High School in Canada

School Immersion in Windsor, Ontario | 10-18 years old| 1 month to 1 academic year | Homestay or residence on campus

This academic programme is available to students aged between 10-18 years old who are motivated and looking for an unforgettable experience overseas.

This programme allows students to study for 1 or 2 months, 1 term, 1 semester or 1 full academic year in a Canadian High School in a country whose education system is one of the best in the world while sharing the daily life of your host family or in student residences on campus with school peers of your own age.

Students can choose the school in the Windsor-Essex district where they would most like to study. Once they have chosen, our local partner will check availabilities in the chosen school.

Destination highlights

A truly unique location: the southernmost city in Canada, along the US borders, close to many large cities, such as Toronto, Chicago, Washington DC…
A moderate climate
One of the top ten smartest communities in the world
Has everything a big city can offer but with the comfort and safety of a smaller community
Detroit (USA) is a ten minute drive (professional sports, concerts, museums, shopping…)
You can choose between living in a host family or in a residence on campus with international students of your age

Why Canada ?

Canada is the second largest country in the world, it is also one of the most outstanding in terms of geographical diversity. It’s primarily a wonderful destination or those wishing to study there for multiple reasons:

The Quality and standard of living is among the highest in the world
Educational system is recognised for its excellence and its compatibility with the European system
Friendliness and hospitality of its people
Rich in culture
Safe environment with stunning landscapes and countryside

The United States and Canada are vast countries where geographical distances are considerable. The primary mode of transportation is by car, and public transportation networks are generally less developed, except in some major cities. International students coming from Europe, where public transportation networks are more developed, may need to adapt to this difference when studying in North America and may need to adjust their transportation habits by planning their journeys according to the available transportation options.

Our partner schools are located in Windsor, in the southern province of Ontario, a dynamic, safe, and very pleasant city to live in. Due to its geographical location in the south of Canada, Windsor benefits from a much milder climate than other regions of the country. Its numerous parks and beaches make it an ideal destination for nature lovers.

Another advantage of Windsor is its proximity to the American border. Detroit is only a 20-minute drive away. Windsor residents regularly visit Detroit to attend shows, concerts, games of the famous baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, or simply to go shopping. Major cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Washington, and Boston are only a few hours’ drive away, allowing students to explore both Canada and the United States.

The district of Windsor-Essex is comprised of mainly Catholic schools, but these are open to all students, regardless of where they are from. The partner secondary schools for this programme have a large non-Catholic student body. Primary schools, however, require a baptism certificate.

We have established a partnership with 8 schools of the district:

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 in which you would like to study when you enrol. Your choice will be taken into account, but it is up to our partner to make the final decision regarding your placement, in relation to the number of students already enrolled, their nationality, and your preferences in term of courses.

Secondary school students must wear a school uniform that they can rent or buy directly at school on their first day.

Courses

Students can choose around 4 to 5 subjects from a range offered by the school (each school has its own options). They can also take English as a Second Language classes to target any specific linguistic weaknesses they may have.

There are a multitude of subjects taught in the Windsor-Essex area, including: 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 able to choose subjects that really interest you. They generally take place from 8:00 – 8:30 to 14:00 – 15:00, Monday to Friday. The timetable varies from school to school.

English Courses

You level of English will be assessed upon arrival. If your competency is not quite high enough to be able to follow academic classes as soon as you arrive then there’s no need to panic, as you’ll have the chance to take English as a foreign language courses in place of, or in addition to, academic lessons. The number of class hours and the actual class content depends on the needs of the student in question when they arrive in Canada.

Young canadians typically undergo a minimum of 12 years of schooling, similar to our system. This program offers foreign students the opportunity to attend a local public high school. In the province of Ontario, the school system is similar to that of the United States. High School comprises the four years of upper secondary education.

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

There are two different school systems in Canada: the semester system and the linear system. In the semester system, students take 4 courses in the first semester and another 4 courses in the second semester, while in the linear system, students take 8 courses throughout the year.

In many Canadian schools, there is a wide range of subjects to choose from. This is a unique opportunity to explore new areas or perfect a favorite subject. Some courses are offered for one semester, giving students the chance to switch subjects halfway through the year.

The choice is equally important in sports, cultural, and social activities. School will be a unique opportunity to flourish in previously unknown subjects and activities. But it will also be the perfect opportunity to integrate into Canadian life and get to know young people your age.

You have the option to live with a host family or in student residence on the campus of one of the schools in the district.

Host Family
Canadians are well-known for their hospitality, tolerance, and open-mindedness.

Host families are carefully selected by the housing service for their genuine desire to welcome a young foreigner and share their culture through daily life. This service visits the homes of families and ensures that they can provide the participant with a balanced and warm environment.

There is no typical family profile. Each family is unique and reflects the society and lifestyle of the country you have chosen. The family that will host you may have children or not; they may be a blended family or a single-parent family, a single person whose children no longer live at home, retirees, or younger people. It is not the composition of the family that matters, but their availability and motivation to share their culture with you.

The residence

The international students residence has been completely renovated and is located on the campus of Assumption College Catholic High School. It is close to other schools in the district as well as the University of Windsor and the public transportation network. The residence exclusively accommodates international students.

The Windsor School District has partnered with the Toldo Center at the University of Windsor, allowing students to have full access to their state-of-the-art fitness center. The center is located in the backyard of the residence, with direct access from the dormitories to its facilities.

Discover dorm life through this video !

It can accommodate 60 students and includes :

Separate floors for boys and girls
Shared rooms (2 students per room)
A common study area
Catering service with 3 meals a day plus snacks prepared by a professional chef
Laundry facilities on each floor

Services included within the residence :

24/7 supervision (resident advisors living on-site)
Security service (locked doors at all times, access badges, on-site security team)
Weekly English session taught by an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher
Organized activities after classes and on weekends

The local coordinator is an experienced individual who knows the host families and the schools well. They meet with the international students once a week at their school to ensure that everything is going smoothly.

They are available to answer any questions that may arise once you are on-site, assist you with various procedures, and can react promptly in case of any issues. They are your main point of contact on-site.

Finally, an emergency contact number will be provided to you so that you can reach someone on-site in case of urgent problems.

To ensure that your stay goes smoothly and that you are informed about the various aspects of the program, you will have the opportunity to attend an information and orientation meeting organized by Langues Vivantes in Brussels, at the end of May or beginning of June. This meeting allows Langues Vivantes students to meet and exchange questions and experiences with each other and with the Langues Vivantes team. It is also during this meeting that the final administrative formalities are initiated.

If you do not reside in Belgium, we can organize a meeting at our offices in Paris or, if necessary, an online meeting to explain all the steps to follow for your stay to go smoothly.

A second orientation will take place in Canada, in the days following your arrival. You will be contacted by your local coordinator, who will be able to answer all your questions regarding your stay and its progress.

Must be aged between 10 and 18 at time of departure
Must have studied English for 2 years at least
Must have achieved good school results the last 2 years
Must have the will to make new friends and to share the daily life of a host family
Must demonstrate motivation, maturity and adaptability

Do you meet criteria of participation ?

Please fill out the pre-registration form as soon as possible.
Upon receipt, we will send you a provisional confirmation, including the total cost of the program and a request for a 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 from the last 3 years.
You will then be invited to take the language test and the interview at our offices in Brussels or Paris. The cost of this is €100 and is payable upon receipt of the pre-confirmation. This amount is non-refundable but deductible from the total cost of the program upon final registration and acceptance into the program.
We will confirm the result to you no later than 8 days after our interview.
If the interview is positive, we will ask you to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the program (with a minimum of €1500) and complete the online registration form, which includes recommendation letters from your teachers and other necessary information for the evaluation of your application
Final acceptance into the program is granted by our partner.
Once your application is accepted, our partner will begin the search and selection of a host family and proceed with the school registration.

The deadline for submitting the aforementioned folder is :

04/15 for departures in September
10/31 for departures in February

Beyond these dates, it is still possible to enroll depending on the availability of schools. However, we recommend that you register at least 3 months before the departure for better preparation of the trip.

For any urgent applications (after the deadline), an additional fee will be applied.

Please contact us for more information on the registration process.

Candidates who do not meet the age or level requirements are invited to meet with us to discuss other possible options.

Travel

Departure is typically scheduled for late August/early September for stays of one semester to one academic year. A departure is also planned for late January/early February for one-semester stays. Your family or local contact will welcome you at the airport and accompany you back at the end of your stay.

Once your registration is accepted and confirmed by our Canadian partner and your study permit application is approved, if applicable, we can handle booking your trip to Canada if you wish.

The booked ticket includes the fewest possible layovers and is changeable.

In case of changes, airline modification fees apply (these vary depending on the airline, usually around €200) plus any difference in fare class.

If you prefer to book your trip yourself, we will provide you with all the necessary information to make the reservation.

ETA & Study Permit

The school year is divided into two semesters. As an international student, you can enroll for one semester (in September or February) or for a full academic year, as well as for a shorter duration, from 1 to 4 months.

If you are staying for one semester or less, you will only need to complete an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you can fill out directly on this website

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 provide you with all the necessary documents for its obtainment and assist you in the process. All information is available on this website

WARNING! Since July 31, 2018, nationals of various European countries must undergo the collection of their biometric data to obtain a study permit. There are two centers in France, in Paris and Lyon. For Belgian nationals, the centers in Paris or Düsseldorf are the closest. This process costs $85 CAD. More information here

These instructions apply to nationals of the European Union and Switzerland. For non-EU nationals, please consult this link

Health cover and assistance are included in the price of the course and are valid for the entire duration of your stay.

Dates 2024-2025

School year: From September to June

Semester: From September to January or from February to June

It is recommended that students arrive about 2 weeks before the start of term to have enough time to acclimatise to their new environment.

Canadian students have 2 weeks holiday during Christmas, from mid-December to the start of January, and one week in mid-March, and 2 months of holiday in July and August.

Prices 2024-2025

Includes all taxes and booking fees, course, room and board

Tuition, Homestay, Full-board & all registration fees included
Duration	Price without flights	Price with flights
1 month	€ 3.945	-
2 months	€ 6.445	-
3 months	€ 8.945	€ 10.845
4 months	€ 11.475	€ 13.375
1 Academic Semester (5 months)	€ 13.745	€ 15.645
1 Academic year (10 months)	€ 23.295	€ 25.195
Tuition, Residence, Full-board & all registration fees included
Duration	Price without flights	Price with flights
1 month	€ 3.795	-
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)	€ 27.995	€ 29.895
Supplements
Return transfer fro/to Detroit airport*	€ 150
Special diet (vegetarian, pescetarian...) - per month	€ 150
Extra night**	€ 45

*ESTA mandatory
**Arrival before 28/08 or 28/01 - return after 27/06 or 31/01