School Immersion in Windsor, Ontario – 10-18 years – 1 month to 1 academic year – Host family or on-campus residence
Our school programme in the Windsor-Essex district, in the province of Ontario, is aimed at all students aged 10 to 18 who are motivated to live a unique and unforgettable experience in Canada.
You attend a Canadian high school in the Windsor-Essex district for the duration of your choice, from one month to one academic year, bearing in mind that Canada’s education system is reputed to beone of the best in the world. You share the life of a local family or, if you prefer, you live with international students of your own age in residence on the school campus.
Whichever you choose, this programme offers a real linguistic and cultural immersion in the heart of Canadian life.
Highlights of the destination
- Canada’s southernmost city, on the border with the United States
- Located in the Great Lakes region
- A temperate climate
- Named the safest community in Canada
- The advantages of a large city and the quality of life of a small town
- 20 minutes from Detroit, USA (professional sports, concerts, museums, shopping)
- Accommodation with a host family or in a campus residence with international students your own age
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 journeys according to the transport options available.
Our partner schools are located in Windsor, in the south of the province ofOntario, a small, dynamic, safe and very pleasant city. Because of its location in the south of Canada, Windsor enjoys a much milder climate than other parts of the country. Its many parks and beaches make it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
One of Windsor’s other advantages is its proximity to the American border. Detroit is just 20 minutes away. Windsor residents regularly go there to attend shows, concerts and games by the famous Detroit Tigers baseball team, or simply to go shopping. Major cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Washington and Boston are only a few hours away, so students can discover Canada as well as the United States.
Watch Mateo and Duyen ‘s video testimonials!
The Windsor-Essex district is made up of predominantly Catholic schools, but they are open to all students, whatever their religion. The secondary schools that are partners in this programme have a large non-Catholic population. The primary schools, on the other hand, ask students to provide a copy of their baptismal certificate.
We have established a partnership with 8 local schools:
- Assumption College Catholic High School
- F.J Brennan Secondary School
- Cardinal Carter Secondary School
- Catholic Central Secondary School
- Holy Names Secondary School
- St. Anne Secondary School
- St. Joseph’s Secondary School
- St. Thomas Villanova Secondary School
You can choose the school you would like to study at when you enrol. Your choice will be taken into account, but our local partner will make the final decision on your placement, based on the students already enrolled, their nationality and your course preferences.
Secondary school students will be required to wear a uniform, which can be bought or hired on site, on arrival at the school.
The courses
You can choose 4 or 5 subjects from those taught by the school (each school has its own list of subjects). If you need to, you can also take English as a Foreign Language courses, to improve your knowledge and skills in writing and understanding English.
The subjects taught in the Windsor-Essex district are very varied: Dance, Drama, Music, Visual arts, Business, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Communication technologies, Marketing, Economics, Geography, Environment, History, Nutrition, Anthropology, Maths, Science, I.T, Hairdressing, Beauty, Design…
You are free to choose the courses that interest you. Classes generally run from 8.00am-8.30pm to 2.00pm-3.00pm, Monday to Friday. Times may vary from school to school.
English courses
Your level of English will be assessed on arrival. If it proves to be a little too weak to be able to understand the content of the academic courses as soon as you arrive, you will have the option of taking English as a Foreign Language courses in addition to or instead of the academic courses. The number of hours of classes and their content are determined according to the needs of each student, once they have arrived.
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 province of Ontario, the school system is identical to that in the United States. The High School covers the 4 years of upper secondary education.
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 fields or perfect a favourite subject. Some courses are offered for a semester, so students have the opportunity to 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.
You can choose to live with a host family or in a student residence on the campus of one of the schools in the district.
The host family
Canadians are renowned for their hospitality, tolerance and open-mindedness.
Families are carefully selected by the 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 residence
The international residence has been completely renovated and is located on the Assumption College Catholic High School campus. It is close to the other schools in the district, as well as to the University of Windsor and the public transport network. The residence welcomes international students only.
The Windsor School District has partnered with the University of Windsor’s Toldo Centre to provide students with full access to their state-of-the-art fitness centre. The centre is located in the rear garden of the residence, with direct access from the dormitories to their facilities.
Discover life in the residence on video!
The residence can accommodate 60 students and includes
- Separate floors for boys and girls
- Shared rooms (2 students per room)
- A shared study area
- Catering service with 3 meals a day plus snacks prepared by a professional chef
- Washing machines on each floor
Services included in the residence:
- 24-hour supervision (supervisors live on site)
- Security service (doors always locked, access badge, security team on site)
- A weekly English session taught by an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher
- Organised activities after classes and at weekends
The local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and schools. They meet the foreign students once a week at their school 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.
Dates 2025-2026
Stays from one month to one academic year. The arrival date should preferably correspond to the start of a semester, to ensure the best possible integration.
- School year: 26/08/25 – 30/06/26
- Semester: 26/08/25 – 30/01/26 or 30/01/26 – 30/06/26
Prices 2025-2026
Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at time of booking
| Tuition, Homestay, Board and all registration fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Price without flights | Price with flights |
| 1 month | € 3.945 | - |
| 2 months | € 6.445 | - |
| 3 months | € 8.995 | € 10.895 |
| 4 months | € 11.575 | € 13.475 |
| 1 Academic Semester (5 months) | € 14.175 | € 16.075 |
| 1 Academic year (10 months) | € 24.250 | € 26.150 |
| Tuition, Residence, Board and all registration fees | ||
| Duration | Price without flights | Price with flights |
| 1 month | € 4.095 | - |
| 2 months | € 7.295 | - |
| 3 months | € 10.375 | € 12.275 |
| 4 months | € 13.595 | € 15.495 |
| 1 Academic Semester (5 months) | € 15.995 | € 17.895 |
| 1 Academic year (10 months) | € 28.325 | € 30.225 |
| Supplements | ||
| Transfers fro/to Detroit airport | € 200 | |
| Special diet - vegetarian, pescetarian, gluten or lactose intolerant (per month)* | € 200 | |
| Special diet - vegan, kosher, halal (per month) | € 300 | |
| Extra night | € 50 | |
| Grades 7 & 8 (per month) | € 150 | |
| *Celiac disease not accepted | ||
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 according to chosen formula, full board (host family: lunch box, lunch on school days)
- Residence placement fee ($500 – non-refundable)
- 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 Windsor International airport to your place of residence
- Return flight, if chosen
Not included:
- Any excursions and outings
- School uniform costs
- Any visa fees (for stays of more than 6 months)
- ETA and ESTA fees for arrival in Detroit, USA
- Transfers and travel to and from school, if necessary
- Deposit for residence accommodation ($500)
- Optional insurance
- Pocket money: between $250-300 per month
- Return travel to Windsor International, depending on the option chosen
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