Summer Abroad Programs for High School Students

Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad

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  • Study Abroad Scholarships

     

    With $6 million available each year, a prestigious Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad Scholarship can make you stand out on college applications and help fund your adventure.

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  • 30+ AMAZING DESTINATIONS

     

    Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Tokyo, Rabat, and more... Find the perfect place to improve your language fluency, adapt to a new culture, and get real-world experience in a topic of your choice.

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  • NEW FRIENDS AND SKILLS

     

    Meet high school students from across the U.S. and make friends with local teens as you gain confidence, independence, responsibility, and a more global perspective. 

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Up for a Summer Adventure?

Our Global Navigator high school summer abroad programs take you outside your comfort zone, far away from home for 3 or 4 weeks. Explore a different culture in more than 30 amazing destinations across the world. Come home with new friends, new skills, newfound passion, a broader worldview—and maybe even college credits in high school

30+ Summer Abroad Destinations

  • Argentina

    Downtown Buenos Aires at night

    There’s no shortage of cultural riches to discover in Argentina.

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  • Australia

    Sailboats in Sydney Harbor

    Explore Australia’s beautiful beaches, diverse heritage, and way of life.

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  • Botswana

    Zebras under tree in Gaborone grasslands

    Observe amazing wildlife while studying in one of Africa’s most picturesque destinations.

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  • Costa Rica

    Man walking down beach in Monteverde

    Welcome to Costa Rica, to its rugged mountains, dramatic volcanoes, and lush forests.

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  • Czech Republic

    Prague Skyline

    Make your mark in the Czech Republic, a burgeoning hub of art, design and innovation.

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  • Denmark

    Colorful buildings in Copenhagen

    Study abroad in Denmark, Europe’s green haven.

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  • Dominican Republic

    Palm trees on the beach in Costa Rica

    Live with a local family and meet local teens in this beautiful country of Caribbean traditions.

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  • England

    Big Ben in London at springtime

    Take in all the variety that multicultural England has to offer.

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  • France

    The Eiffel Tower in Paris

    Discover the elegance and charm of French life.

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  • Germany

    Aerial shot of Berlin skyline

    Get ready for one of Europe’s favorite study abroad destinations.

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  • Ghana

    Verdant rainforest in Legon

    One of Africa’s most stable countries, Ghana offers a rich cultural heritage.

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  • Ireland

    Historic buildings near the Dublin riverside

    Explore the scenic country of Ireland and embrace its status as an entrepreneurial hotspot.

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  • Italy

    Ancient ruins in Rome

    Head out on the town and speak Italian in shops and markets throughout Italy.

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  • Japan

    Stairs running through Kyoto

    Dive into Japanese language and pop culture.

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  • Mexico

    Temple in Yucatan, Mexico

    Live, learn and explore in Mérida, one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Mexico.

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  • Morocco

    City coastline of Rabat in Morocco

    Practice your Arabic skills as you prepare traditional meals and enjoy authentic everyday life.

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  • Netherlands

    A boat on the canal in Amsterdam

    Ride a bicycle, stroll along a canal, and soak in the Dutch way of life.

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  • Portugal

    Floating castle on the beach in Lisbon

    Immerse yourself in Portugal, home to stunning beaches and a vibrant culture.

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  • Singapore

    Busy market in Singapore

    Welcome to Singapore, a small island of many contrasts and diversity.

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  • South Africa

    Shoreline capped by mountain in Cape Town

    Experience South Africa, a land of breathtaking natural beauty.

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  • South Korea

    Giant statue near downtown Seoul

    There’s no better place to study gaming or K-pop than South Korea.

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  • Spain

    Historic buildings in Spanish city

    Ramp up your Spanish language skills while visiting castles and relaxing on island beaches.

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  • Taiwan

    Skyline in Taipei, Taiwan

    Accelerate your Mandarin with full language immersion in the heart of Taiwan.

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High school students standing in the grasslands of Botswana
High school students in kimonos
High school students exploring ruins in Mexico

When compared side-by-side with other summer activities, like high school summer camps, travel tours, or other enrichment activities, CIEE high school summer abroad programs help students gain a global perspective, improve language skills—with test scores to prove it, build independence, apply learning in an international environment, and form lifelong friendships with students from around the U.S. and the world. 

On program, high school students: 

  • LIVE and breathe a new culture  
  • Build relationships with local communities and people from different backgrounds 
  • Deepen their proficiency in a foreign language or topic along expert instructors 

More than an opportunity to have fun with friends and see a popular destination, studying abroad in the summer provides high school students with new skills that will carry on into their future.  

Only about 2% of U.S. high school students participate in study abroad programs each year, making it a unique opportunity for teens to stand out when applying to college! 

To learn more about the value of CIEE Global Navigator programs, check out the CIEE Difference

Follow @cieeglobalnavigators on Instagram & TikTok!

 
 

Questions About High School Summer Abroad

How safe are CIEE summer programs?

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We design our programs with safety as our #1 priority. We have long-standing relationships with community leaders all over the world and our CIEE study centers abroad are staffed year-round. This allows us to provide students with 24/7 emergency on-site support. We also send 1 U.S. Program Leader for every 12 students to accompany them on program and ensure they have support for their logistic, learning, and emotional needs at all times. 

The program tuition cost includes comprehensive medical and travel protection through iNext, which covers student accidents or illnesses during their program.  

To learn more about our safety standards, check out the high school study abroad safety page. 

Do all high school summer abroad programs include a homestay?

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All Language & Culture programs include a homestay as part of the curriculum to help students be fully immersed in the language. For non-language programs, the housing could vary between a homestay, CIEE campus, dorms, hotel or hostel. 
 
All housing options are carefully screened by local CIEE staff to provide a safe and comfortable accommodation for students.
 
Be sure to look at the Daily Life section of any program page to check the housing option for students on that program. 

What languages can you study on a high school summer abroad program?

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CIEE has 4-week-long programs in the following languages: 

  • Spanish 
  • French 
  • German 
  • Italian 
  • Arabic 
  • Japanese 
  • Mandarin Chinese 

​Our Language & Culture programs are immersive. Students stay with a carefully-screened local homestay and get to live the language inside and outside class.  

Students in language programs take the Avant STAMP 4S test before and after the program. This is to help students understand what they learned and to prove their language gains.  

Explore Language & Culture Programs!

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    Still Have Questions?

    Check out our FAQ page for more information on the application, pre-departure process, costs, and more.

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    Further Assistance

    For more help, call our team at 1-866-583-0332 or send us an email at hsabroad@ciee.org today.

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    Schedule A Call

    If you want to schedule a call with a CIEE Enrollment Coordinator in your area, find a time on our bookings page. 

Ready to Seize the Summer?

VIEW ALL SUMMER PROGRAMS