High School in Australia

Australia is a nation that is industrialized and prosperous with modern urban areas. In other words, a modern country with exciting big cities. But it’s also a big continent with fantastic wildlife, coral reefs, snowy mountains and great open spaces. There are both deserts and rainforests, two complete opposites that very well summarize that Australia has it all!

Choose your adventure with Select

A year abroad in Australia will be filled with new experiences in a location on the other side of the planet.

With High School Select in Australia, you choose which state you want to study in. Then the state will place you in a suitable school based on your interests and wishes. Read more below and contact us for more information – we can help you find the perfect year abroad for you!

Where in Australia will you go?

Full immersion on the fly 

If you are looking for the full Australian high school experience, but don’t want to be away for too long, we also offer shorter high school trips to Queensland! They last just 3 weeks (starting in July) but provide the complete high school exchange experience: you stay with a local host family and attend a real Australian school alongside regular Australian students. It is like a full high school exchange programme, just shorter. 

Learn more about this trip to Queensland here

Go down under

The Australian continent is on the other side of the world from Europe, meaning the seasons are the opposite of what you’re used to. When the European summer ends, the Australian one starts. Even though you will be as far away from home as possible, you will soon find your place in this new climate. The multicultural population has a great reputation of being friendly and relaxed. The Aussies are famously welcoming and easy to get along with, giving you the chance to fit right into their laidback lifestyle. The land down under is waiting for you to come and learn a new way of living.

Area: 7 692 km2
Population: 24 million
Capital: Canberra
Language: English
Largest city: Sydney (4.9 million)
Country code: +61

School life in Australia

The Australian educational system is considered one of the most innovative in the world. Thousands of exchange students enroll at Australian high schools and universities every year. You will find the schools are modern, with well equipped classrooms as standard.

Summer holiday in December

High school makes up the last five years of the 12 year school system in Australia. Most exchange students are placed in Year 11, some in Year 10 and very few in Year 12. As the seasons are in opposite when compared to Europe, Australians have their two month summer holiday from December to January. The school year begins in January and ends in December. As an STS exchange student, you can begin in either January, April, July or October. There will be Welcome Camps for those starting in July and January.

If you are placed in Year 10, most of the subjects you take are mandatory and include English, mathematics and geography. In Year 11, it is common that only English is a mandatory subject. The rest is up to you. The unique range of subjects on offer is incredible, such as marine biology, multimedia studies, performing arts, Indonesian language and Aboriginal studies. Alongside these are thrilling sports like surfing and diving.

What you wear to school

In most Australian high schools it is mandatory for all students to buy their own school uniform. No need to think about what to wear on your first day at school. Put on your uniform and join your new awesome Aussie friends!

Warm and welcoming families

The Aussies are warm hearted, caring and welcoming. The country is multicultural since most of its population have immigrated from different parts of the world. This has created an overall open-minded mentality. Your carefully selected host family will probably be social, friendly and humorous. You will soon notice that Australians like to joke – even at their own expense!

Our Aussie families

Australian families are usually quite active and you may go on outings and picnics together. It could be a roadtrip to a nearby beach or a bike ride up in the mountains. For many families, weekends are dedicated to a variety of different sports. Join them for a true Australian experience!

Free time in Australia

Australia is full of possible outdoor activities. Largely thanks to a great climate. Barbecues, sports and outings in the wilderness are some of the most common alternatives. Also, the exciting wildlife is not to be missed. Have you ever seen a koala bear or a kangaroo? Well, now is the time!

Sports according to season

Sporty or not, the Australian enthusiasm will probably make you curious to try, or maybe just watch, some of the nation’s most popular sports. Rugby, golf and Australian rules football are played in the winter and cricket, snorkeling, sailing, tennis and volleyball in the summer. The coastline is full of great beaches, perfect for every kind of water activity. If you prefer to ski, you’ll find great snowy slopes in the mountains.

What after school activities you can choose from in your area will soon be clear. Your host family can give you tips and inform you about gyms, riding stables, handball teams or karate lessons in the neighborhood.

Travel in Australia

If you stay in Australia for a whole year, you will have the possibility to go on two amazing extra trips. During the school break in September, we pack our swim and sports gear to visit Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. The activities in focus will be mostly about beach life and water sports. In April, it’s time for another break and another trip, this time for two weeks. We will head out to the Australian Outback, explore Uluru (Ayers Rock), travel along the Great Ocean Road and also make a stop in super exciting Sydney. There will be an additional cost for these trips.