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EnglishWhat Programs Does AIFS Offer?
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AIFS (American Institute For Foreign Study) runs a portfolio of educational and cultural exchange programs that fall into four broad categories: study abroad and internships for U.S. college students, au pair and camp staffing placements in the U.S., high school exchange and educational travel, and supporting services such as student insurance. Which program fits you depends mainly on your age, your home country, and whether you want to study, work, or host someone in your home.
AIFS Abroad: Study Abroad and International Internships
This is the flagship program for U.S. college students and recent graduates. According to AIFS, participants can choose from over 200 programs, held year-round all over the world, with options to earn academic credit and work experience.
Sub-tracks listed under AIFS Abroad include:
- Study Abroad — traditional term or year programs at international campuses
- Internship — international internship placements
- Customized, Faculty-Led — formal arrangements between educational institutions and AIFS Abroad, where AIFS Abroad provides logistical support, student services, classrooms, and housing facilities
- AIFS Professional Pathways — a separate track listed in the program menu
- Gap Year — programs aimed at high school seniors, offered during the academic year and the summer on an international campus
If you are a U.S. undergraduate, a recent graduate, or a high school senior looking for a bridge year, this is the category to start with.
Au Pair in America
AIFS describes this as the first international live-in child care program for U.S. families. Qualified young women from around the world come to the U.S. on an official J-1 Visa to learn about U.S. culture while providing intercultural child care.
Two audiences use this program:
- U.S. families looking for live-in child care with a cultural exchange component
- Young women abroad seeking a J-1 visa placement with a U.S. host family
Academic Year in America (AYA)
This is a high school international exchange program organized by the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation. High school students from over 60 countries come to the U.S. as exchange students and live with U.S. families for an academic year or a semester.
It suits families who want to host an exchange student, and international high school students who want a U.S. school year.
ACIS: Educational Travel for High School Students
ACIS organizes educational group travel programs across the globe for teachers and high school students. AIFS positions it as an educational journey rather than an ordinary tour, so the typical user is a teacher organizing a group trip or a student joining one.
Camp America
Camp America provides international staffing for U.S. summer camps. Young adults ages 18+ from around the world travel to the U.S. during the summer on an official U.S. J-1 Visa to work as camp counselors and in support functions. A related Camp America Trainee Program is also listed.
Other Programs and Services
The full program menu also includes:
| Program | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) | Student travel insurance |
| International Education for Global Minds (IEC) | Listed program area |
| Globerocker Adventure Trips | Adventure travel |
| Winter Work Japan | Seasonal work program in Japan |
How to Choose
- U.S. college student or recent grad → AIFS Abroad (study, internship, or faculty-led)
- High school senior wanting a gap year → AIFS Gap Year
- U.S. family needing live-in child care → Au Pair in America
- Family wanting to host a high school exchange student → Academic Year in America
- Teacher planning a group trip → ACIS
- Adult 18+ wanting a U.S. summer camp job → Camp America
- Need insurance for a program → CISI
AIFS has been providing educational and cultural exchange programs since 1964, and each program above links to its own site with application details, eligibility, and timelines.