Immersion school in the Vancouver region – 13-18 years – 1 semester or 1 academic year

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Our High School programme in the Vancouver region is aimed at all students aged 13 to 18 who are motivated to live a unique and unforgettable experience in Canada.

You will spend 1 semester or 1 academic year in a Canadian high school in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows district, where the education system is reputed to beone of the best in the world, and you will share the daily life of a Canadian family. This programme offers real linguistic and cultural immersion in the heart of Canadian life.

Highlights of the destination

  • Residential towns at the foot of Thompson Mountain Ridge , 50 minutes’ drive from Vancouver
  • The best of 2 worlds: a safe, friendly environment close to a dynamic, cosmopolitan metropolis
  • A rich natural environment : lots of green spaces, easy access to ski mountains (1h30 away)
  • A linear school system (students follow 8 to 9 courses)
  • Outdoor activities throughout the year
  • Optional: 3-week summer course before the programme to prepare you properly

Why Canada?

Canada is the second largest country in the world, and one of the most remarkable in terms of geographical diversity. But above all, it’s a destination full of advantages for those who want to study there:

  • 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 to the east of Vancouver, around 50 minutes by car or 1? hours by public transport, the towns of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows form a dynamic community of almost 110,000 inhabitants. They offer an ideal living environment, combining proximity to nature with easy access to urban amenities.

The environment is warm, family-friendly and relaxed, with plenty of green space, two leisure centres with swimming pools, cinemas, sports halls, shops and a wide variety of international restaurants (Japanese, Greek, Italian, Mexican, etc.). The region is also ideal for outdoor sports (running, cycling, soccer, hiking) and is only 1? hours from the local ski mountains.

What do our students think?

Cette expérience m’a énormément aidé

De base, mon anglais était pas trop mal mais au début, j’avoue que je ne comprenais pas tout et parfois j’avais du mal à trouver mes mots. Après 1 mois, j’ai remarqué que pendant mes cours je n’avais plus besoin d’utiliser de traducteur. Après 2-3 mois, je remarquais que j’utilisais des mots que je n’utilisais pas avant et je comprenais mieux les gens. A la fin, je me suis rendu compte que je comprenais presque tout, je ne réfléchissais plus du tout avant de parler, je faisais beaucoup moins de fautes, j’utilisais des phrases plus complexes, etc. Je pense cette expérience m’a énormément aidé !
Léa,
18 ans, partie 1 semestre scolaire

The schools

The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows district includes 6 secondary schools with between 885 and 1,400 students. They are recognised for the quality of their teaching.

All the schools offer teaching support and personalised supervision to help international students achieve their goals.

Each school offers a wide choice of subjects, extra-curricular activities and sports. The core curriculum is common to all schools (English, Math, Science and History). Options vary from school to school and include: Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Metal, Culinary, Art, Digital Video Animation, Automotive Technology, Entrepreneurship, Management Innovation, Robotics, etc.

All the schools follow a linear system: students take 8 courses throughout the year.

Garibaldi Secondary

  • 1,160 students (70 international)
  • Excellent music programme
  • Special programmes: IB*, Interdisciplinary Arts programme
  • Languages : French, Japanese
  • Sports : Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Badminton, Cross Country, Track & Field, Aquatics, Curling, Gymnastics, Wrestling

*Accessible only to students due to enter 5è (Belgium) or 1ère (France) in September

Maple Ridge Secondary School

  • 1,400 students (100 international)
  • Excellent music programme: concert band, jazz band, choral music
  • Special programmes : Digital Arts Academy
  • Languages : French, Japanese, Spanish, German
  • Sports : Badminton, Soccer, Field Hockey (g), Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby, Track & Field, Aquatics, Field Lacrosse, Cross Country, Curling, Wrestling

Pitt Meadows Secondary

  • 1,125 students (75 international)
  • Excellent basketball and music programme
  • Special programmes: Microsoft IT Academy, Ice Hockey Academy
  • Languages : French, Spanish
  • Sports: Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Ball Hockey, Basketball, Golf, Track & Field

Samuel Robertson Secondary

  • 885 students (45 international)
  • Special programmes: Microsoft IT Academy, Ice Hockey Academy
  • Languages : French, Spanish
  • Sports: Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Field Hockey, Field Lacrosse

Thomas Haney Secondary

  • 1,350 students (100 international)
  • Unique school with a self-directed learning model
  • Ideal for independent and mature students
  • Special programmes: Microsoft IT Academy
  • Languages : French, Japanese, Spanish
  • Sports: Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field, Badminton, Field Hockey, Cross Country

Westview Secondary

Westview Secondary
  • 1,000 students (100 international)
  • Special programmes: Microsoft IT Academy, Soccer Academy, Basketball Academy
  • Languages : French, Spanish
  • Sports: Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field, Rugby, Golf, Wrestling, Field Hockey (g), Badminton

English language courses

English as a foreign language courses are available at the schools. Students with a slightly lower level of English can therefore take part in the programme.

Extra-curricular activities / excursions

The schools offer a wide selection of extra-curricular activities accessible to all. these include: Sports teams, Swimming, Ski & snowboard, Book club, Social Justice, etc.

An optional programme of activities and excursions is also organised for international students, allowing them to discover the region, experience the thrill of trying out the region’s sports and outdoor activities and meet other international participants in a friendly atmosphere.

Examples of activities on offer Victoria Sightseeing tour, PNE Fright night tour, Vancouver Canucks hockey game, Ski trips (2 times a year), Rocky moutain trip….

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 provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, secondary school is divided into two 3-year cycles. Junior High covers the first 3 years of secondary school (grades 7 to 9), while High School covers the last 3 years (grades 10 to 12).

The school year is divided into two semesters.

There are two different school systems in Canada: the semester system and the linear system. In the first system, students take 4 courses in the first semester and another 4 in the second semester. In the second system, 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 subjects or perfect a favourite area. 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.

AgeBelgiumFranceCanada
13-142è secondaireQuatrièmeGrade 8
14-153è secondaireTroisièmeGrade 9
15-164è secondaireSecondeGrade 10
16-175è secondairePremièreGrade 11
17-186è secondaireTerminaleGrade 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.

The families live in the residential areas of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

A member of the Accommodation Service is on duty once a week at the schools to help international students with any queries or difficulties they may encounter. This person is your point of contact for any questions relating to the host family.

The local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and schools. They are on hand once a week at each school to ensure that everything runs smoothly. He or she is available to answer any questions that may arise once you’re on the ground, can help you with the various formalities and is able to react quickly in the event of a problem. He or she is your key contact on site.

Finally, you will be given an emergency number so that you can contact someone on site in the event of an urgent problem.

An orientation meeting takes place in Canada, in the first few days after your arrival. You will be contacted by your local correspondent, who will be able to answer any questions you may have about your stay and how it will run.

This programme (optional) is designed for international students wishing to prepare for the start of the school year. Participants will strengthen their English language skills and develop essential skills for success in a Canadian school environment.

Programme objectives :

  • Understand Canadian history, culture and local life
  • Develop skills in critical thinking, speaking, writing, vocabulary and group work
  • Take part in local educational excursions
  • Experience complete immersion in a Canadian host family

Timetable :

  • Monday-Friday: morning classes & afternoon excursions
  • Saturday-Sunday: with host family

  • Must be aged between 13 and 18 (participants can celebrate their 19th birthday during the stay, at the end of the school year)
  • Minimum level of English recommended: A2/B1. Students with a lower level of English may participate under certain conditions (established by the school district).
  • Good academic results over the last two years
  • Be willing to make new friends and share the daily life of a host family
  • Be motivated, mature and adaptable
  • Be in good physical and mental health

Do you meet the conditions for participation?

  1. Fill in the pre-registration form as soon as possible
  2. When we receive it, we’ll send you a provisional confirmation, including the total cost of the stay, a request for payment of €100 (for the language test and the motivation interview), and the full application form for the chosen programme. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports for the last 3 years.
  3. We then invite you to come and take the language test and interview at our offices in Brussels or online. This costs €100 and is payable on receipt of the pre-confirmation. This amount is non-refundable, but can be deducted from the balance of your stay if you are definitively enrolled and accepted on the programme. Part 1 of the application form must be completed and brought with you to the interview.
  4. We will confirm the result no later than 8 days after our interview
  5. If the interview is positive, we ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of your stay (with a minimum of €1,800) and to complete all the elements of your application, including letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information needed for us to study your application on site. As soon as your application is complete and we have received payment of the deposit, we will forward it to our partner.
  6. Final acceptance to the programme is given by our partner
  7. Once your application has been accepted, our partner begins the search for and selection of a host family and registers you with the school.

Application deadlines:

  • 15/04 for the start of the school year in September
  • 15/11 for the start of the school year in February

After these dates, it is still possible to enrol depending on school availability. However, we recommend that you register at least 3 months before departure to ensure that you are well prepared for your stay.

For any application that needs to be processed urgently (after the registration deadline), a supplement of €250 will be charged.

Travel

Departure is scheduled for late August/early September or late January/early February. Your family or local contact will meet you at the airport and drive you back at the end of your stay.

Once your enrolment has been accepted and confirmed by our Canadian partner and your application for a study permit has been approved, we can arrange for you to travel to Canada, if you wish.

The ticket booked includes as few stopovers as possible and can be changed.

In the event of a change, the airline’s change fees will apply (these vary depending on the airline, generally around €200 if there is a difference in fare class) and will be charged to the participant.

If you prefer to book your trip yourself, we will provide you with all the information you need to make the booking.

ETA & Study Permits

For a stay of one school year

You will need to obtain a study permit, which will be issued for the duration of your stay. We will provide you with all the documents you need to obtain one, and will help you with all the formalities. All the information is available on the immigration website.

Please note! Since 31 July 2018, nationals of various European countries have had to have their biometric data taken in order to obtain a study permit. There are 2 centres in France, in Paris and Lyon... For Belgian nationals, the centres in Paris and Düsseldorf are the nearest. This process costs 85 $CAD. For more information, click here.

For a stay of one school term or less

You will simply need to complete an “ETA ” (Electronic Travel Authorization) which you can fill in directly on the immigration website.

This information applies to nationals of the European Union and Switzerland. For non-EU nationals, please consult the immigration website.

For the duration of your stay, you will benefit from full insurance cover, which is included in the registration fee.

Dates 2025- 2026

School year

  • Programme starts : between 1 and 6 September
  • Programme ends: between 23 and 30 June

Schoolsemester

  • Programme starts : between 1 and 6 September or between 28 and 30 January
  • End of programme: between 22 and 27 January or between 23 and 30 June

Prices 2025-2026

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, Homestay full board and registration fees
DurationPrice without flightsPrice including flights
1 semester€ 13.795€ 15.695
1 academic year€ 23.895€ 25.795
*Return trip from Brussels or Paris
Supplements1 semester1 academic year
IB program€ 1.200€ 1.200
Basketball Academy€ 450€ 780
Soccer Academy€ 450€ 780
Ice Hockey Academyto be confirmed-
Other
Special diet - per month€ 160

Our prices include:

  • English level test and pre-application interview
  • All documents required to obtain the visa
  • Tuition fees
  • Supervision throughout the stay by the local correspondent
  • Accommodation with the host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
  • Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
  • Medical insurance
  • Assistance for parents in Europe throughout the stay
  • Official certificate of attendance with course grades
  • Transfer on arrival and departure 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 clubs or academies
  • Visa and ETA fees
  • Optional insurance
  • Pocket money: allow between $250-300 per month
  • Return journey to Vancouver, depending on the option chosen
  • Late registration fees (€250), if applicable

Dates 2026 – 2027

School year

  • Programme starts : between 1 and 6 September
  • Programme ends: between 23 and 30 June

Semester

  • Programme starts : between 1 and 6 September or between 28 and 30 January
  • Programme ends: between 22 and 27 January or between 23 and 30 June

Prices 2026 – 2027

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, Homestay full board and registration fees
DurationPrice without flightsPrice including flights
1 semester€ 13.995€ 15.895
1 academic year€ 24.225€ 26.125
Supplements1 semester1 academic year
IB program-€ 1.200
Basketball Academy€ 450€ 790
Soccer Academy€ 450€ 790
Ice Hockey AcademyOn request-
Other
Summer camp, from 14/08 to 1/09€ 3.595
Special diet - per month€ 165

Our prices include:

  • English level test and pre-application interview
  • All documents required to obtain the visa
  • Tuition fees
  • Supervision throughout the stay by the local correspondent
  • Accommodation with the host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
  • Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
  • Medical insurance
  • Assistance for parents in Europe throughout the stay
  • Official certificate of attendance with course grades
  • Transfer on arrival and departure 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 clubs or academies
  • Visa and ETA fees
  • Cancellation insurance
  • 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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