School Immersion in France – 13-18 years – 1 month to 1 academic year

Our school programme in France is aimed at motivated students aged between 13 and 18 who want to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience.

You will spend 1 term, 1 semester or 1 academic year (or 1 or 2 months if you prefer a shorter stay) at a French secondary school while sharing the life of your host family. This programme offers real linguistic and cultural immersion at the heart of French life.

Highlights of the destination

  • A rich historical and cultural heritage
  • Discovery of a renowned school system
  • Great geographical diversity
  • The opportunity to choose your region
  • 3 fun excursions on site
  • An optional French language course
  • Warm and involved host families

Why France?

France is Europe’s largest country, with an exceptional diversity of landscapes and culture. Each region has its own charm, gastronomy and cultural assets. From Paris to the Alps via Lyon, from Normandy to Brittany, from Bordeaux to the Pyrenees, or whether you’re in the heart of the Massif Central, you’ll meet a people who are proud of their culture and always eager to show off the beauty and special features of their region.

Placements can take place anywhere in France, usually in small towns, where families have more time and space to welcome young foreigners.

If you prefer to choose your region, an urban environment, a particular school, class or sport, that’s entirely possible with our Premium programme.

Classic High School Programme

Placements can take place anywhere in France, usually in small towns or more rural areas, where families have more time and space to welcome young foreign students.

If you have any preferences, please let us know. We will pass them on to our partner and do our best to meet them, although we cannot guarantee that we will.

High School Premium Programme

This Premium programme offers students the opportunity to make 1 or 2 choices from the following list, in order of priority (to be specified at the time of enrolment). The 1st and/or 2nd choice will be guaranteed.

  • Region of choice
  • Placement in an urban area (city and suburbs)
  • Placement adapted to students with special dietary requirements or allergies
  • Specific activity (sport, music)
  • Specific school, class, subject or section.

Regions to choose from

  • Hauts-de-France : Lille; Amiens, Cambrai, Roubaix
  • Bourgogne – Franche Comté : Besançon, Lons-le-Saunier, Mâcon, Chalon-sur-Saône
  • Centre-Val de Loire : Chartres, Tours, Bourges
  • Occitanie : Toulouse, Castres, Montpellier, Nîmes, Sète
  • Nouvelle Aquitaine : Bordeaux, Arcachon Bay, Bayonne, La Rochelle
  • Bretagne, Pays de la Loire, Normandie : Rennes, Saint-Malo, Vannes, Nantes, Rouen, Caen, Angers
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : Lyon, Valence, Montélimar, Clermont-Ferrand
  • Grand-Est : Nancy, Metz, Strasbourg, Reims, Troyes
  • Paris: Paris and its suburbs

Note: in the case of a specific request for a particular public school, tuition fees are extra.

French language course option

A 2 or 3 week language course in Saint-Malo (in August) or Paris (in January) is offered before the start of the programmes. This course is highly recommended for students who wish to improve their language level before starting their course and thus facilitate their integration.

“Optional “Fun trips

3 excursions are offered to foreign students during the year. These trips are supervised by Group Leaders.

October – Paris and Disneyland: a 4-day, 3-night stay with full board and accommodation in a residence. Visit to the main attractions of the French capital (Eiffel Tower, cruise on the Seine, Louvre Museum, Montmartre and the Latin Quarter, Notre-Dame de Paris, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, shopping at Galeries Lafayette) and entrance to Disneyland Resort Paris.

February – Skiing in the Alps: a week’s stay (6 nights) on a full-board basis in a residence in Châtel (Haute-Savoie). Ski equipment is provided on site and students are supervised by instructors. Open to beginners. Recreational activities, tasting of local specialities and snowball fights are also on the programme!

June – Côte d’Azur: a one-week trip (6 nights) at the end of the school year. Discover Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco…

Transport, organised activities and full-board accommodation (except for the Côte d’Azur, which is half-board) are included in the programme.

N.B.: These excursions are subject to a sufficient number of participants. For prices, please contact us.

Schools can be public or private. Placement depends on the host family’s place of residence and the schools that the family’s children attend or have attended.

The choice of class is made by the head teacher on the basis of your academic record, your level of French and the number of places available at the time of your placement.

Pupils enter secondary school from the age of 11. From 11 to 14, they go to collège (classes 6ème to 3ème), then from 15 to 18 they go to lycée (classes 2nde to terminale).

At the end of 1ère and terminale, students sit the various exams for the baccalauréat, which is a prerequisite for further study in higher education.

Classes generally run from Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.00pm or 6.00pm. The academic rhythm is fast-paced, with an average of 32 hours of classes per week plus hours of personal work. In most subjects, teachers give homework which is marked.

All courses are compulsory.

The subjects

  • In 3e (14-15 year olds) and 2nde (15-16 year olds), the subjects generally taught are: French literature, foreign languages, history, geography, maths, economics and science
  • In 1ère (16-17 years), in addition to the compulsory subjects, students choose 3 special subjects from among the following:
    • Arts
    • Biology-ecology
    • History-geography, geopolitics and political science
    • Humanities, literature and philosophy
    • Foreign languages, literature and cultures
    • Literature and ancient languages and cultures
    • Mathematics
    • Numeracy and computer science
    • Physics and chemistry
    • Life and Earth Sciences
    • Engineering sciences
    • Economic and social sciences
  • In Terminale (17-18 years old), students continue with only 2 of their specialised subjects

In France, schools offer very few extra-curricular activities. As a result, students take part in activities and sports outside the school environment.

tableau des équivalences

Host families are either volunteers (classic programme – except for 10-month programmes) or receive a small financial compensation (Premium programme), but whatever the programme chosen, they want to welcome young foreigners and share their culture and way of life with them. After being selected on the basis of a home interview and references, the family plays an active role in choosing the young person they will host.

Families generally live in small towns or rural areas. But wherever you are placed, your stay will be an opportunity for you to take part in a real French experience in a warm and welcoming family.

You will be accommodated in a single or shared room, depending on the family. In the latter case, you may share your room with a child of the family or with a student of another nationality who is no more than 2 years older than you.

Meals are included on a full-board basis: during school terms, lunches are taken in the school canteen.

There is no such thing as a typical family. 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.

During your stay in France, you will have thehelp and support of a local correspondent. This is the person who prepares your stay, selects your host family and deals with your school enrolment.

He or she will be there to answer all your questions and sort out any minor problems that may arise. She is also there to intervene if there are any problems with the host family, or simply to make sure that everything runs smoothly. She will be your key contact throughout your stay.

  • You must be aged between 13 and 18, and have not yet completed your school leaving date*
  • Have a level of French that enables you to communicate and exchange ideas: at least 2 years’ study of the language. Otherwise, the language course is compulsory.
  • Have obtained good academic results over the last two years (average at least equal to B, no more than one non-validated subject per year)
  • Demonstrate the motivation, maturity, adaptability and open-mindedness that are the real keys to a successful stay.

*Students turning 19 during the programme will be considered, but there is no guarantee of placement.

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 complete enrolment pack. We will also ask you to send us a copy of your school reports for the last 2 years.
  3. You will then be invited to come and take the language test and interview at our offices in Brussels or Paris. The cost of this interview is payable on receipt of the pre-confirmation and 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 the application, which includes 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 school.

The complete application form must be sent to us by the following dates

Stay starting in September :

  • 15/04 (for EU citizens)
  • 1/04 (for students requiring a visa)

Stay starting in January

  • 01/10 (for EU citizens)
  • 15/09 (for students requiring a visa)

After these dates, enrolments are still possible on request and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The “late registration” supplement will be applied (see prices).

Travel

Arrival airport/station: depending on your host region. The airport or station of arrival will be communicated to you at the time of booking.

Visa

Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa to enter France. Citizens of other countries (such as the United States, Brazil, Japan, Korea, etc.) can stay in France for a period of three months without a visa.

If the programme exceeds 90 days (3 months), you must come to France with a long-stay visa covering the entire duration of your stay. However, you may be issued with a provisional visa and need to apply for a visa extension from the nearest prefecture during your first three months in France. Discuss this with your local correspondent as soon as you arrive.

If you turn 18 during your stay, you will need to apply for a residence permit from the nearest prefecture. They will ask you for various documents, including an official translation of your birth certificate. If you didn’t bring it with you, ask your parents for it as soon as you arrive in France, so that you can get it in time.

All costs incurred by these procedures are the responsibility of the student.

Medical/accident/repatriation and civil liability insurance is compulsory for this type of stay. You will be asked for a certificate when you submit your application.

Langues Vivantes offers you a complete insurance package adapted to young people’s stays abroad, see Insurance and guarantees

Dates 2024-2025

Arrival – end of August

  • School year: 30/08/24-13/06/25
  • 3 months: 30/08/2024 – 29/11/2024
  • 4 months: 30/08/2024 – 20/12/2024
  • 6 months: 30/08/2024 – 28/02/2025

Arrival – January

  • 3 months: 06/01/2025 – 28/03/2025
  • 4 months: 06/01/2025 – 25/04/2025
  • 6 months: 06/01/2025 – 13/06/2025

School holidays :

  • All Saints’ Day: 19/10/24 – 04/11/24
  • Christmas: 21/12/24 – 06/01/25
  • Winter: 2 weeks between 08/02/25 and 10/03/25 depending on the region
  • Spring: 2 weeks between 05/04/25 and 05/05/25 depending on the region
  • Summer: 05/07/25 to 01/09

Optional French course:

Saint-Malo (August)*

  • 2 and 3 weeks: dates to be confirmed

Paris (January)

  • 2 weeks: dates to be confirmed

The course includes: 15 hours of French lessons (introduction to the French way of life and school system, vocabulary, literature and civilisation), 2 cultural activities per week and accommodation with a host family, in a shared or single room with full board (packed lunch).

Prices 2024-2025

WPCS 42.0.3
Classic programme, Course, Homestay, Full board
1 month€ 2.380
2 months€ 3.620
3 months€ 4.495
4 months€ 4.750
6 months€ 5.860
10 months€ 8.995
Premium programme, Course, Homestay, Full board (Except Paris)
3 months€ 5.710
4 months€ 6.530
6 months€ 8.560
10 months€ 12.680
Premium programme, Course, Homestay, Full board (Paris)
3 months€ 6.020
4 months€ 6.795
6 months€ 8.920
10 months€ 13.195
Supplements
St Malo French course (2 weeks) - August€ 1.495
St Malo French course (3 weeks) - August€ 1.795
Paris French course (2 weeks) - August€ 1.795
Return transfer€ 250
Late registration€ 300

Late registration fee: €300

The above prices include:

  • French level test and pre-application interview
  • Lycée or collège registration formalities
  • Selection of host family
  • Accommodation with a host family, full board (lunch taken in the school canteen during the week)
  • Assistance, support and follow-up from the local correspondent and our local partner throughout the stay
  • An orientation session in the host region at the beginning of the stay (for stays starting in September and January only)
  • Transfer on arrival (designated airport or train station) to the final destination
  • Living Languages assistance to parents
  • School results (termly) and certificate of attendance

Not included:

  • Return journey to the designated airport/station
  • Books and school supplies (allow €300 to €350)
  • Public school tuition fees (premium programme only, if the participant requests a specific school)
  • Local transport
  • Pocket money and personal expenses, including telephone and Internet costs, rental of a computer or tablet at the school if necessary… (allow €250/300 per month)
  • Return transfer
  • Any visa fees (only for non-EU nationals)
  • Compulsory medical and civil liability insurance

Dates 2025-2026

Arrival – end of August

The school year starts on 01/09/2025.

  • School year: 29/08/25 – 12/06/26
  • 3 months: 29/08/2025 – 28/11/2025
  • 4 months: 29/08/2025 – 19/12/2025
  • 6 months: 29/08/2025 – 27/02/2026

Arrival – January

  • 3 months: 05/01/2026 – 27/03/2026
  • 4 months: 05/01/2026 – 24/04/2026
  • 6 months: 05/01/2026 – 12/06/2026

School holidays :

  • All Saints’ Day: 18/10/25 – 03/11/25
  • Christmas: 20/12/25 – 05/01/26
  • Winter: 2 weeks between 07/02/26 and 9/03/26 depending on the region
  • Spring: 2 weeks between 04/04/26 and 04/05/26 depending on the region
  • Summer: 04/07/26 to 01/09/26

Optional French course:

Saint-Malo (August)*

  • 2 and 3 weeks: dates to be confirmed

Paris (January)

  • 2 weeks: dates to be confirmed

The course includes: 15 hours of French lessons (introduction to the French way of life and school system, vocabulary, literature and civilisation), 2 cultural activities per week and accommodation with a host family, in a shared or single room with full board (packed lunch).

Prices 2025-2026

WPCS 42.0.3
Classic programme, Course, Homestay, Full board
1 month€ 2.380
2 months€ 3.620
3 months€ 4.495
4 months€ 4.750
6 months€ 5.860
10 months€ 8.995
Premium programme, Course, Homestay, Full board (Except Paris)
3 months€ 5.710
4 months€ 6.530
6 months€ 8.560
10 months€ 12.680
Premium programme, Course, Homestay, Full board (Paris)
3 months€ 6.020
4 months€ 6.795
6 months€ 8.920
10 months€ 13.195
Supplements
St Malo French course (2 weeks) - August€ 1.495
St Malo French course (3 weeks) - August€ 1.795
Paris French course (2 weeks) - August€ 1.795
Return transfer€ 250
Late registration€ 300

The above prices include:

  • French level test and pre-application interview
  • Lycée or collège registration formalities
  • Selection of host family
  • Accommodation with a host family, full board (lunch taken in the school canteen during the week, included up to €7/day)
  • Assistance, support and follow-up from the local correspondent and our local partner throughout the stay
  • An orientation session in the host region at the beginning of the stay (for stays starting in September and January only)
  • Transfer on arrival (designated airport or train station) to the final destination
  • Living Languages assistance to parents
  • School results (termly) and certificate of attendance

Not included:

  • Return journey to the designated airport/station
  • Books and school supplies (allow €300 to €350)
  • Public school tuition fees (premium programme only, if the participant requests a specific school)
  • Local transport
  • Canteen meals (if the price is more than €7/day, the student must pay the difference)
  • Pocket money and personal expenses, including telephone and Internet costs, rental of a computer or tablet at the school if necessary… (allow €250/300 per month)
  • Return transfer
  • Any visa fees (only for non-EU nationals)
  • Compulsory medical and civil liability insurance

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