School immersion in the Vancouver area, British Columbia – Ages 14-18 – 3 months to 1 academic year
Our High School programme in the Vancouver area, in Burnaby, offers an enriching international experience for students aged 14 to 18, motivated to live a unique and memorable adventure in Canada.
You will spend 3 months, a semester or an academic year at a Canadian high school located in the Burnaby district, an attractive region on the outskirts of Vancouver. The education system in this district is reputed to be one of the best in the country, guaranteeing a quality academic experience. Share the daily life of a local host family for a cultural and linguistic immersion in the heart of Canadian life.
Highlights of the destination
- Proximity to Vancouver, beaches, mountains and ski resorts
- Excellent accessibility thanks to an efficient public transport network
- A dynamic and rewarding student life
- One of the largest AP (Advanced Placement) programmes in North America
- A wide range ofacademic options, including sports and arts academies
- An orientation week on arrival with an excursion to Grouse Mountain
- 8 field trips throughout the year organized by the school district
Why Canada?
Canada is the second largest country in the world and one of the most geographically diverse. But above all, it’s a destination that’s full of advantages for those who want to study here:
- Quality of life and standard of living among the highest in the world
- An education system recognised for its excellence and compatible with our European systems
- A friendly and hospitable population
- Cultural richness
- A safe environment and magnificent landscapes.
The United States and Canada are vast countries with vast geographical distances. The car is the main means of transport, and public transport networks are generally underdeveloped, with the exception of certain major cities. International students coming from Europe, where public transport networks are more developed, will have to adapt to this difference when they study in North America, and may have to rethink their travel habits by planning their journeys according to the transport options available.
Located just outside Vancouver, Burnaby is a family-friendly, multicultural and vibrant city. With a population of 270,000, it is well served by an excellent public transport network. Thanks to the SkyTrain, Vancouver can be reached in 30 minutes, and in 45 minutes you can go skiing in the mountains.
The district is home to students of 40 different nationalities, making for total immersion in English.
The schools
The Burnaby district welcomes international students to 8 different schools, all offering unique and intensive academic programmes. The proportion of international students varies from 3% to 8%, with a quota per country to ensure diversity.
All of them also offer an English as a Foreign Language programme to give international students the support they need.
Each school has a team of advisers and tutors who provide ongoing support for students, as well as international coordinators who advise students on all aspects of their stay. The school’s teachers and staff pay close attention to each student to help them achieve their goals.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for a detailed profile of the schools, so that you can choose the one where you would like to spend your stay.
Each school has the following facilities
- Art studios
- Cafeteria with hot meals
- Computer labs
- Dance studios
- Theatre studio
- Science laboratories
- Weights room
- 2 gymnasiums
- Home Economics Laboratory
- Industrial Technology Laboratory
- Library
- Multi-purpose rooms
- Music rooms
- Sports fields
- Media and graphics laboratories
- School shop
Here is the list of schools and links to their respective websites:
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,400 students
- Linear system
- Extensive AP programme (grades 11 & 12)
- Advanced math and science programmes
- Health Sciences program
Burnaby South Secondary School
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,800 students
- Linear system
- Numerous AP courses (grades 11 & 12) and Capstone programme (similar to IB)
- Various performing arts courses (orchestra, television broadcasting, etc.)
- CISCO networking academy
- Top-level basketball teams
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,050 students
- Semester system
- Numerous AP courses (grades 11 & 12)
- Media Arts certification program
- Dance and musical theatre company
- University science laboratory
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,000 students
- Linear system
- Numerous AP courses (grades 11 & 12)
- DigiPen Academy (video games, computing, animation and digital design)
- Pre-Engineering Summit programme (STEM)
- Volleyball Academy
Burnaby Mountain Secondary School
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,400 students
- Semester system
- Excellent academic results and AP programmes (grades 11 & 12)
- Access to Simon Fraser University sports academies
- More than 75 clubs
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,400 students
- Semester system
- Excellent academic results and AP programmes (grades 11 & 12)
- Robotics Academy
- Beta Mini School (advanced program for gifted students in maths, science and technology – grade 9)
Burnaby North Secondary School
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,700 students
- Linear system
- Numerous AP courses (grades 11 & 12) and Capstone programme (similar to IB)
- Performing arts program (orchestra, 70-piece marching band, etc.)
- Popular film and television programme
- New, state-of-the-art facilities
- Hockey and football (soccer) academies
Burnaby Central Secondary School
- Grades 9 to 12 (14-18 years)
- 1,460 students
- Semester system
- Excellent academic results and AP programmes (grades 11 & 12)
- More than 11 high-level sports teams (volleyball, rugby, soccer, etc.)
- Performing arts programme, including a choir with over 100 members
- Exceptional infrastructure with a 225-seat theatre
The courses
You can select 4 to 8 subjects from those taught by the school.
In most Canadian schools, the choice of subjects is vast: business, science, tourism, technology arts, psychology, maths, physics, chemistry, softball, curling, management, visual arts, theatre, photography, etc.
This is a unique opportunity to discover new subjects, or to perfect your skills in a particular area. The school generally imposes one or other subject, but you can then supplement your timetable with a choice of courses, depending on availability. In fact, some courses are only given in the 1st semester and others in the second. It is also possible for a course to be full.
You can also take a specific programme of English as a foreign language to make up for any gaps in your knowledge.
Whatever the case, an advisor or tutor will be on hand to help you organise your work.
Young Canadians study for a minimum of 12 years, as they do here. This programme offers foreign students the opportunity to attend a local public secondary school (High School). In the Canadian province of British Columbia, secondary education lasts 5 years, from Grade 8 to Grade 12.
The school year is divided into two semesters. As aninternational student, you can join a class for one semester or for the whole school year.
There are two different school systems in Canada: the semester system and the linear system. In the former, students take 4 courses in the first semester and another 4 in the second, while in the latter, students take 8 courses throughout the year.
In many Canadian schools, the choice of subjects is vast. This is a unique opportunity to discover new fields or perfect a favourite subject.
Some courses are offered for a semester, so students can change subjects in the middle of the year.
There is also plenty of choice when it comes to sporting, cultural and social activities. The school will be a unique opportunity to develop your skills in subjects and activities that you’ve never done before. But it will also be the perfect opportunity to integrate into Canadian life and get to know young people your own age.
| Age | Belgium | France | Canada |
| 13-14 | 2è secondaire | Quatrième | Grade 8 |
| 14-15 | 3è secondaire | Troisième | Grade 9 |
| 15-16 | 4è secondaire | Seconde | Grade 10 |
| 16-17 | 5è secondaire | Première | Grade 11 |
| 17-18 | 6è secondaire | Terminale | Grade 12 |
Canadians are renowned for their hospitality, tolerance and open-mindedness.
Families are carefully selected by the district accommodation service for their genuine desire to welcome a young foreigner and share their culture with him or her through daily life. This service visits the families’ homes and ensures that they can offer the participant a balanced and warm environment.
There is no such thing as a typical family profile. Each one is unique and reflects the society and way of life of the country you have chosen. Your host family may or may not have children; it may be a blended family or a single-parent family, a single person whose children no longer live at home, retired people or younger people. It’s not the composition of the family that’s important, but their willingness and motivation to share their culture with you.
Travel time between the family and the school varies, but families generally live no more than 60 minutes away by public transport.
In Burnaby, you will have 2 main contacts: a school coordinator and a homestay coordinator.
The school coordinator is a person who is present at your school and who can help you with anything to do with the school environment. The Burnaby district is unique in that it has Student Advisors who work closely with the homestay coordinators to resolve problems quickly and offer you additional support if necessary.
The homestay coordinator knows the host families and schools. They are there to ensure that everything runs smoothly within the family. He or she is available to answer any questions that may arise once you are in the host family, can help you with the various formalities and is able to react quickly in the event of a problem.
Finally, you will be given an emergency number so that you can contact someone on site in the event of an urgent problem.
When you arrive in Canada, you will take part in an orientation week organised by the Burnaby district. You will have the opportunity to meet other international students, visit your school before the 1st day of classes and take part in activities, including an excursion to Grouse Mountain.
Dates 2025-2026
School periods :
- 3 months: September – November / February – April / April – June
- School term : September – January / February – June
- School year : September – June
Prices 2025-2026
Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking
| Tuition, homestay, full board, registration fees included | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Price without flights | Price with flights* |
| 3 months | € 11.095 | € 12.995 |
| 1 Academic Semester (5 months) | € 17.095 | € 18.995 |
| 1 Academic year (10 months) | € 29.785 | € 31.685 |
| *Flights from Brussels or Paris | ||
| Supplements | ||
| Special dietary requirements - vegetarian, pescetarian, gluten or lactose intolerant, vegan, kosher, halal (per month)* | € 300 | |
| Extra night | € 50 | |
| *Celiac disease not accepted | ||
Our prices include:
- English level test and pre-application interview
- All documents required to obtain the visa
- High school registration formalities for the duration of the stay
- Supervision throughout the stay by the local correspondent
- Accommodation with the host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
- Orientation before departure and on arrival
- Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
- Medical insurance
- Assistance for parents in Europe throughout the stay
- Regular contact and evaluation reports
- Official certificate of attendance with course grades
- Return transfer from the airport to the host family
- Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris
Not included:
- Any excursions and outings
- Any membership fees for sports or leisure clubs
- Local transport
- Visa fees
- Pocket money: allow between $250-300 per month
- Return journey to Vancouver, depending on the option chosen
Dates 2026-2027
- 3 months : September–November / February–April / April–June
- 4 months : September–December/ February–May
- Semester : September – January / February – June
- School year : September – June
The district accepts a limited number of students for 3 and 4-month stays. Students opting for this length of stay will need to be flexible regarding their choice of school and courses, especially if arriving in April.
Prices 2026-2027
Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking
| Tuition, homestay, full board, registration fees included | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Price without flights | Price with flights |
| 1 Academic Semester (5 months) | € 17.095 | € 18.995 |
| 1 Academic year (10 months) | € 29.785 | € 31.685 |
| Supplements | ||
| Special dietary requirements - vegetarian, pescetarian, gluten or lactose intolerant, vegan, kosher, halal (per month)* | € 300 | |
| Extra night | € 50 | |
| *Celiac disease not accepted | ||
Our prices include:
- English level test and pre-application interview
- All documents required to obtain the visa
- High school registration formalities for the duration of the stay
- Supervision throughout the stay by the local correspondent
- Accommodation with a host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
- Guidance before departure and on arrival
- Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
- Medical insurance
- Assistance for parents in Europe throughout the stay
- Regular contact and evaluation reports
- Official certificate of attendance with course grades
- Return transfer from the airport to the host family
- Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris
Not included:
- Any excursions and outings
- Any membership fees for sports or leisure clubs
- Local transport
- Visa fees
- Pocket money: allow between $250-300 per month
- Return journey to Vancouver, depending on the option chosen
- Late registration fees (€250), if applicable
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