What is the SYA High School Semester Abroad Program?

Yes, SYA Semester students will live with host families. Host families provide you with involvement in your community, authentic means for learning about your new country and culture and countless opportunities to develop language proficiency that are not possible in the classroom or on your own. By participating fully in the life of your host family, you will come in direct contact with valuable cultural, sociological, personal, political and practical aspects of life in your country that complement and complete the SYA academic program.

Yes, SYA Semester students will travel with their yearlong peers. Educational travel is a key component of the SYA experience, providing opportunities for engagement in the host country, academic learning, cultural enrichment, and personal discovery and growth. At SYA, you'll travel as a whole school and in smaller faculty-led groups. Travel is a transformative experience, providing a lens through which you can better understand yourself, your host family, the adopted community in which you live and your home in United States. Travel is also integrated into all aspects of the curriculum via multi-day trips and field trips to local museums and historical sites to observe what has been discussed in the classroom. Many students may also take vacations and trips with their host families, or earn the privilege of independent travel. As a required part of the curriculum, all school-sponsored travel is included in tuition.

Tuition for the SYA Semester program is $34,100. Financial aid and scholarships are available for students applying to the SYA Semester program. 

At SYA it is our belief that there can be no excellence in education without the participation of students from diverse backgrounds. In a typical year, nearly 40% of our families receive about $2.5 million in grants. SYA strives to meet the need of all admitted students who qualify for financial aid; however, we cannot guarantee that all families who qualify for financial aid will receive a grant. Families who are concerned that SYA may be beyond their means are encouraged to apply for financial aid and to look into financing options that can make SYA an affordable and realistic choice.

View Financial Aid & Scholarships

The application and financial aid application deadline for both Fall and Spring Semester are identical to the yearlong program was Friday, February 10, 2023. 

Students enrolling in any SYA program will need to apply for a visa unless they will be traveling with a European Union passport. Our Admissions Team will be available to assist families in obtaining visas after our admissions decisions are released.

Students who enroll in the SYA Semester program cannot extend to a full year due to visa restrictions. Please consider applying for our yearlong program!

Both Fall and Spring semester students will participate in a culminating project, but not to the same extent as the yearlong students. Teachers will help guide the parameters so that the project is challenging, yet realistic considering the shortened timeframe. 

In Spain and France, yes, provided students are able and willing to meet the course expectations. This will be assessed by an interview with SYA Spain or France staff. Based on the interview, some students may be prohibited from certain courses which require more advanced language proficiency.

In Italy, elective courses will be distinct for Spring semester students unless the student is not a beginner in Italian. An interview with SYA Italy staff will also be necessary to make this determination.

*Please note that seniors are not eligible to apply for spring semester programs.

FRANCE

• Fall semester students depart September 6, 2022 arrive in Rennes September 7, 2022.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 16, 2022.
• Spring semester students arrive January 7, 2023.
• Spring semester students depart May 24, 2023.
   

ITALY

• Fall semester students depart August 27, 2022 , arrive in Viterbo August 28, 2022.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 16, 2022.
• Spring semester students depart January 6, 2023, arrive in Viterbo January 7, 2023.
• Spring semester students depart May 25, 2023.

SPAIN

• Fall semester students depart September 6, 2022 arrive in Zaragoza September 7, 2022.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 20, 2022.
• Spring semester students depart January 6, 2023, arrive in Zaragoza January 7, 2023.
• Spring semester students depart May 25, 2023.