you will meet with your International Student Advisor, who, along with your homestay, will be your primary support in Australia. Your Advisor will arrange an orientation — for you and any other students placed in your area — within the first few weeks of the program. During orientation, you and the others will participate in different workshops focusing on a variety of themes — culture, academics, social norms, current events — all designed to best prepare you for your experience in Australia. Additionally, you’ll likely take part in some fun activities and enjoy a nice meal!
Participate in a variety of activities in Sydney, and see some of its most famous sites, like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You will also head to the beach to complete a swim safety course designed to give you critical information on how to spend time in the water safely. In addition, you’ll have an opportunity to get to know other students from the United States and around the world before departing for your host community!
Daily Life
Click to OpenDaily Life
"Being an exchange student has helped me become so much more independent, courageous, outgoing, knowledgeable, and responsible."
Learn more about daily life on a high school study abroad program by reading our blog posts above.
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Carefully screened homestay in Queensland or New South Wales
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International Student Advisor in country and CIEE support staff available 24/7
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Activities
Click to OpenSample Activities
Although Australia is the world’s smallest continent, it is roughly the same size as the continental United States. From sandy coastal beaches to multicultural cities to the wilds of the Outback, there’s a lot of terrain to cover and lots to see and do. You’ll have a whole year or semester to discover the country with new CIEE friends, and with your homestay. Barbecues, beach picnics, and local festivities are frequently on the social calendar, and group trips to historic landmarks and cultural attractions round out the experience. Don’t forget that the seasons in Australia are opposite of those in the United States!
Learn to surf, take up an after-school sport, or just hang out and join a beach volleyball game. Be sure to catch some footy at an authentic Aussie rules football (Australian Football League, or AFL) match!
Every year, we offer discounts on optional packaged excursions (costs and other details are available upon arrival in Sydney). Some exciting upcoming opportunities include:
Ayer’s Rock
Take a 12-day trip to exhilarating locations, such as famous tourist site and natural wonder Ayers Rock, the Northern Territory’s capital city of Darwin, an unforgettable reptile center, and several other fun and educational destinations.
The Outback
A nine-day journey through the Outback, from Adelaide to Alice Springs, features rolling wine country, stark desert, and sacred Aboriginal land. You’ll camp under the stars and experience the unique diversity of Australian landscapes up close and personal!
Kangaroo Island
During this five-day wildlife adventure on South Australia’s pristine Kangaroo Island, you could encounter sea lions, koalas, penguin colonies, and many more species in their natural habitats within the island’s stunning nature reserves.
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights. Get ready for maximum fun!
Dates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
Eligibility
- Be in their 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th year of schooling
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Demonstrate, through the application process, their flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture
Application Fee
$50
Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by 2/15 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by 8/1 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.
Students are able to select their preferred region subject to availability. Program pricing is also subject to change based off region selected. Contact CIEE for more information
Program fee includes international airfare and iNext travel insurance. Full inclusions are found online.
Note: Exact program dates and prices vary slightly based on placement. Please refer to this PDF for price ranges in each Australian region.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year 2020 38 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jul 7, 2020 | Apr 1, 2021 | |
| Fall 2020 22 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jul 7, 2020 | Dec 11, 2020 | |
| Fall Trimester 2020 10 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jul 7, 2020 | Sep 18, 2020 | |
| Spring 2021 23 weeks | Aug 1, 2020 | Jan 18, 2021 | Jun 25, 2021 | |
| Spring Trimester 2021 10 weeks | Aug 1, 2020 | Jan 18, 2021 | Apr 1, 2021 | |
| Calendar Year 2021 35 weeks | Aug 1, 2020 | Jan 18, 2021 | Sep 18, 2021 |
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Anne Rothacker
Manager of Academics and Online Learning
A graduate of the Bowdoin Teacher Scholars program, Anne was an advisor and teacher at a boarding school in Maine before joining CIEE.
Ready to change your life?
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