Study Abroad’s flagship programme, we welcome over 200 students every year to embark on an intercultural journey and self discovery while being hosted in the land of a thousand welcomes!
Secondary School in Ireland
Welcome to Ireland! Fáilte go hÉirinn
Study Abroad with EIL
Non Profit Organization
Intercultural Learning
Personal Development
Improved Language Fluency
Become more Irish than the Irish themselves!
Embark on an adventure to the land of saints and scholars.
Embrace a country full of strong music, dancing and sporting traditions.
Enjoy the landscape, old buildings, history and mythology.
Become like thousands of students before you and find yourself with the gift of the gab using the local teanga (language)!
Programme overview
The Secondary School Programme in Ireland is open to international students between the ages of 15 and 17 who already have a reasonable level of English. Students gain a thorough understanding of Irish culture through living as a temporary member of a carefully selected host family while continuing their education at a local secondary school. Participants applications are screened and placed in one of 14 host communities dotted around the country. Each community has an appointed local coordinator who is a part of the AFS/EIL team and mentors and supports the student and the host family for the duration of the programme. Students must show a flexible attitude and be prepared to be located anywhere in Ireland including rural locations.
Students can choose from programme lengths of one term (up to Christmas break), two terms (August up to Easter break) or a full year with start dates at the end of August and start of January each year. Alternative periods can be arranged on special request.
Past Experiences
Read stories from Students and Host Families
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Bidding Farewell to Our Incredible AFS Thai Students
As our AFS Thai students—Famie, Merlyn, and Kiki—prepare to depart this weekend, we look back on their time with us with pride, joy, and a touch of sadness. It has… -
75th anniversary of AFS exchange programs
Over the last year AFS made a significant impact worldwide. Nearly 8,000 students participated in our exchange programs hosted by thousands of families; more than 4,500 people enrolled in our digital… -
“The experience isn’t comparable to any other experience of mine.” – – Grace Kirwan
Hello, I’m Grace (back, 3rd from right ). I recently just spent four months in Germany in a town called Recklinghausen in the Nord Rhein region. One of the best…
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“I cannot tell you how proud we were of her”
We received this wonderful piece from one of our Host Families in Clare, about Martha Liedtke, a student from Germany: “Martha joined our family and community here in Tulla… -
Host family Awards and testimonials from local coordinators
Below are some of the wonderful families from all across Ireland that host our international students and go above and beyond in their care for them. Lillian Cronin, Local Coordinator… -
Hosting a Korean student in the sunny southeast
John and Linda Wilmott and their two sons Craig and Jason hosted Chiho Kim from Korea for 5 months in Tramore, Co. Waterford where he attended school at CBS Tramore.…
Life long memories
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Irish traditional dancing
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Scholars in uniform
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Hurling - a game of warriors
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Fun on the farm
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Old buildings everywhere
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Enjoying the landscape
Programme details
What is included in the programme?
- An on-arrival orientation covering programme issues, cultural introduction to life in Ireland, living in a host family, culture shock.
- Full board and lodging with a host family for the duration of the academic term, semester or year. All families will be interviewed and selected on the basis of their interest in educational exchange and their ability to provide a positive home environment. Host families in Ireland are paid a hospitality allowance.
- Enrollment in a local secondary school
- Return transfers from the recommended arrival airport to the host community.
- Support and counseling services by the local AFS/EIL representative and/or AFS/EIL staff member.
- 24 hour emergency telephone support from the AFS/EIL office in Cork.
What is not included in the programme?
How to apply
New partnerships
Contact us
Contact Us - Study Abroad
If you have a question for the Study Abroad Team please fill out the form below and a member of the team will get in touch as soon as they can