International exchange

Plymouth AFS has welcomed international exchange students since the 1950s and has hosted 230 students from 60 different countries since 2004.

Exchange students studying here

Exchange programs

AFS

The Plymouth AFS chapter is one of the oldest and most active in the state, dating to 1949 (when PHS hosted students from Germany and Japan).

FLEX

Future Leaders Exchange is a merit-based scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State for students from Europe and Eurasia.

ISE

International Student Exchange & participants live with a volunteer host family and attend their local high school.

YES

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Program provides scholarships for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations.

We need you!

Be a host family: More than providing a bed and meals, host families welcome a new member into their home, share their everyday lives, and grow as they get to know one another.

Be a liaison: Liaisons are volunteers identified as the primary contact for each host family and individual AFS participant for the duration of his or her program.

Be an AFS student: Spend a year studying abroad in one of more than 50 AFS countries.

Learn more: Contact Pat Gafney at patrickgafney@gmail.com.

Study abroad opportunities for PHS students

CIEE

PHS students are able to spend part of the summer learning and exploring in a foreign country, thanks to Council on International Educational Exchange Global Navigator Scholarships administered by the U.S. Department of State. Contact PHS Spanish teacher Laura Koebel to learn more.

AFS

The Plymouth Education Foundation AFS Travel Scholarship is a generous donation and funding-based scholarship. Awards in the amount of $500 for summer travel and $1,000 for year-long program travel are available. To apply: Complete the AFS Travel Scholarship Application at least 6 weeks prior to travel.

AFS also offers a scholarship program to make study abroad programs accessible to students from all financial backgrounds, with more than $1 million in merit and need-based awards to support students in summer, semester, and year programs.

Countries represented

2024-25: Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nigeria, Norway, Switzerland

2023-24: Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey

2022-23: Germany, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Spain, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland

2021-22: Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Moldova, Norway, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden

2019-20: Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

2018-19: Albania, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain

2017-18: Austria, Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Turkey

2016-17: Austria, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia

2015-16: Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Jordan, Moldova, Spain, Turkey

2014-15: Chile, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Germany, Russia, Spain, Turkey

2013-14: Chile, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey

2012-13: Australia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Germany, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Spain, Yemen

2011-12: Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Norway, Portugal

2010-11: Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, India, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

2009-10: Germany, Japan

2008-09: Austria, Germany, Chile, China, Italy, Norway

2007-08: Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Norway

2006-07: Argentina, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Venezuela

2005-06: Colombia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, Thailand

2004-05: Chile, Germany, Mexico, South Korea