Of course, you can also combine options: for example, spend a few weeks in a host family first, followed by a student apartment. This way, you'll add variety to your stay and benefit from the advantages of both. If you have your own accommodation and only want to book the course, that's also possible; prices for this are also listed in the price overview per destination.

If you book a double room, you'll be placed with a fellow student of the same gender and, in principle, of a different nationality. However, you can also share a room with someone you know—if you book together. Sometimes, you can only book a double room if two people register at the same time. This will be stated in the price overview.

There are often several options: bed and breakfast (L) means just the night (no meals); half board (HP) includes the night and two meals a day (usually breakfast and a hot dinner). When you book full board (FP), the night and all meals are included. You can find the options in the price overview for your chosen location.

Accommodation is generally booked from the day before the course starts until the day after it ends. This is almost always from Sunday to Saturday; see the price overview for information per location. Of course, you can also travel on other days and book additional nights' accommodation.

The accommodations are located as close to the school as possible; in larger cities, the distance is often somewhat greater. The quality of the accommodations is always paramount. In any case, the school is always easily accessible by public transport.

The listed accommodations usually include bed linen; in many cases, you'll need to bring your own towels. These details are listed in the confirmation information you receive from us before departure.

In Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco, you'll need at least €300 per month in pocket money. At the beginning of each term, you'll need extra money for books and materials. Depending on whether meals are included, you'll also need money for these. See Student Budget!

Most colleges and universities are easily accessible by public transport. Public transport is particularly well-organized in and around the major cities, and you won't need a car. In Morocco, a car can offer considerable freedom if you want to explore the surrounding area. You could rent or buy a used car and sell it before your departure. However, you will need to take out separate car insurance for this.

Yes, that's allowed. Some students attend one semester and then return home. Keep in mind that you have a wider range of courses to choose from in the Fall semester than in the Spring semester.

Some colleges require you to take certain courses. You can choose other courses yourself. Colleges offer many options: most students choose courses they can't take at home, such as cultural and creative subjects or sports.

Most colleges in the Arab world have two to six-week breaks between semesters, and one to two weeks in the spring. Most students use this time to travel around the country or visit their new Arab friends back home. We don't recommend going back to your own country. We know from experience that it's very difficult for students to say goodbye to home for a second time and to re-establish themselves in the Arab world.

Yes, you can always call or email us during office hours for support or advice. We'll work with our partners to find a solution. Every college or university also has an International Office, where you can always contact us with questions or problems regarding your studies or accommodation.

You are between 15 and 18½ years old, have fair to good grades in school, and have a fair to good command of Arabic. Furthermore, you must be motivated to live in a completely new environment for a year or semester and adapt to new customs and situations.

Preparation begins with the interview and the application package. A few months before departure, we hold an orientation meeting with all prospective students and their parents. During the meeting, important topics are discussed, and former participants are also present to share their experiences and offer helpful tips. After you've applied, we can also connect you with a former participant who can answer all sorts of practical questions or simply share your concerns with someone experienced in the process. You and your parents will also receive a handbook that summarizes everything. And of course, you and your parents can always call us if you have any questions.

Your direct point of contact will be your Coordinator. The coordinator will arrange your placement at a school and with a host family, but the support doesn't stop there. After you arrive in the country, the coordinator will invite you and the other students in the region to an introductory meeting. The coordinator will also organize some activities and meetings during your exchange year and will stay in touch with you by phone and mail to see how you're doing. You'll also have several other points of contact, a Regional Advisor and a National Advisor, who can help you if you can't reach your coordinator or if you have a more complex question. You can also always contact our office during office hours; we'd love to hear from you.

For our Minor programs, we generally work with partners in Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Your application package will be sent to these partners as soon as it's complete. Our colleagues will then ensure that the coordinators in the country are aware of your profiles so they can find you a school and host family.

You can already do that. It might seem a bit early, but we're already interviewing students who have applied for next school year. This gives you plenty of time to complete your placement package and perhaps even choose a placement in a specific region or city in the Arab world. If you want to indicate a region preference, you must register by September 1st. We need your complete package by September 15th.

After receiving your application, you'll hear from us soon and we'll schedule an interview. During the interview, we'll try to get the best possible impression of you based on a personal conversation, your grades, your cover letter, and anything else we discuss. You'll hear within a few days whether you've been accepted.

We'd love to connect you with alumni or students currently living in the Arab world. This way, you can learn more about our program and the Minor experience. Call or email us.

We naturally try to find a suitable family for every student. However, sometimes it simply doesn't work out between a student and a host family. We will always try to discuss certain issues first. Perhaps a problem is simply a cultural difference or misunderstanding, and after a good conversation, you and your host family can have a great year together. Sometimes, it turns out it really isn't possible. In such a case, we will look for a new host family, or perhaps you have already met someone you'd like and are able to live with. These new second host families must also be accepted by the organization for the program.

We naturally try to find a suitable family for every student. However, sometimes it simply doesn't work out between a student and a host family. We will always try to discuss certain issues first. Perhaps a problem is simply a cultural difference or misunderstanding, and after a good conversation, you and your host family can have a great year together. Sometimes, it turns out it really isn't possible. In such a case, we will look for a new host family, or perhaps you have already met someone you'd like and are able to live with. These new second host families must also be accepted by the organization for the program.