School Immersion in the Edmonton region, Alberta – 15-18 years – 1 semester or 1 academic year

Our High School programme in Camrose, in the Edmonton region, is aimed at all students aged 15 to 18 who are motivated to live a unique and unforgettable experience in Canada.

You will spend a semester or an academic year at a Canadian high school in the Battle River school 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

  • One of the most affordable school districts in Canada
  • An ideal destination for discovering Western Canada
  • Close to the Rockies, ideal for winter sports
  • A safe region, just an hour’s drive from Alberta’s capital, Edmonton
  • Alberta’s internationally recognised education system
  • A selection of urban and rural schools
  • Authentic English immersion (very few international students)
  • Varied school options: hockey academy, arts, music, drama, carpentry, etc.

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.

Alberta is a province in Western Canada, considered to be the most prosperous in the country. It is criss-crossed by numerous rivers and dotted with lakes, perfect for water sports. Its capital, Edmonton, is famous for housing North America’s largest shopping centre, with its shops, amusement park, water park, skating rink, artificial lake and cinema.

The school district is headquartered in Camrose, a safe and friendly town of 18,700 people, just an hour from Edmonton.

The schools

The Battle River School District (BRSD) consists of several public schools located in small rural towns and in the city of Camrose, Alberta. Each school offers a complete academic programme and follows the official provincial curriculum, recognised for its high standards and quality. Thanks to their moderate size, the schools offer a warm, safe environment that is highly conducive to the integration of international students.

The schools have between 110 and 780 students. International students make up a small proportion of the student body (the most rural schools, for example, have only 1 or 2 international students, while the largest school has around 25 students).

In terms of activities, students can take part in a wide range of sports (volleyball, basketball, curling, football, skiing, etc.), as well as school clubs, educational trips and leadership and citizenship projects. Several schools also organise ski trips to the Rockies and excursions to iconic sites such as the Royal Tyrrell Museum or the TELUS Science Centre.

The courses

You can choose 6 subjects per semester. BRSD schools offer much more than traditional academic subjects. Students can choose from a wide range of optional courses, such as drama, robotics, carpentry, cooking, information technology, fashion, music and languages (including English as a foreign language). There are also unique courses such as hockey or soccer academy, depending on the school.

It is possible for students in their final year to obtain a secondary school leaving certificate, subject to certain conditions (compulsory set of courses). Do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in this option to find out more. There is an additional charge for exam fees.

English as a foreign language

If your level of English is a little too low to be able to understand the content of the academic courses, you will have the option of taking an English as a Foreign Language course at the same time. Foreign students are strongly encouraged to take this course for better integration and linguistic progress.

Young Canadians study for a minimum of 12 years, as they do here.

In the Canadian province of Manitoba, the primary and secondary school system is divided into 3 cycles: Early Years (Grades 1 to 4, from 6 to 10 years old), Middle Years (Grades 5 to 8, from 10 to 14 years old) and Senior Years (Grades 9 to 12, from 14 to 18 years old). The High School covers the 4 years of the Senior Years, in other words the upper secondary level.

The school year is divided into two terms. As a foreign student, you can join a class for one semester or one academic year.

There are two different school systems in Canada: the semester system and the linear system. In the former, students take 4 or 5 courses in the first semester and another 4 or 5 in the second, while in the latter, students take up to 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.

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 local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and schools host families and schools. They meet the students regularly to make sure that everything is going well.

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 takes place in Canada, in the days following 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.

  • be aged between 15 and 18
  • have achieved good academic results over the last two years
  • No minimum level of English required (recommended level: A2)
  • willingness to make new friends and share the daily life of a host family
  • an interest in learning about other cultures and languages, motivation, maturity and adaptability
  • 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, and a request for payment of €100 (for the language test and the motivation interview). 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.
  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 the online application form, which includes letters of recommendation from your teachers and other information needed for us to study your application on site.
  6. Final acceptance to the programme is granted by our partner
  7. Once your application has been accepted, our partner will begin the process of finding and selecting a host family and registering you with the school.

Application deadlines:

  • 15/05 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 6 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 generally scheduled for the end of August/beginning of September for stays of between one semester and one academic year. A departure is also planned for the end of January/beginning of February for semester-long stays. 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 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 fare difference) 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 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 through the process. 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 semester 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: from the beginning of September to the end of June
  • School semester: from the beginning of September to the end of January or from the beginning of February to the end of June

Prices 2025-2026

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, accommodation and meals, all registration fees included
DuréeWithout flightsWith flights*
1 semester 10.640 12.540
1 academic year 17.495 19.395
*Return flights from Paris or Brussels
Extras
Special diet (per month) 120
Extra night in a host family (outside dates of stay) 30
Grade 12 Diploma (per subject) 45

Our prices include:

  • English level test and pre-application interview
  • All documents required to obtain the visa
  • All taxes and registration fees
  • Accommodation with a 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
  • Return transfer from Edmonton airport to the host family
  • Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris

Not included:

  • Any excursions and outings
  • Extra nights in a host family outside the dates of the stay
  • Special dietary requirements
  • Canadian diploma fees (only for students in grade 12 who stay for one academic year)
  • Any membership fees for sports clubs
  • Visa and ETA fees
  • Optional insurance
  • Pocket money: allow between $300 and $350 per month
  • Return journey to Edmonton, depending on the option chosen

Dates 2026-2027

  • School year: from the beginning of September to the end of June
  • School semester: from the beginning of September to the end of January or from the beginning of February to the end of June

Prices 2026-2027

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

WPCS 42.0.3
Tuition, homestay, full board, all registration costs included
DurationPrice without flightsPrice with flights
1 semester 10.325 12.225
1 academic year 17.875 19.775
Extra
Special diet (per month) 150
Additional night with host family (outside of stay dates) 35
Grade 12 Diploma (per subject) 55

Our prices include:

  • English level test and pre-application interview
  • All documents required to obtain the visa
  • All taxes and registration fees
  • Accommodation with a 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
  • Transport to and from school
  • School fees charged by the school, including textbook hire, school supplies, etc.
  • Return transfer from Edmonton airport to the host family
  • Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris

Not included:

  • Any excursions and outings
  • Any school outings
  • Extra nights with the host family (outside the dates of the stay)
  • Special dietary requirements
  • Canadian diploma fees (only for students in grade 12 who stay for one academic year)
  • Membership fees for sports clubs
  • Visa or ETA fees
  • Optional insurance
  • Pocket money: allow between $300 and $350 per month
  • Return journey to Edmonton, depending on the option chosen
  • Late registration fees (€250), if applicable

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