ASSE opens applications for teenagers to study abroad and families to host international students

ASSE International Student Exchange Programmes is offering high school students aged 15 to 18 the chance to spend a year, semester or summer overseas, while seeking American families to host students from abroad.

ASSE International Student Exchange Programmes is inviting high school students aged 15 to 18 to consider a year, semester or summer abroad, offering placements in countries across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and South Africa. According to the organisation, the exchange is built around living with a volunteer host family, attending local high school classes and taking part in everyday life in the host country.

The programme says applicants are assessed on academic performance, character references and a willingness to adapt to a new culture. ASSE also says prior knowledge of the host country’s language is not required, with language learning and cultural adjustment expected to develop during the exchange itself. The organisation describes the experience as one intended to build independence, confidence and a wider international outlook.

ASSE says it provides support throughout the process and that host families are screened before students are placed. Its materials note that the programme is designed to be affordable, with host families providing meals and lodging, while students benefit from full immersion in a different home and school environment. The organisation says it has offered exchange opportunities since 1938 and presents its network as one of the longest-running of its kind.

At the same time, ASSE is looking for American families willing to host international students for an academic year or semester. The organisation says hosting allows families to share their daily lives with a young person from abroad while gaining a direct cultural exchange in return. For families and students seeking more information, ASSE directs enquiries to its website, email and toll-free number.