Your Education
High School Exchanges
CLASSIC PROGRAMME
The Your Education Classic Exchange Programme is a traditional exchange programme designed for students who are open to living anywhere in Aotearoa, New Zealand, including smaller townships and rural areas. They are students who want to fully experience the daily life and culture here in New Zealand. As a Classic Exchange Student, they must be prepared to fully integrate into their Kiwi host family, school, and community. From our holiday traditions, family celebrations, food, school subjects, Māori culture, and sporting opportunities, students will have the opportunity to become just like a Kiwi during their time here.
Classic Exchange Students are supported by a passionate group of Local Area Representatives from around New Zealand. These Local Area Representatives take pride in matching students to volunteer host families who are wanting to share their life here in New Zealand with the students and learn a bit about the students’ culture in return. The families can be single people or couples, younger or older, with or without children, but they all share their desire to support students in having an amazing exchange experience here in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
A Classic Exchange is an amazing opportunity for any student who is open to all the differences, wanting to live their life here as a Kiwi.
Kia ora. My name is Fiona, and I am the New Zealand Classic Manager with Your Education. I have over 30 years’ experience in the exchange industry. This started as a teenager when I went on 2 exchanges myself, then being a host sister to students coming to New Zealand. As soon as I was able, I volunteered to host students myself, having hosted multiple students from around Europe and Asia. From there I started working as a Local Area Representative to support students coming to New Zealand and their host families. In 2014 I joined Your Education to manage and oversee our Classic Exchange Programme.
CLASSIC FAQ's
A high school exchange to New Zealand allows you to spend from one term (under 3 months) to a full academic year in New Zealand. You will stay with a volunteer host family and attend a local high school. By living everyday life in New Zealand, you will get to learn more about the ‘Kiwi’ culture and improve your English.
The selection of host families is regulated by the New Zealand Government. Families interested in hosting must make a written application, including at least 2 personal references, and undergo Police Vetting. All potential host families are visited in their home by the Your Education Local Area Representative for an extended personal interview. Every family member needs to be happy to host a student.
Your Education can accept a limited number of vegetarian students, dependent on host family availability. We are unable to accept vegan students due to the extremely restrictive nature of this diet.
Yes, most schools in New Zealand have a school uniform which students will be required to loan or purchase once they arrive.
Classic programme is primarily a cultural and academic programme, not a travel one. You are expected to attend school every school day. However, Your Education works with a company called NZET to offer tours during school holidays that allow students to see more of New Zealand. Information on these tours will be provided to students one they arrive. Any other travel that is not with your host family or school is not allowed unless express permission is given by Your Education. Students will need to complete a Holiday Hosting Application in this situation giving the details of who they will stay with, when, and their planned travel arrangements. Your Education will then ensure the person they are travelling with is over the age of 25 and is fully police vetted.
Host families come in all shapes and sizes. The criteria is that they will provide a safe, warm, and welcoming environment. It is important to be open minded and flexible as to the makeup and socio-economic status of you host family.
Host families live all over New Zealand. Most host families live in smaller communities or even in the countryside. It is vital that students are open to being placed anywhere in New Zealand and understand that they are very unlikely to be placed in a large city.
Most students will walk, bike, or catch a bus to school. Occasionally host parents will drive their students to school. But this is generally only on special occasions.
Students are required to take English and at least two other academic subjects such as Mathematics, History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Accounting, Languages. They are then free to choose two or three further subjects which could include Physical Education, Photography, Arts, Drama, Dance, Music, Woodwork, Cooking.
Students coming for a one term exchange, less than 3 months, need to apply for an NZeTA. Students coming for longer than 3 months, being two terms to a full academic year, will need to apply for an Exchange Student Visa. Your Education will provide all the documentation and instructions on how to apply when the host family details are sent for the student.
Your Education will provide a Local Area Representative (LAR) who will support your students throughout the exchange. The LAR will organise an Orientation for all students and families in their area shortly after your student arrives. hey will then be in contact with each student and host family at least once a month to ensure all is going well. Should your student have any questions or concerns during their exchange, they can contact their LAR at any time. In addition to the LAR, the New Zealand Classic Manager is also available at any time should your student need additional support of advice.
HOST FAMILY STORIES
The biggest and undoubtedly most important part of the exchange experience for the exchange students arriving to New Zealand is the host family they live with. We have dozens of host families making a difference every day in the lives of these students, and we are always on the look out for families who would love to welcome an exchange student in their home and family.
