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Frequently Asked Questions
​​​​Click on the links below for frequently asked questions about the German Exchange program.​

Who can apply? 

All Saskatoon Public Schools students are eligible to apply.

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How long is the exchange?

Two exchanges are offered:
  • The six-week exchange begins with Canadian students going to live with their partners and host ​families from about mid-June to the end of July. Their German partners come to Canada in late August, approximately one week before school resumes and remain until the end of September.

  • The three-month exchange begins with the German exchange students living in Canada from the end of August to the end of November, and the Canadian students living in Germany from the beginning of April to the end of June.
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Can students in the IB Diploma Programme apply?

Students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme can apply for the six-week exchange in fall of their Grade 11 year. IB Diploma Programme students wishing to go on the three-month exchange should apply in Grade 9, so they can do the exchange in Grade 10 before the IB Programme begins. 

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Do I have to have a partner?

Yes, it is a reciprocal exchange. You are matched with someone from Germany who has similar interests. They host you in their home and you host them in yours. 

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Do I have to go to school while on the exchange?

Yes, going to school is part of the exchange program experience. However, the schoolwork you do in Germany is not recorded in your Saskatchewan marks.

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How much does the exchange cost?

The main cost is airfare, which may vary between $1,500 and $2,000 per student. There is also an administration fee of $200 to cover the cost of chaperone travel expenses. Three-month exchange students will require an additional $300 or more to cover expenses for a four-day weekend trip to Berlin with other exchange students. These fees do not include spending money. ​

Costs associated with hosting a German teenager vary, depending on the length of stay (six weeks or three months). Hosting costs may include an increase in grocery bills and other expenses associated with a temporary addition to the family.

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Where will I go to school in Germany?

We have three partner schools, all located in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein in the cities of Kiel, Lübeck, and Flensburg. 

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What criteria are used to select students?

Students need an overall average of at least 75 per cent. Students must be supported by their teachers and demonstrate respect, openness, responsibility and maturity. 

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Is there a maximum number of students who are chosen?

No. The interest from German students who want to come to Canada is greater, so we can accommodate as many Saskatoon students as qualified. 

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How long has the German Exchange program been in existence?

The three-month exchange was established in 1979. The six-week exchange began in 2018. 

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What do students say about their exchange experience?

Here's what students say about their exchange experience:
  • "Lina fit in great with my family and did her part to help out. It didn’t take long to adjust to her being there. It just became normal. We went to many family events and suppers, so she was able to meet a lot of my family. My cousin suddenly wanted to have more sleepovers with us." – Katie Turnbull, 2016

  • "I remember filling out my application for this exchange more than a year and a half ago, wondering if it was the right thing to do. Now that I look back on it, I am incredibly thankful I pressed send; the experiences I have lived through thanks to this exchange were simply incredible (I still can’t believe all that has happened), and if I could go through it again, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second!" – Marie Hardouin, 2016
     
  • "My exchange was a great experience, I discovered so much about the European culture, and I really enjoyed myself. With this exchange I met lots of people, Canadians and Germans. I made so many new friends. This has been a great experience." – Jean-Paul Chateigner, 2016

  • "Ich habe so eine einmalige, tolle Erfahrung gemacht und ich habe versucht jede Sekunde zu genießen. Ich glaube die besten Erinnerungen, sind durch die spontanen Sachen gekommen, egal ob es war laufen mit Isabel durch die Stadt oder Berlin zu besichtigen mit den anderen Kanadiern, es war das Abenteuer-Gefühl, die ich liebe." – Marie Hardouin, 2016