Campuses

Three campuses, one shared vision. School Year Abroad operates three campuses united by a single mission: to guide students through a challenging curriculum focused on developing skills for an increasingly interdependent world. Central to the SYA experience is the adventure of fully engaging with different languages, cultures and peoples.

A full academic year spent living and studying abroad in high school with SYA is a complete cultural and linguistic experience that will enable you to broaden your world perspective, form lifelong friendships, become a member of a new family and travel off the beaten path, all while earning high school credit. Click the campus icons below to find out more.

Our U.S. home office is located in North Andover, MA, where our president and administrative team manage central functions, such as admissions and alumni relations, and provide guiding leadership for all SYA campuses. In each country, our campuses are run by a U.S. Resident Director and a combination of U.S. and local faculty.

Our Story

School Year Abroad was founded in 1964 by Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Within a few years, Phillips Exeter Academy and St. Paul’s School joined to support this endeavor. Today, SYA operates independently as a school fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Our Students

SYA has 47 member schools located around the United States and in London. While approximately 40 percent of our students come to us from member schools, SYA accepts qualified students from all high schools. Our students form close bonds and support each other even as they fully immerse themselves in the language and customs of their chosen country. Together with faculty, SYA students create a learning community that is dedicated to global understanding in a complex, place-based, experiential way.

Our Focus

The basic act of living abroad with a host family provides fundamental growth. SYA, however, seeks even deeper learning for our students. We have designed a highly-deliberate program to deepen four key student skills: language proficiency; critical and creative thinking; intercultural competence; independence and interdependence. 

Our Faculty and Staff

English and math teachers come to SYA with years of college-preparatory experience in U.S. education. They are often drawn from our member schools. They join expert local faculty who know how to help U.S. students maximize their studies abroad.