Summer Abroad Programs for High School Students
CIEE Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad
Study Abroad Scholarships
With $7 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.
35+ 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.
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.
A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future!
Up for the adventure of a lifetime? CIEE Global Navigator high school summer abroad programs take you outside your comfort zone for 3 to 8 weeks of unforgettable experiences. Have a blast exploring a different culture in 35+ amazing destinations. You'll return home with new friends, new skills, a broader worldview, and maybe even earn college credits in high school!
35+ Summer Abroad Destinations
Argentina
There’s no shortage of cultural riches to discover in Argentina.
Learn moreAustralia
Explore Australia’s beautiful beaches, diverse heritage, and way of life.
Learn moreBotswana
Observe amazing wildlife while studying in one of Africa’s most picturesque destinations.
Learn moreChina
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Chinese culture.
Learn moreCosta Rica
Welcome to Costa Rica, to its rugged mountains, dramatic volcanoes, and lush forests.
Learn moreCzech Republic
Make your mark in the Czech Republic, a burgeoning hub of art, design and innovation.
Learn moreDenmark
Study abroad in Denmark, Europe’s green haven.
Learn moreDominican Republic
Live with a local family and meet local teens in this beautiful country of Caribbean traditions.
Learn moreEngland
Take in all the variety that multicultural England has to offer.
Learn moreEstonia
Master the art of negotiation and learn to advocate for peace in Tallinn.
Learn moreFrance
Discover the elegance and charm of French life.
Learn moreGermany
Get ready for one of Europe’s favorite study abroad destinations.
Learn moreGhana
One of Africa’s most stable countries, Ghana offers a rich cultural heritage.
Learn moreIreland
Explore the scenic country of Ireland and embrace its status as an entrepreneurial hotspot.
Learn moreItaly
Head out on the town and speak Italian in shops and markets throughout Italy.
Learn moreJapan
Dive into Japanese language and pop culture.
Learn moreMexico
Live, learn and explore in Mérida, one of the safest and most beautiful cities in Mexico.
Learn moreMorocco
Practice your Arabic skills as you prepare traditional meals and enjoy authentic everyday life.
Learn moreNetherlands
Ride a bicycle, stroll along a canal, and soak in the Dutch way of life.
Learn morePortugal
Immerse yourself in Portugal, home to stunning beaches and a vibrant culture.
Learn moreScotland
Craft your own narratives amid ancient castles and spectacular landscapes.
Learn moreSingapore
Welcome to Singapore, a small island of many contrasts and diversity.
Learn moreSouth Africa
Experience South Africa, a land of breathtaking natural beauty.
Learn moreSouth Korea
There's no better place to study K-pop or diplomacy than South Korea.
Learn moreSpain
Ramp up your Spanish language skills while visiting castles and relaxing on island beaches.
Learn moreTaiwan
Accelerate your Mandarin with full language immersion in the heart of Taiwan.
Learn moreSearch by Program Topic
Is Studying Abroad in the Summer Worth It?
When compared side-by-side with other summer activities, such as high school summer camps, travel tours, and enrichment activities for teens, CIEE high school summer abroad program participants gain a more global perspective, improve language skills (with test scores to prove it), build independence, apply learning in an international environment, and form lifelong connections.
On program, our high school participants:
- Have fun, experiencing new settings, sounds, food, traditions, and more.
- Immerse themselves in local communities, along with new friends from around the U.S.
- Develop hard and soft skills in the real world, setting themselves up for success in language proficiency or a topic they’re passionate about.
Only about 2% of U.S. high school students participate in study abroad programs each year. This makes it an especially unique opportunity for teens to stand out when applying to college, internships, and jobs!
To learn more about the value of CIEE Global Navigator programs, check out our program outcomes.
Questions About High School Summer Abroad
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.
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 safe and comfortable accommodation for students.
Be sure to look at the listed highlights at the top of every program page as well as the Sample Itinerary under the "Sample Day" tab to check the housing option for students on that program.
CIEE has 4-week-long programs in the following languages:
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Italian
- Arabic
- Japanese
- Mandarin Chinese
- Korean
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.
CIEE offers high school study abroad programs that allow students to join in on community projects around the world and reflect on social issues. Some programs even provide a certificate of up to 50 service-learning hours, which looks great on college applications and résumés and may sometimes fulfill service requirements for graduation.
CIEE high school summer abroad programs are built around U.S.-based learning standards, such as the U.S. High School National Core Arts Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, and more. Language & Culture programs are aligned with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards.
A high school summer abroad program offers much more than other teen summer opportunities, like a traditional teen summer camp, summer job, SAT and ACT test prep courses, youth sports summer programs, and more. In as short as three or four weeks, a summer abroad program takes high school students to a new, global destination with hands-on learning in specialized topics and/or full immersion in a world language, often earning participants valuable credentials like college credits or the Seal of Biliteracy. Students return with skills and experiences that set them apart for the future along with new friends from all over the U.S.
Find out more about the differences between high school summer abroad and Teen Summer Camp and Teen Summer Opportunities.
More Information
Still Have Questions?
Check out our FAQ page for more information on the application, pre-departure process, costs, and more.
Further Assistance
For more help, call our team at 1-866-583-0332 or send us an email at hsabroad@ciee.org today.
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.