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What are the AYUSA Study Abroad requirements?
Successful applicants will be:
  • 15-18 years old (some countries can accommodate 19 year olds)
  • motivated students with a 2.75 GPA or higher on a 4 point scale (some summer programs allow a minimum 2.5 GPA)
  • mature, flexible, open-minded, and able to adapt to living with a host family
  • eager for the academic challenge of studying in a foreign school
  • able to meet any language requirements that apply (requirements vary by country)

How do I apply?
Start the application process by submitting the preliminary on-line application. This application will help us get to know you better and send you information on the programs that best suit your needs and interests. Once you decide on a destination country, the second step is to complete the full application and mail it to us by the application deadline. For more info, download the Study Abroad Brochure for step by step instructions on how to complete the application process.

When is the application due?
Please read deadline information on the Tuition page of the site.

Will I receive credit at my high school for studying abroad?
Each high school has their own policies and requirements on transfer credits. Your transfer credits will be based upon your high school's specific policies and, therefore, AYUSA cannot guarantee that you will receive credit for coursework completed abroad. We recommend that you plan ahead and take any specific courses that you need to meet graduation requirements, before or after you go abroad. You should discuss these matters with a guidance counselor as soon as you decide to study abroad and get written documentation of what is required by your school. Your counselor can also consult AYUSA's high school page on our website for more information on coursework abroad and transferring credits.

What is included in the program price?
Besides excellent support during the application process and throughout your study abroad experience, you can also look forward to the following:
  • International round-trip airfare from a major U.S. city
  • Assistance in obtaining passport and visa
  • Pre-departure and in-country orientation
  • Placement in a carefully selected host family and high school
  • In-country transportation to host community
  • 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance throughout the program
  • Periodic progress reports
  • Student Handbook
  • AYUSA t-shirt!

How much does it cost?
There is a $600 enrollment fee for each student. The full price of the program varies depending on your destination country and length of program you choose. Please refer to the Tuition page on the site for specific program fees.

Does AYUSA offer scholarships or other financial assistance?
AYUSA offers both full and partial scholarships for high school students to study abroad. Students from AZ, Southern CA, CO, NE, NM, IN, KS, OK, TX and UT can apply for full scholarships to Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Program. In addition, full and partial scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need to a variety of destinations. Please consult the scholarship page to find out more about the AYUSA scholarship programs available to you.

What kind of assistance will I receive while I am abroad?
Every AYUSA student has a local representative who is their primary contact in the host country throughout the program. In addition to placing you with a host family and helping enroll you in school, the local representative is "on-call" for the duration of the program to answer your questions, offer guidance to you and your host family in matters of adjustment and language difficulties, and help with any emergencies. AYUSA staff in the United States will provide similar assistance to your parents while you are abroad. In addition, parents will receive periodic progress reports throughout their son or daughter's overseas program.

How are host families selected?
All host families are carefully screened and interviewed by AYUSA's overseas partners. A representative visits each prospective host family's home, so they may meet each of the family members and ensure quality living arrangements. Host families in most countries are completely volunteer. Their decision to host an American student is based on a genuine desire to participate first hand in the international exchange experience.

I know a family in my program country that would like to host me. Is this possible?
In some instances, it is possible to arrange a direct placement. However, even if the family is familiar to the student, they must undergo the same application and screening process as other potential host families. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the placement can be arranged by the organization. Students cannot be placed with family members in their host country.

What if I don't get along with my host family?
An exchange student must be adaptable and make a serious effort to adjust to living with the host family. Please keep in mind that it is the student's responsibility to adapt to the family's lifestyle and rules, even if they are different from what they are accustomed to in their American home. Your local representative will assist you with this adjustment process. AYUSA and its partner organizations try first to resolve all problems through discussion and mediation. However, if it is absolutely necessary, we will make the necessary arrangements to move the student to a more suitable host family.

Can I choose where I am placed?
Students must be prepared to accept any placement that is found for them. Our primary goal is to find a good host family match for each student. Therefore, it is not possible to guarantee any specific location.

Where are students generally placed in different countries?
For safety reasons, students are generally not placed in large or capital cities, however, this varies depending on the country. Please check the country specific information for more details.

Is the $600 enrollment fee refundable?
If you are not accepted into the Study Abroad program, or withdraw before AYUSA acceptance, your $600 enrollment fee will be refunded minus a $75 application processing fee. Once you are accepted into the Study Abroad program, your $600 enrollment fee becomes non-refundable.

What is AYUSA's payment schedule?

$600 Enrollment Deposit Due with Application

$1500 Payment: Due within 15 days of AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance (In cases where students apply within 4 weeks of their program's application deadline: this $1500 payment will be due along with the application and $600 enrollment deposit)

50% of Remaining Balance Due:

April 15 (Summer, Fall Semester, Academic Year)
October 15 (Spring Semester except Japan)
December 15 (Spring Semester Japan)

Final Balance Due:

June 1 (Summer, Fall Semester, Academic Year)
December 1 (Spring Semester except Japan)
February 1 (Spring Semester Japan)

What is AYUSA's refund policy?
If you are not accepted into the Study Abroad program for any reason your $600 enrollment deposit will be refunded. If you withdraw before AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance, AYUSA will keep a $75 processing fee and refund $525. Once you receive AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance into your Study Abroad program, your $600 enrollment fee becomes non-refundable.

  • If you withdraw from your program within 15 days of AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance your $600 deposit will be held as a cancellation penalty.
  • If you withdraw from your program more than 15 days after you receive AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance, the cancellation penalty will be $1,000. (In cases where students apply within 4 weeks of their program's application deadline: if you withdraw from your program after AYUSA Preliminary Acceptance but prior to school or host family placement, the cancellation penalty will be $1,000).
  • If you withdraw from your program after school or host family placement, the cancellation penalty will be $2,500.
  • If you withdraw from your program within 6 weeks of your program departure date, the cancellation penalty will be 50% of the total program fees, plus any airline cancellation charges incurred.
  • No refunds are granted after program departure.
  • In the unlikely event that AYUSA is forced to cancel a program or you are not fully accepted by our partner, all payments will be refunded, including your initial $600 deposit.

Policy updated on October 1, 2005.