Explore the world from home, make new friends and experience new cultures. With this one-of-a-kind online program you will learn about connecting with people across cultures and become part of a global community. Choose from a range of start dates throughout the year.
AFS Virtual Exchange
Now you don't have to travel to become an exchange student. Experience intercultural learning, meet peers around the world and become a Global Citizen from home!
Virtual Exchange for Teens
AFS Global You Adventurer
AFS Global You Changemaker
Change the world, become part of a global community, and learn about social innovation with two world-class organizations! This program will teach you the tools you need to create your social impact project and become a Global Changemaker, no matter where you are. It was developed by AFS in partnership with the Center for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution.
AFS Global UP: Virtual Exchange for Adults
Becoming a globally competent human and developing intercultural skills should be a learning opportunity available to anyone and everyone.
Whether you teach, study, work or simply coexist in a culturally diverse environment, global competence is one of the most powerful tools to collaborate and build a better world together.
Global Up for Individuals will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to work collaboratively with people from other backgrounds and cultures and learn more about yourself in the process.
Special Virtual Exchange Initiatives
Global Up Americas
AFS Global Up Americas is a virtual exchange program supported by the Stevens Initiative. Over the course of 2023 to 2025, more than 3,000 students will receive full scholarships to participate in an immersive virtual exchange between the United States, Colombia, Mexico and other countries in the Americas. Additionally, the program will empower 120 dedicated teachers with the tools and expertise to foster, sustain, and expand virtual exchange and intercultural education.
Effect+ for the Classroom
Thanks to the generous support of The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, high-school teachers anywhere in the world and their students can also benefit from this program. AFS Effect+ for the Classroom Program is a full scholarship global virtual program for teachers who want to learn about key concepts and principles of global citizenship education (including the UN SDGs), and how to foster it with their students. Since its first iteration in 2020, the AFS Effect+ for the Classroom Program has already engaged 750 educators from 16 countries, reaching 25,000+ high school students.
Global STEM Changemakers
Addressing global sustainability challenges requires engaging diverse young people in every corner of the world. To this end, the AFS Global STEM Changemakers Initiative aims to provide immersive learning experiences through STEM, global competence, and sustainability-focused intercultural exchange programs for over 5,000 young people and educators worldwide over 5-years across a portfolio of four unique programs, supported by bp, a global energy company.
the impact of virtual exchange
AFS exchanges are based on research
Virtual exchanges have a meaningful immediate impact on the development of global competence among high-school aged youth around the world, an AFS study found. The “AFS Global You Virtual Exchange Impact Study” conducted by independent researchers, and funded by a grant from the Stevens Initiative implies that it is crucial for students to have meaningful intercultural exchanges, which can be virtual, to develop global competence.
The results of the study demonstrate that short virtual programs, such as the five-week AFS Global You Adventurer, provide immediate growth in aspects of youth global competence, especially in terms of having a more positive view of peers from other cultures, being able to actively withhold judgement of others, and their cross-cultural communication skills.
Decades of experience + partnership with fellow experts
AFS has been transforming lives and developing active global citizens through our intercultural education programs for over 75+ years. For the AFS Global You Changemaker program we partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS), an Ivy League University and one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world.
Why choose an AFS Virtual Exchange?
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Connect with peers from all around the world.
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Join a global community of AFS Global Citizens.
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Gain 21st century skills that will help your future studies and career.
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Earn a Certificate that will help you stand out.
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Begin making a difference in the world.
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Learn to see the world through different eyes without leaving your home.