Language Exchange Programmes
Our language exchange programmes are a popular and enriching activity that many participants cite as their most memorable experience while at school. They offer boys a wonderful opportunity to put their language skills to use, gain an insight into a different culture and foster lifelong friendships. Boys also develop personally, gaining maturity and independence, as well as a greater appreciation for their place in the world. Furthermore, College Street benefits greatly from the international perspective our visiting students bring.
Generally, our programmes are open to Form IV boys who are interested in pursuing their language studies in the senior school. They are reciprocal, and boys must be able to host their exchange partner in their family for the duration of the exchange. The exchange experience in China is a combination of a stay in a school dormitory and a homestay with a family. We have established agreements with the following schools:
Our long-term programmes:
These programmes, available for French, German and Italian, as well as our 4-week exchange to China, all take place during the school term. As boys miss a significant amount of school and a set of examinations, they must be achieving mostly Credits across all their subjects to be considered. The success of these programmes is due in large part to the small number of boys we send, and we often receive many more applications than places available, particularly for the French exchange. Places are awarded on merit following a rigorous selection process including an interview and written application. For these programmes, families must be able to offer visiting students their own room. Boys travel as a group but are not accompanied by a Grammar master.
Our short-term programmes:
These programmes occur during the school holidays and are available in French, German and Italian. The French and Italian exchanges are accompanied by Grammar masters, but the German exchange is unaccompanied due to fewer participants. While the French and German exchanges occur each year, our Italian exchange takes place every two years, and Form V boys who missed the exchange in Form IV are invited to participate. Places for these exchanges are determined on a ‘first in, first served’ basis.
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As ambassadors of the School, boys must have an excellent behavioural record and should also consider their own suitability for an extended period abroad in a family and at school. Ideal candidates are curious, mature, independent, socially-able and above all, willing to share something of themselves and be interested in others. This is also very much a family experience, as families commit to welcoming our overseas visitors for the duration of their stay.
Costs for the unaccompanied exchanges (long-term, Chinese and German short-term) include airfare, travel insurance and pocket money while abroad, as well as the cost of hosting an additional teenager in your home. The accompanied exchanges (French and Italian short-term) cost approximately $5,500, as well as the associated hosting costs. Families continue to pay Sydney Grammar School fees for their son while abroad, but there are no fees to be paid for their time spent at our partner schools, nor for exchange students to attend College Street.
Recruitment for all exchange programmes begins for Form III boys towards the end of Term III and more information will be provided then. Given the significant amount of coordination with our partner schools, please be aware that the process of finalising places may take some time. Thank you for your patience.
The provisional dates for 2025/26 are:
| City | Duration | Grammar Hosting in Australia | Grammar Being Hosted |
| Paris | 3 weeks | Mid-June to early July 2025 | Early December to late December 2025 |
| Paris | 8 weeks | Mid-January to mid-March 2025 | Mid-April to mid-June 2025 |
| Paris | 12 weeks | Early June to late August 2025 | Late September to mid-December 2025 |
| Zürich | 12 weeks | Early February to early May 2026 | Late September to mid-December 2025 |
| Zürich | 4 weeks | Early April to early May 2026 | Early December to early January 2026 |
| Hamburg | 12 weeks | Mid-April to mid-July 2026 | Late September to mid-December 2025 |
| Hamburg | 4 weeks | Mid-April to mid-May 2026 | Early December to early January 2026 |
| Florence | 10 weeks | Mid-June to late mid-August 2025 | Late September to early December 2025 |
| Florence | 3 weeks | Early September to mid-September 2026 | Late September to mid-October 2026 |
| Xi'an | 3 weeks | Mid-July to early August 2025 | Mid-May to early June 2025 |
