Apply to SYA

learn about the School Year Abroad Application!

Start Your Application

You will need to create a "mySYA portal" account to access the application.

Provide your email address to open your mySYA portal.
Start your application using the "mySYA" portal.
Get started on the application requirements!

Have a question about this process? Email us!

Application Requirements

The Student Information Form and a non-refundable application fee.
One personal essay.
Three teacher recommendations (current advisor, language and English teachers).
Transcript with grades through the fall marking period.
Student interview with an SYA representative.
For sophomore applicants only: at least one parent is required to do a phone interview with the Vice President for Enrollment.

Our application for 2027-2028 programs is now open!
Our application deadline is February 11, 2027.

CLICK HERE to start your application

email us here!

log into mysyA PORTAL

Why did You Decide to apply to SYA?

Alexis

SYA Spain 2026

Full Year

Nightingale-Bamford School (NYC)

a high school girl studying abroad with school year abroad stands with her host family in Zaragoza, Spain

Ted

SYA Italy 2026

Spring Semester

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (PA)

Charlotte

SYA France 2026

Fall Semester

Blair Academy (NJ)

A student and her younger host sister posing for a photo together

Are you ready to start the journey of a lifetime?

We encourage any interested student, regardless of their home school or family's financial means, to consider applying to spend a semester, or a year, of high school abroad with us.

Financial Aid FAQ

Request Info

Tuition & Aid

Admissions FAQs

Who is Eligible to Apply?

SYA accepts applications from rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors for our year long academic program. For our semester programs, juniors and sophomores are eligible to apply to fall and spring. Seniors are only allowed to apply to the fall semester.

Students applying to SYA Spain need to have taken two years of Spanish.

Students applying to SYA France need to have taken one year of French.

Students applying to SYA Italy do not need to have taken Italian, but they do need to have taken a foreign language.

We do NOT expect students to be fluent before they arrive at SYA! We are here to help you learn the language through our immersive experience. Learn more about our academics here.

Does SYA offer financial aid?

What does SYA look for in an applicant?

When is the application due?

Where do SYA students come from?

Founded by St. Paul's School, Phillips Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy, SYA currently enrolls students from about 100 public and private schools across the United States. Roughly two-thirds of our students come from independent high schools, including some of the most competitive institutions in the country. Others join us from public or charter high schools. The SYA Class of 2027 enrolled from 93 different schools, from Maine to Hawaii! See a list of our sending schools here.

To learn more who SYA students are, visit our Meet SYA Students page!

Will I stay on track with my classes at my sending school?

Will an SYA representative be visiting my school?

infographic that says when sya was founded and information on sya

Ask the admissions team

Do not let the language barrier restrict you from applying, because if anything, applying makes you achieve fluency! Don't worry about where you start, think about where you could end up if you do SYA." - Sophia H. FR'23, Concord Academy