a World of Opportunities

Teaching Students the World Inside the Classroom and Out

Give Your Students the International Exposure That Gives Them a Leading Edge in Today's Global Community

Our program fosters global competency and cultural awareness in communities. In partnership with the Department of State, we bring exceptionally talented and motivated students from more than 50 countries to live with American families and attend American high schools for 5 to 10 months.

High schools that partner with Ayusa invite not just exchange students to your school, but new perspectives into the classroom, language and diversity, enthusiasm for American education, participation in clubs and sports, and friendships that last a lifetime.

Having international exchange students at your school creates global citizens!

language
Think bigger
Gain international perspectives and increase cultural awareness.
diversity_1
Build relationships
Create lifelong international friendships with students and their families.
school
Open doors
Give students a competitive edge on college applications, in career choices, and throughout their lives.
trophy
Strive for excellence
Cultural diversity builds strength and expands learning for school community.
handshake
Promote goodwill
Cultivate leaders in global awareness, intercultural knowledge and positive international relations.
volunteer_activism
Change the world
Ignite a far-reaching light of global citizenship that will change students, families, communities and even entire nations.

Why Partner with Ayusa

Welcoming international exchange students into your community comes with a long list of benefits. Ayusa works closely with partner schools, host families, and students to maximize those benefits and exceed expectations.
workspace_premium
Proven Success
More than three decades of experience in delivering high-quality cultural exchange programs for high school students.
support_agent
Personalized Support
Dedicated and culturally-experienced local staff available 24/7 to answer questions, offer assistance, and ensure success.
school
Exceptional Students
A highly selective application process ensures students are goal-oriented, well-rounded, open-minded, and strong academic performers.

Request More Information

Talk with us or request more information about hosting a student at your school.

Ayusa's Exchange Students

Our students come from over 50 countries, they have a wide variety of interests and talents. See available students who could become members of your school community!
Meet our students
Ayusa High School Students

What Schools Have to Say About Our Students!

”We have a group in robotics who develops a business plan. We ask Jin-Shen's perspective about the United States. Global discussions have more meaning. His presence in several discussions has made them deeper. By preparing our students to be effective global citizens in this way we are equipping them to be the leaders we all know they can be. Having Jin-Shen here is very valuable."
David Sylvestre, Herobotics Team Advisor
”Farooq participates actively in class and works conscientiously toward his academic success. [He] frequently has a smile on his face when seen in the school and has made the easiest and most successful transition of any exchange student that I can recall in my 14 years working at Olean High School"
David Sylvestre, Herobotics Team Advisor

Questions Schools Often Ask

How are international students selected to join the program?

Ayusa works with our overseas offices and partners, who recruit students. Our offices and partners conduct extensive screening of the applicants that include personality assessments, in-person interviews, home country school and teacher recommendations, before accepting a student.

All students must:

  • Be between the ages of 15 and 18
  • Meet English proficiency and grade requirements
  • Not have completed more than 11 years of schooling in their home country
  • Undergo a medical assessment
  • Have received required immunizations by the school
  • Meet all Department of State regulations

Will the exchange students speak English?

All Ayusa exchange students are expected to meet the required ELTiS English proficiency score of 212. This score ensures that students can speak and read English.

Students may not be as confident in their English abilities when they first arrive or may feel overwhelmed. For most, they have never been fully immersed into an English speaking society. While it may take a little time to open up and become more confident, they will quickly find that they are capable of conversing with others.

If a student may need some extra help, Ayusa will help to find additional resources or tutoring for the student, to support the student’s academic success.

What are the academic expectations for Ayusa exchange students?

Ayusa exchange students are expected to maintain a ‘C’ in each of their classes. If students need extra help in their classes for any reason, Ayusa will help arrange tutoring or extra help for our students to help bring improve their grades.

Ayusa honors all school enrollment standards, academic and student placement criteria specified in school or district policy guidelines. Whenever possible, students should be enrolled in a standard curriculum that includes English, U.S. History, science, and math.

Ayusa students are also expected to be active participants not only in their classes but also in school clubs or activities. There is no better way to experience life as an American teenager than joining a sports team or band, participating in a Spirit Week, or volunteering with other classmates!

How are international students selected to join the program?

Ayusa works with our overseas offices and partners, who recruit students. Our offices and partners conduct extensive screening of the applicants that include personality assessments, in-person interviews, home country school and teacher recommendations, before accepting a student.

All students must:

  • Be between the ages of 15 and 18
  • Meet English proficiency and grade requirements
  • Not have completed more than 11 years of schooling in their home country
  • Undergo a medical assessment
  • Have received required immunizations by the school
  • Meet all Department of State regulations

What level of support from Ayusa is given to schools, exchange students, and host families?

Across the country, Ayusa has local Community Representatives (CR) who provide support to not only the students and host families, but also the schools. Your local CR will check in regularly with a contact at your school to ensure that everyone is having a successful experience.

Ayusa will do our best to ensure that all students receive the academic support needed. If an exchange student needs some extra help in any class, Ayusa will help find them a tutor or extra resources to ensure they are successful in class and meeting academic expectations.

How are host families selected?

American host families must go through an application and interview process, which includes a background and reference check. Each host family is interviewed in their home by an Ayusa Community Representative.

Will the students’ classes they take here count when they return home?

Depending on the students’ school requirements back home, their classes may or may not be credited to their coursework in their home country.  Many students come on program to enhance their educational goals and experience first-hand what life is like in an American school.  

Some countries that do accept credit for classes taken while on program are:

  • Brazil
  • Ecuador
  • Italy
  • Korea
  • Serbia
  • Spain
  • Mexico

Students can work with their schools and Community Representatives before the end of their program to ensure their official transcripts are authenticated.

What does Ayusa have to offer our American students?

Ayusa offers a variety of activities and programs for American students!

Students can volunteer to become Student Ambassadors. Student Ambassadors partner with the local Ayusa Community Representative to befriend, support, and inform the exchange students in their school. This is a great opportunity for American high school students to volunteer and meet new people. The skills they obtain and activities they do with Ayusa exchange student and CRs look great on college applications!

Ayusa also offers study abroad opportunities to Germany and Japan! Students can go for a semester, year, or summer program and experience life abroad firsthand!  Click to learn more about the Germany programs. Click here to learn more about the Japan programs.

There are also numerous other study abroad opportunities for your students, such as below:

  • YES Abroad - The U.S. Department of State's Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program, provides competitive merit-based scholarships for U.S. citizens in secondary school (age 15-18.5) to study for one academic year in select countries.
  • CBYX Abroad - The U.S. State Department funded Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is for motivated high school students who want to fully immerse themselves in German culture by living with a host family and attending a local high school. No previous language experience is required.
  • NSLI-Y - The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.