EF Foundation for Foreign Study, a nonprofit committed to promoting global awareness for over 30 years, is the leader in high school exchange, bringing more international students to the United States than any other program of its kind. 

How many students does EF Foundation place each year?
EF Foundation places approximately 3,000 students each year.  We bring more students to the United States than any other high school exchange program.  Since 1979, we have matched over 100,000 enthusiastic students from around the world with caring host families across the United States.  All of our students are screened to ensure that they are well-prepared for their exchange experience.

Where do these students come from?
Since 1979, EF Foundation has placed over 100,000 students from countries around the globe including Australia, China, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Vietnam.  Today, our students come from 25 countries.

How does EF Foundation differ from the other organizations offering student exchange programs?
EF Foundation is the leader in high school exchange.  We bring more international students to the United States than any other high school exchange program.  We have over three decades of experience and we offer unparalleled support and resources to our host families, students and schools.

We offer the strongest local and national support network in the industry to students, host families and schools. EF Foundation's host families and schools have access to our full-time professional staff located at our Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters. Our national staff is available 365 days a year/24 hours a day and has overall responsibility for each exchange student while they are living in the United States. 

Our trained coordinators and placement specialists have extensive experience working with thousands of families each year.  Ensuring that families are well prepared for the exchange experience and matching the right student with the right family is a top priority.

Since 1979, EF Foundation has matched more than 100,000 students with American host families.

EF Foundation is the only high school exchange program to offer host families the opportunity for great discounts on exciting tours around the world through EF Education First's Educational Tours, Smithsonian Student Travel and Go Ahead Tours.   Further, only EF Foundation offers a Host Family Perks program which gives host families access to more than 250,000 discounts and savings in their local communities, online and at the grocery store.

How long is the typical exchange experience for students?

EF Foundation offers students the opportunity to experience an academic semester or a full high school year in America.

What is EF Foundation's role in the exchange process?
We are responsible for coordinating every aspect of the student exchange process once the student arrives in the United States.  We find host families; enroll students in school; and provide students, hosts and schools with ongoing support and guidance to ensure a successful exchange year.   Our national staff is available 365 days a year/24 hours a day and has overall responsibility for each exchange student while they are living in the United States.