A year away can’t be measured in days alone. You’ll only be gone for a school year, but the experience will enrich the rest of your life. Living in another country for a year is something most people never have the opportunity to do. You’ll return with new knowledge, cultural understanding, maturity and lifelong friends from your host country. The hardest part will be leaving your ASSE host family. They will have shared in your adventure and learned from you, as you will have from them.

Your exchange year may cost no more than a year at home. Believe it or not, that’s true. ASSE programs are offered to you at cost. Your host family does not receive a fee or reimbursement for expenses (except in New Zealand and the European Summer Language Programs). Your ASSE host family will provide your meals and lodging; all they ask in return is that you participate as a responsible member of the family, assuming your fair share of chores around the house and sharing in family activities.

Of course, you’ll need pocket money just as you do here. Your only other expense besides the fee (see application page) will be your domestic connecting flight to and from your home to your international gateway airport, the point of your ASSE flight overseas. Or, for academic year exchanges within North America, you must furnish your own flight to the airport nearest your homestay city.

You are fully covered in the event of an illness, property loss or other emergency because all ASSE programs include comprehensive health, travel and liability insurance.