School Immersion in Vancouver – Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows – 13-18 years – 1 semester or 1 academic year

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, 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver
  • The best of 2 worlds, a safe and friendly environment close to a dynamic cosmopolitan metropolis
  • Outdoor activities all year round
  • Numerous courses including International Baccalaureate
  • Personalised teaching support
  • A coordinator responsible for host families in the schools
  • 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 diverse in terms of geography. 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 large 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.

Maple Ridge – Pitt-Meadows

Nestled to the east of Vancouver between the Thompson Mountains and the great Fraser River, the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows have a population of around 100,000. They offer a warm, relaxed family atmosphere, as well as a wide range of cultural and leisure activities (multiplex cinema, libraries, sports and recreation centres, water and outdoor sports, hiking and skiing trails, etc.), and proximity to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, recognised as one of the most pleasant cities in the world in which to live.

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

TheMaple Ridge – Pitt Meadows district has 6 secondary schools with between 800 and 1200 students. They are recognised for the quality of their teaching (PiSA/OECD ranking).

All the schools offer teaching support and personalised follow-up for foreign students to help them 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. You can choose 4 subjects per semester.

Below are the main features of each school. You tell us your goals and interests, and the district will suggest the best option for you, based on your requirements and profile.

Garibaldi Secondary

  • International Baccalaureate school (only available to students who will be entering 5è (Belgium) or 1ère (France) in September)
  • Interdisciplinary Arts programme (Acting, stage production, singing, dancing)
  • Music programme developed
  • Teaching Kitchen
  • Languages offered: French, Japanese

Maple Ridge Secondary School

  • Excellent music programme: concert band, jazz band, choral music
  • Wide selection of team sports: Field hockey, Cross country soccer, Badminton, Volleyball, Curling, Wrestling, Basketball, Golf, Rugby
  • Digital Arts Academy
  • Teaching kitchen
  • Languages offered: French, Japanese, Spanish, German

Pitt Meadows Secondary

  • Music programme
  • Robotics
  • Microsoft IT Academy
  • Strong Basketball programme
  • Ice Hockey Academy
  • Languages offered: French, Spanish

Samuel Robertson Secondary

  • Few international students (25 out of 800)
  • School of Rock
  • Teaching Kitchen
  • Ice Hockey Academy
  • Languages offered: French, Spanish

Thomas Haney Secondary

  • Unique school with a self-directed learning model
  • Ideal for independent and mature students
  • Extensive IT courses (robotics, photography, media design)
  • Teaching kitchen
  • Languages offered: French, Japanese, Spanish

Westview Secondary

  • Microsoft Academy
  • Soccer Academy
  • Basketball Academy
  • Languages offered: French, Spanish

Nechako Valley Secondary

  • Specialised courses: aviation program, entrepreneurship
  • Arts education programme (music, art, visual arts)
  • Languages offered: French, Spanish, Japanese
  • Wide selection of sports (rugby, basketball, wrestling, curling, alpine skiing, snowboarding…)

Lakes District Secondary

  • Small school (360 students)
  • Industrial education (automotive technology, computer education, foods & nutrition, metals, textiles, woodwork)
  • Fine Arts programme (art, dance, drama, guitar, photography)
  • Wide selection of sports (alpine skiing, snowboarding, basketball, archery, mountain biking, etc.)
  • Languages offered: French, German

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….

*The programme may be subject to certain restrictions linked to COVID-19.

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. As aforeign 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 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.

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 site, 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.

To ensure that your stay goes as smoothly as possible and that you are as well informed as possible about the various aspects of the programme, you will be able to attend an information and orientation meeting organised by Langues Vivantes in Brussels at the end of May/June. This is an opportunity for Langues Vivantes students to meet and exchange questions and experiences with each other and with the Langues Vivantes team. It is also at this meeting that the final administrative formalities are launched.

If you do not live in Belgium, we can organise an online connection to attend the meeting live.

Another 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 is progressing.

  • You must be aged between 13 and 18 (you can turn 19 during your 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.
  • 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

Are you Belgian (Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and want to go away during your secondary studies? You have the opportunity to go abroad as part of an EXPEDIS programme.

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 Paris. 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, subject to 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 has to be processed urgently (after the registration deadline), a supplement of €200 will be charged.

Please contact us for more information on how to apply. Applicants who do not meet the age or level requirements are invited to meet with us to discuss other possible options.

Travel

Departure is generally at the end of August/beginning of September for stays of one term, one semester or one academic year. A departure is also planned for the end of January/beginning of February for stays lasting one term or one academic semester. Your family or local correspondent 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 book your 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), as will any difference in fare class.

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

The school year is divided into two semesters. As a foreign student, you can take courses for one semester (in September or February) or for a full academic year, or for 3 or 4 months.

For a stay of one academic 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 it and will help you with the formalities. For more information, visit https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/etudier-canada/permis-etudes/presenter-demande.html.

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. The process costs CAD$85. For more information: https: //www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/campagnes/biometrie.html

You will also need to complete the “ETA ” (Electronic Travel Authorization) form, which you can fill in directly on the website: https: //www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

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 website: https: //www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

This information applies to nationals of the European Union and Switzerland. For non-EU citizens, please consult https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html

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 academic year1 semester
IB program€ 1.200€ 1.200
Basketball Academy€ 450€ 780
Soccer Academy€ 450€ 780
Ice Hockey Academyto be confirmed-
Other
Régime alimentaire spécial - par mois€ 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

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