Secondary School Exchange Scholarship

Since 1928, the ESU has offered thousands of young people the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend two or three terms in a private US high school, after A-levels. A Secondary School Exchange Scholarship is a gap year with a difference. Scholars study a range of subjects including some that don’t feature in a British school syllabus. Many scholars take the opportunity to study subjects they dropped at GCSE, or to go into more depth in their chosen degree subject, without the added pressure of A-levels. The study skills that can be gained from the exchange have proven to be beneficial at University: American teaching emphasises independence of thought, and discussions play a large part in the classroom. SSE is also as much a cultural exchange as an academic one. Host schools offer an extensive range of extracurricular activities and facilities, as well as American rites of passage such as spring break, prom, and graduation. Your independence, wider outlook and increased maturity will be of benefit to you at university and in your future career.