High school and boarding school abroad · ElsewherePrep

ELSEWHEREPREP

A future that starts in high school

01

We build the school list according to the student's academic level, interests and personality.

02

Besides language and entrance exams, we plan the certificate programs and activities that will strengthen the application.

03

The application file tells the student's story. We prepare the essays, references and interviews together.

SCHOOLS

Where can the student go?

Examples with the international student fees schools publish on their own pages. We build the school list together, based on the student's academic level, interests and budget.

1

Private boarding schools

The student lives in the school's boarding house; classes, sports and evening study all happen on the same campus. At most schools, room and board are included in the fee.

USA

Phillips Exeter Academy

High school, boarding student

$71.797 per year · 2026/27

USA

The Taft School

High school, boarding student (accommodation and meals included)

$81.400 per year · 2026/27

USA

Choate Rosemary Hall

High school, boarding student

$73.530 per year · 2026/27

United Kingdom

Millfield (Somerset)

Full boarding, Year 9 to Upper Sixth

£20.205 per term · 2026/27

United Kingdom

Whitgift School (Croydon, London)

Full boarding

£20.538 per term · 2026/27

United Kingdom

Rydal Penrhos (Colwyn Bay, Wales)

International full boarding, Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13)

£46.000 per year · 2026/27

Canada

Upper Canada College (Toronto)

High school, international boarding student, Year 11 and 12

C$89.570 per year · 2026/27

Canada

Upper Canada College (Toronto)

High school, international boarding student, Year 8 to 10

C$87.580 per year · 2026/27

Canada

Brentwood College School (Mill Bay, British Columbia)

High school, international boarding student

C$105.000 per year · 2026/27

Switzerland

Collège du Léman (Versoix, Geneva)

Boarding student, full year, grades G5 to 12

CHF 117.500 per year · 2026/27

Switzerland

Leysin American School (Leysin, Vaud)

Boarding student, annual fee (tuition, room and board included)

CHF 128.000 per year · year not stated on the page

Switzerland

Institut Montana Zugerberg (Zug)

Boarding school, years 5 to 12 (lower end of the 70,400 to 72,800 franc range)

CHF 70.400 per year · year not stated on the page

Germany

Urspringschule (Schelklingen)

Gymnasium, school and boarding fee (Schul- und Internatsumlage)

€46.920 per year · 2026/27

Germany

Steinmühle Schule & Internat (Marburg)

Boarding school, annual fee for international students (Jahresbeitrag)

€51.480 per year · 2026/27

2

State schools and homestay

In Australia, state international student programmes place students in public high schools; the student lives with a host family and accommodation is paid separately.

Australia

NSW Department of Education, International Students Program (public high schools)

Years 11 and 12 (Senior secondary), tuition fee only. Homestay accommodation is 535 AUD a week extra

A$21.000 per year · 2027

Australia

NSW Department of Education, International Students Program (public schools)

Years 7 to 10 (Junior secondary), tuition fee only

A$18.500 per year · 2027

Australia

Education Queensland International (Queensland public schools)

Years 11 and 12 (Senior high school program). Homestay accommodation is 395 AUD a week extra

A$19.416 per year · 2027

COUNTRIES

Which countries?

USAExample fee: $71,797 per year

CanadaExample fee: C$87,580 per year

United KingdomExample fee: £20,205 per term

GermanyExample fee: €46,920 per year

SwitzerlandExample fee: CHF 117,500 per year

AustraliaExample fee: A$18,500 per year

TIMELINE

When should you start?

A month-by-month plan for 2027 entry, by country. Official date Our suggestion

September 2026
Building the school list and planning interview appointments. Choate holds interviews from September to February
October 2026
Taking the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo exam. Taft strongly recommends these exams for applicants whose first language is not English
14 November 2026
SSAT paper exam (many schools ask for it). Later dates are 12 December 2026 and 9 January 2027
15 January 2027
Application deadline for Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, Milton, Groton and Middlesex
10 March 2027
Admission decisions are announced (Exeter, Taft, Hotchkiss and many other boarding schools)
10 April 2027
Reply to the offer: deadline for the enrollment contract and deposit (Taft, Hotchkiss)
June 2027
The school sends the I-20. Taft sends it by email in early June after receiving the contract and deposit. Then come the I-901 SEVIS fee (350 USD for F-1), the DS-160 form and the visa interview
August 2027
Entering the US: with a student visa you can enter no more than 30 days before school starts

A DAY AT BOARDING SCHOOL

How does the day go?

Example: a weekday at TASIS The American School in England. Times vary from school to school but the flow is similar; at Villanova Preparatory School in the USA, evening study is also from 7 to 9 pm.

There are no classes at the weekend. At TASIS, on Saturday from 1 to 5 pm there is a trip or activity organised by the school.

07.15Wake up
07.40House meeting
07.45Breakfast
08.10Classes start
11.30Lunch break, houses open
15.20Classes end
15.30After-school activities
17.45Dinner
19.00Study hall, until 9 pm
22.00Evening check-in
22.15Lights out (grades 8 and 9; grades 10 to 12 at 10.30 pm)

BUDGET

What goes into the total budget?

The school fee is not the only cost. We work out all of the items below together in one table, based on the student's school list.

School and boarding fee

At boarding schools, room and board are usually included in the fee. At Australian state schools, homestay is paid separately.

Applications and exams

School application fees, the SSAT and language tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.

Visa

In the USA, the visa application and the I-901 SEVIS fee; in the UK, the Child Student visa; in Canada, the study permit.

Guardianship

In the UK, guardianship is arranged after acceptance; in Canada, the custodianship declaration is prepared with notarisation.

Health insurance

Health insurance with the cover the school or country requires.

Flights

Flights at the start and end of the school year and home for the holidays.

Personal expenses

Uniform, books, school trips and pocket money.

EXAM CORNER

Which exams?

The exams most often asked for in applications. Each school decides which exam it asks for and with what score.

SSAT (Upper Level)E3n (formerly the Enrollment Management Association)

Some private high schools in the US ask for it from students applying to grades 8 to 11.

Duration: 3 hours 10 minutes (including two 10-minute breaks)
Sections: The math, reading and verbal sections are scored; the 25-minute writing sample is not scored but is sent to schools.
Validity: Scores from the 2026/27 test year can be sent to schools until 31 July 2028.
Where: Outside the US and Canada, on paper or on a computer at Prometric test centers. Taking the exam at home (SSAT at Home) is available only in the US and Canada.

Official website

TOEFL JuniorETS

Schools use it to see whether the student is ready for class in English.

Duration: The Standard test takes 1 hour 55 minutes (listening 40, language form 25, reading 50 minutes). The separate Speaking test takes 18 minutes and the Writing test about 40 minutes.
Score: In the Standard test, a total from 600 to 900 (each section from 200 to 300). Speaking and Writing from 0 to 16.
Validity: Scores can be reported for 2 years after the exam date.
Where: It is usually taken through the institution that asks for it. The digital version can also be taken at home, under the monitoring rules set by the institution.

Official website

Duolingo English Test (DET)Duolingo

Schools and universities accept it as proof of English proficiency; you need to check one by one which schools accept it.

Duration: About 1 hour
Score: From 10 to 160, in steps of 5 points
Validity: 2 years
Where: Online, on a computer, at any time and place you like (from home). There is no test center.

Official website

FIRST, FIND OUT YOUR LEVEL

A short test before you choose an exam

A 40-question online English test. We send you your estimated level within 24 hours, then we talk about which exam to prepare for and for how long.

Start the test

NEXT STEP

What will they study after high school?

High school abroad also makes the university choice easier. On our site we explain what 251 subjects teach, what their graduates do and where they can be studied at 199 schools in 26 countries.

Explore subjects My Place test

Health Engineering and technology Business and economics Law and social sciences Design and arts Natural sciences Sport and culinary arts

CALENDAR

Upcoming dates

All Prep dates

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ELSEWHEREPREP FAQ

Frequently asked questions

All questions

From which grade can a student go to high school abroad?

In the US, students can study at any grade level in SEVP-approved private schools with an F-1 visa. In Germany, a residence permit to attend school is normally given from grade 9. Schools such as Phillips Exeter and Upper Canada College also accept applications from grade 9 applicants.

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How does a one-year exchange program (J-1) in the US differ from F-1?

The J-1 high school exchange program is for students aged 15 to 18.5 when the program starts. The student studies for at least one semester and at most one academic year, and must not have taken part in such a program before. With F-1 at a public high school, the stay cannot exceed 12 months in total; for a longer time, SEVP-approved private schools are chosen.

USA page Ask your question on WhatsApp

Does the student stay in a boarding school or with a family?

J-1 exchange students in the US stay with a host family or in a boarding school. In Germany, a foreign student attending school stays, as a rule, in the boarding section attached to the school (Internat). In Australia, NSW public schools ask for 535 AUD per week for homestay for 2027.

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Is a guardian in that country needed for a student under 18?

In Canada, a student under 17 either comes with a parent or names a custodian who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The custodian and parents declare this arrangement with form IMM 5646, notarized. In Australia, a student under 18 must have an approved welfare arrangement for the visa; the school can provide this with a CAAW document.

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When do boarding school applications close?

In Canada, Ridley College announced 1 December 2026 as the first-round deadline for boarding applicants. Upper Canada College announces the results of grade 9 applications on 26 February 2027. Because the deadline changes from school to school, you need to look at each school's own page.

ElsewhereCampus Exam and application dates Ask your question on WhatsApp

Is a high school diploma earned abroad valid in Türkiye?

For a high school diploma from abroad, you get recognition (denklik) from the Ministry of National Education (MEB). The application form is filled out through the e-Denklik system. If you are in Türkiye, the original documents are taken to the recognition center. If you are abroad, they are taken to the education counsellor's office or attaché. Graduates are asked for an apostilled or certified copy of the diploma.

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Which grade does a student continue in after spending a year abroad in high school?

On return, a recognition (denklik) application is made to MEB for the year studied abroad. For the in-between grades, the report card, transcript or leaving certificate from the school abroad is asked for. The education system of that country is taken into account, and the grade the student will continue in is set accordingly. If the parent submits a petition, the student can be placed one grade lower. If the documents are not yet available, the student attends school temporarily on a parent's declaration, and the documents are requested within three months.

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JOURNEY

How do we work?

Eight steps, from the first meeting to the first week after the student arrives.

1
First meeting
We listen first. We do not talk about schools before we understand the student's interests, goals and the family's expectations.
2
Roadmap
After setting the goal, we draw the path to it. We share country, field of study and school options with you, together with why we suggest each one.
3
Budget plan
We put the paths that lead to the same goal with different budgets side by side. We make clear from the start which payment is due when.
4
Exams and documents
We build the calendar of exams the schools ask for and prepare the documents step by step.
5
Applications
We prepare the file each school asks for in full and complete the applications according to each school's own calendar. We regularly share with you which document was sent to which school and when.
6
Decision
When acceptances arrive, we put the options side by side and make the final decision together, keeping the student's goal in mind.
7
Orientation
Orientation starts with the acceptance. We prepare the student for the new city, the school culture and the first weeks. Depending on your package, visa, accommodation and travel planning are also part of this stage.
8
After arrival
The first mornings in a new city feel a little strange. At the end of the first week, we have a meeting with our student: classes, housing, new friends, suggestions.

YOUR CONSULTANT

Berkay Yılmaz

Founder

Berkay Yılmaz, the founder of Elsewhere Academics, has been doing study abroad consulting for more than 20 countries since 2022. He founded Elsewhere because he believes every student who goes abroad is a spark.

WhatsApp Meet him

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