Yearlong

Nothing quite proves you're ready for college like spending a year abroad. College admissions officers will be impressed with the maturity, independence, creativity, critical thinking skills and grit you demonstrate in your college application. 

Staying for the year gives you the chance to build lifelong relationships and connections in your community. You'll become part of your host family, celebrating holidays and birthdays together. You'll make lasting friendships through extracurriculars, travel and classes with fellow SYAers. You will truly gain a second home after a year at SYA.

If your goal is to excel at a second language, then choosing to study abroad for for the year is the way to go! By the start of your second semester you have fully acclimated to your new home and that allows you to further grow your language skills.

Studying abroad for a year of high school helps you to fully immerse yourself in the culture of your host country. You'll stay long enough to really get your feet under you. You will be able to from order confidently in a different language, make new best friends on your local sports team, and learn how to navigate a new city. A year abroad with SYA gives you the chance to truly build a second home. 

A year makes the most of all that SYA has to offer. You'll experience the full program, including the many academic travel offerings and school breaks in your host country. You'll experience unique traditions and holidays with your host family, getting to know their friends and family. And you'll develop the confidence of an SYAer who stays for the year. It takes time to get comfortable in your new home, and a year lets you achieve that!

Living with a caring host family is one of the defining components of SYA. You'll be placed with a family that is excited to share in your experience. They provide far more than just a place to eat and sleep and together you'll weave memories that will last a lifetime.

Each SYA country has a dedicated Host Family Coordinator who not only matches you with a family, but is available throughout the year to help guide you through the process of adapting to a completely different set of norms. 

Check out the Host Family page to learn more!

SYA students have the ability to participate in a variety of after school extracurricular activities while abroad. In addition to pursuing a current passion or discovering something new, extracurricular involvement allows students to fully engage with the local community. Extracurricular activities can include athletics, community service, tutoring, exchanges with local schools and cooking and art classes and more. 

An activities coordinator at each campus can help connect you to extracurriculars in your host city.

Check out the extracurricular page to learn more!

College admissions officers know that successful SYA students are proven risk-takers who have responded well to the combined challenges of a rigorous academic program and life in a foreign culture. Students who make the most of SYA are regularly accepted at top colleges and universities.

Click here to view the most recent College Profile. SYA students have the opportunity to take PSAT, SAT and AP examinations while abroad. The SYA administration works closely with home school counselors to ensure that all transcripts, recommendations and other application papers are sent to colleges in time to meet U.S. deadlines.

Students walk, ride bikes, and use public transportation to get around their host cities. Each SYA campus is centrally located in its city. Students live within a short walk or up to 45-minute bus ride to school. SYA students are not allowed to drive or operate motor vehicles of any kind during their year abroad.

SYA's schools are registered test sites for the PSAT, SAT and Advanced Placement examinations. SYA maintains close contact with parents and home school counselors throughout the year to ensure that students are taking the appropriate tests. SYA also offers SAT prep courses.

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 support families in obtaining visas after our admissions decisions are released.

FRANCE

• Depart September 1, 2026, arrive in Rennes September 2, 2026.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 17, 2025.
• Yearlong students return to host families: January 3, 2027.
• Students depart for home: May 26, 2027.

ITALY

• Depart August 28  2026, arrive in Viterbo August 29, 2026.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 17, 2026.
• Yearlong students return to host families January 5, 2027.
• Students depart for home: May 27, 2027.

SPAIN

• Depart September 1, 2026, arrive in Zaragoza September 2, 2026.
• Last day of the fall semester: December 17, 2026.
• Yearlong students return to host families: January 6, 2027.
• Students depart for home: May 27, 2027.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for students applying to the SYA full year and semester programs. SYA offers merit and need based scholarships, awarding aid to over half of our families.

Financial Aid Info & FAQs