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How school-to-school exchanges work
A student exchange is a reciprocal programme that gives students a chance to attend school in another country.
Your school must apply for approval before you start an exchange programme with an overseas partner school.
Setting up a school-to-school exchange programme
Before establishing a programme, your school should consider:
- how it fits with your internationalisation policy, if you have one
- if you have the resources to maintain partner school relationships and support participating students
- if there is demand from your current students
- if you can connect to a school in a country where a language you teach is spoken
- how outbound exchanges fit with your education outside of the classroom policy
- how you will fund the exchange programme.
Finding an exchange partner
When looking for an exchange partner, consider if your school:
- is involved in international learning opportunities which you can expand
- has a current relationship with an overseas school
- is part of an international network of schools with similar values or philosophies
- has any staff or community connections with schools in other countries
- is in a town that has an active sister city relationship.
Sister City relationships – Global Cities New Zealand
Funding
Students studying in New Zealand in an approved exchange programme are considered domestic students for funding purposes. You cannot charge them fees.
Outbound exchange students are not considered as enrolled in their New Zealand school while they are on exchange. You do not receive funding for them.
Visas
All students must have the appropriate documents to travel to and from New Zealand. This includes valid passports and visas.
For more information on appropriate visas to enter New Zealand, see the Immigration New Zealand website.
Exchange programme requirements
We will only approve a school-to-school student exchange scheme if it meets these requirements.
Pastoral care
Your school must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).
You must provide pastoral care for both inbound and outbound students in line with the Code.
Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice – NZQA
Education focused
The scheme has educational and intercultural value.
It can involve extra language tuition where required. Study should not only involve learning a language.
Sustainability
The scheme is designed in a way that supports sustainability and long-term viability of the scheme.
Reciprocity
The numbers of inbound and outbound students should equal by the end of the programme's approval period.
You must tell us how many students take part in the scheme each year.
Written agreement with partner school
You must have a written agreement with the overseas partner school covering:
- reciprocal tuition
- pastoral care
- accommodation
- risk analysis of education outside the classroom.
Duration
Programmes are between 2 weeks and 12 months in length.
Age range
Exchange students must be aged 14 to 19 years, and enrolled in Years 9 to 15, or the overseas equivalent.
Enrolling inbound and outbound students
You must record inbound students in ENROL and select the appropriate eligibility criteria.
The ENROL guide has information for schools about managing the enrolments of both inbound and outbound students.
