France
Study abroad in France, famous for its art and literature, high fashion, and delicious food.
Why study in France?
Few countries do food, fashion, and fabulous architecture better than France. Croissants, cheese, Coco Chanel, the Champs-Elysees – need we say more? And that’s not even mentioning the stunning scenery! Home to 66 million people, France is a beautiful, fascinating country. You’ll love the delicious food, pretty landscapes, gorgeous buildings, and great shopping.
I love doing everything with my host family and friends. It was awesome being able to visit all kinds of places while learning about the history of France.
Eleanor, Hamilton
Placements
You can choose to study in France for as little as six weeks or as long as one academic year. Our short placements are highly flexible – you can choose the length of the programme and the time of departure (please email exchange@nziiu.co.nz for more information).
Our annual six-week exchange programme begins in late November/early December. You will enjoy approximately ten days of school vacation time over Christmas and New Year – providing a special experience with your French host family over this time. If enough students participate in the six-week exchange, it will conclude with a three-day tour of Paris. Gap year students are welcome to apply for all placements but must be no older than 18 years on departure.
Placements may be anywhere in France, but are most often in small towns around the north-west and southern regions of the country. Students will most likely be placed in lowly-populated suburbs and rural areas, although they may be placed in cities. On the map below you can see where some of our past students have been placed. All of our host families are carefully vetted. We conduct home interviews, inspections, and police checks to ensure our students are placed in a secure and supportive environment.
We aren’t currently offering exchanges to France. Please check back again later.
Duration
Departs
Returns
Application deadline
Price
Covered expenses
Included in the fee:
- School and family documents for your student visa application
- Placement in a suitable host family and school
- Full board and lodging with a host family, excluding school lunches (School lunch included in semester and academic year programmes)
- Pre-departure orientation in NZ and arrival orientation in France
- Meet and greet at the airport in NZ and at the airport in France
- Transfer to your host community from Paris airport (and back again)
- Ongoing pastoral care by the exchange providers
- 24/7 emergency assistance in France and NZ
- Certificate of completion upon return
Other costs
Not included in the fee:
Flights
You are responsible for paying all domestic and international airfares between your home and Paris.
Insurance
You will be required to purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to your departure.
Visas
All visa fees and translation fees are payable to the French Embassy in Wellington.
School setup
Depending on your school and subject choices, you may be required to pay for expenses such as basic school fees, books, and equipment.
Spending money
We recommend allocating approximately $450 NZD spending money per month to cover things like transport, school lunches, and weekend activities.
Optional trips
It’s a good idea to save some money for optional trips organised by your host family or your host organisation in France.
Eligibility
Students must be:
- Aged between 15 and 18 years prior to the programme start date
- A New Zealand Citizen or hold Permanent Residency
- Enrolled in a high school
- Willing to learn French prior to and during the exchange
- Fit, well, and have a suitable personality profile
- Academically motivated
Visas
If you are going on exchange for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a visa de long sejour (for those aged 18 years or older) or a Minuer Scholarise (for those aged under 18). As part of the visa application process, you must visit the French Embassy in Wellington. Please factor the travel costs to visit the embassy into your budget.
Language
Students are required to study French for at least two years prior to departure. You need a good understanding of the language (written and oral). If you do not meet this requirement, a two-week language course is compulsory. Optional two-week or three-week language courses are also available upon request (please note these courses will incur extra cost).
Financing and scholarships
We know that financing your exchange might be a bit of a challenge, but don’t let that hold you back from pursuing the experience of a lifetime! NZIIU offers a select number of scholarships each year to exceptional students who require some financial assistance, as well as fundraising kits.
Explore now »NZIIU fundraising kit »
Meet our past students
Meet our NZIIU Student Ambassadors at one of our information day events! These students who have recently been on exchange have done it all, and are here to share their knowledge, experiences, and stories from exchange.
Learn More »