AFS Programs

YEAR & SEMESTER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Whether you choose an AFS Year or Semester Program, you can be sure of one thing-you're in for a tremendous amount of learning and fun! As a member of a family, school, and community, you’ll experience from the inside out what it means to live, study, and really feel at home in a different country and culture.

While you are sharing in your host family’s daily routines, studying your host country's history and culture in a new educational system, and taking part in extracurricular activities, you’ll be making new friends, learning a new language or increasing your language skills, and experiencing Life like never before!

To qualify for an academic year or semester program, you must have a 2.8 (on a scale of 4.0) grade point average in academic subjects.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Why settle for a summer like every other one, when you can have an adventure like no other?

AFS summers are fun, but they're also challenging, rewarding and as unique as you are! Irrespective of which one you choose, you’ll become a member of a community in a new culture as you share your summer days with your host family and newfound friends.

AFS Summer Programs are divided into these categories:

I. Homestay
Learn about another culture and discover new strengths within yourself, as you become a member of your host family for the summer.

II. Homestay: Language Study
Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in a language, either through your host family, through formal language instruction, or both.

III.  Homestay: Plus
Enjoy all the benefits of a Homestayprogram, plus group activities that provide a change of scene and an opportunity to discover new interests.

IV. Community Service & Team Mission
Make a difference by living abroad and actively contributing to a hostcommunity through voluntary work. Team Mission participants travel and work together as a group, with an American leader.

INTERIM PROGRAMS

Many students decide to take a break between high school and college to enhance their college applications, broaden their experiences or consider alternative study and career choices. Others take a break while in college for some of the same reasons. If this sounds like you, AFS offers programs in ten countries that are specifically tailored to meet your needs.

AFS Interim programs are so much more than a chance to experience life in another culture. There are two kinds of programs-Community Service and University Study. In Community Service, you will participate in projects where you will not only develop new skills and master the language, but give back to the community in meaningful ways. It's exciting and adventurous!

For students who would like to continue academic studies and possibly earn college credits, the University Study program is perfect. Young people attend a Panamanian or Argentinian college, combining course work with Language study while living with a host family. There are opportunities for participating in community service work, arts, sports and music clubs and programs.