High School in Canada, British Columbia

School Immersion in Peace River North, British Columbia – 15-18 years – 3 months to 1 academic year

Our school programme in the Peace River North district of Fort St John in British Columbia is aimed at students aged 15 to 18 who are motivated to live a unique and unforgettable experience in Canada.

You will study for the duration of your choice – 3 months, 4 months, a semester or an academic year– in a Canadian high school in the Peace River North district, where the education system is reputed to beone of the best in the world, and you will share the life of a local family. This programme offers real linguistic and cultural immersion in the heart of Canadian life.

Highlights of the destination

A small, prosperous and dynamic town in the north-east of British Columbia
Four seasons: snowy winter and sunny summer
The sumptuous landscapes of the far north
Only around fifty international students per year
Monthly activities included in the programme (at no extra cost!)
Personalised teaching support
The friendliness and support of the entire community towards international students

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 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 routes according to the transport options available.

Fort St. John is a charming city of just over 20,000 inhabitants in northern British Columbia. Dynamic and booming, it combines the friendliness of a small community with the vitality of a modern city.

Nestled in the heart of a region of lakes, forests and mountains, Fort St. John offers a safe, bright living environment close to nature. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, residents enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle that includes hiking, cross-country skiing, cycling, skating, canoeing and team sports.

The town also boasts a host of modern facilities, including theatres, cinemas, a large sports complex, a cultural centre and ice rinks. Its warm and welcoming atmosphere makes it easy for international students to settle in and enjoy a truly Canadian experience, rich in encounters and discoveries.

The school

North Peace Secondary School welcomes an average of 1,100 students a year and boasts outstanding facilities. The high teacher/student ratio means that students receive personalised support and guidance.

Classes

Classes generally run from 8.45am to 3.15pm, with a lunch break in the middle of the day.

The school offers a wide range of subjects: English, Robotics, Digital Media, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Calculus, History, Geology, Law, Social Justice, Art, Musical theatre, Acting, Band, Computer Animation, Food and Nutrition, Textiles, Hockey, Spanish, German, French, etc.

The school offers a wide range of extra-curricular sporting and artistic activities open to all, both within the school and in leisure clubs.

Sports on offer : soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton, track & field, ultimate frisbee, golf, rugby.

The school has its own sports facilities, including a speed skating rink, hockey ring and walking track, all indoors.

English courses

Is your level of English poor? No worries. There is no minimum level of English required to take part in this programme. English as a foreign language courses and the ongoing support of a tutor for each international student are included in your course.

Activities organised by the district

Every month, the Peace River North district organises an activity/excursion for international students, a unique opportunity to discover the region and meet other students!

These activities are included in the price of your stay. Here are just a few examples : pumpkin carving, hockey game, musical theather, horse sleigh ride, skiing day trip, ice-skating, hiking, etc.

You’ll also have the chance to take part in overnight excursions. These are offered at cost price. Examples : weekend in Vancouver, Camp Cameron, etc.

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 terms. The first runs from September to January and the second from February to June.

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	secondary 2	Quatrième	Grade 8
14-15	secondary 3	Troisième	Grade 9
15-16	secondary 4	Seconde	Grade 10
16-17	secondary 5	Première	Grade 11
17-18	secondary 6	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 make-up of the family that matters, but their willingness and motivation to share their culture with you.

The families are all native English speakers. They generally live within a 30-minute transport or walking distance of the school.

The local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and schools. 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. They are your first point of 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.

Must be aged between 15 and 18 at the time of departure
Minimum level of English required: none. If your level does not allow you to follow a programme in English immediately, you will have English as a foreign language courses integrated into your programme. However, we recommend 2 years of school English to take full advantage of the courses and activities, especially for those leaving for less than one school year.
Have achieved good academic results over the last two academic 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?

Fill in the pre-registration form as soon as possible
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.
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.
We will confirm the result no later than 8 days after our interview
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.
Final acceptance to the programme is given by our partner
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:

15/06 for the start of the school year in September
15/12 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 the deadline 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 €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 participant is responsible for the airline change fee (which varies depending on the airline, generally around €200) and 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

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 it, and will help you with all the formalities. For more information, visit 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 Paris and Düsseldorf centres are the nearest. This process costs 85 $CAD (subject to change). For more information, click here.

For a stay of one academic semester or less:

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

This information applies to nationals of the European Union and Switzerland. For non-EU citizens, please consult this page.

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: September to June

Semester: September to January or February to June

Prices 2025-2026

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

Tuition, room and full board in host family, and registration fees
Duration	Price without flights	Price with flights
Semestre (5 months)	€ 12.595	€ 14.495
Academic year (10 months)	€ 21.450	€ 23.350

Our prices include:

English level test and pre-application interview
All documents required to obtain a visa
High school registration formalities for a semester or academic year
Supervision throughout the stay by the local correspondent
Accommodation with the host family, full board (lunch box on school days)
Local transport
Personal assistance, support and advice from our local correspondent
Medical insurance
Assistance for parents in Europe throughout the stay
Official certificate of attendance with transcript of marks
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
Visa fees
Pocket money: between $250-300 per month
Return trip to Fort St. John, depending on the option chosen
Late registration fees (€250)

Dates 2026-2027

3 months: September – November
4 months: September – December
School term: September – January / February – June
School year: September – June

Prices 2026-2027

Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking

Tuition, accommodation, full board in host family, and registration fees
Duration	Price without flights	Price with flights
3 months	€ 7.995	€ 9.895
4 months	€ 9.690	€ 11.590
Semestre (5 months)	€ 12.765	€ 14.665
Academic year (10 months)	€ 21.675	€ 23.575