Saskatchewan-Québec Student Exchange Program
Applications are currently closed. They will open in September for the 2027-28 school year.
Saskatchewan students in Grades 10 and 11 can travel Canada and experience French-Canadian culture through this four-month Saskatchewan-Québec Student Exchange Program. Saskatchewan students host a Québec exchange student in their homes and schools for two months in the fall, then travel to Québec in the winter to live and study there for two months.
1. Benefits
The program gives students a chance to:
- Improve their knowledge of the French language;
- Learn about French-Canadian culture;
- Experience a new school system; and
- Experience personal growth in social skills and independence.
2. Eligibility
The program is available to Saskatchewan high school students who will be in Grades 10 or 11 during the exchange year and who are currently studying French, whether it is Core French, French Immersion or Post-Intensive French.
Students are selected for the program based on:
- Consent and approval from parents or guardians, teachers and administrators
- Consent and approval from the school and the school division
- Interest from the student and family;
- Currently be in Grades 9 or 10 (application is made in Grade 9 to participate in Grade 10 or in Grade 10 to participate in Grade 11);
- The ability for the host family to provide the exchange student with safe accommodations, family life and social setting;
- A good academic record;
- Active participation in the school community;
- The ability to catch up with their regular school studies after a two-month absence; and
- Personal qualities, including:
- being committed to second language learning, travel and adventure;
- maturity and a sense of responsibility;
- acceptance of others; and
- openness to another family, home and culture
Students and families can learn more about the program in the Saskatchewan-Québec Student Exchange Participant Handbook: Student and Family Edition.
School Divisions can learn more about all the conditions of the exchange in the Saskatchewan-Québec Student Exchange Participant Handbook: School Division Edition.
3. Costs
The Ministry of Education will assist with travel expenses to and from Québec. The host family is responsible to pay a $250 refundable deposit, which is reimburse after completion of the exchange. This deposit is to be paid once the proposed match has been accepted and finalized.
Note: Students are responsible for their own spending money during their stay in Québec.
4. Important Information Before You Apply
The student application form must be completed online in a single session.
Please complete the steps below before submitting your application to the program.
Approval Forms
Students must indicate their interest in the program to their teacher and parents or guardians. After receiving consent, students must download and fill out the following forms:
These forms must be completed and ready to be attached to the application before filling out the online form.
Letter of Introduction
Students must include a five to six paragraph letter (maximum 5,000 characters) in French for their future exchange partner and family to read. The letter should include:
- Why the student wants to participate and what they want to accomplish in the program;
- Their ideal future student exchange partner;
- Their own personality, strengths and areas of improvement;
- Their family;
- Their preferred activities and hobbies; and
- Their typical school year (activities, school structure, classes, etc.).
Images
The application must include:
- A recent head and shoulders colour photo of the student;
- A colour photo of their family;
- A colour photo of the student with friends/pets; and
- Two colour photos of the student doing activities they enjoy (skiing, dancing, music, etc.).
The Ministry of Education will send the student an email confirmation within three business days of the application being submitted.
Please note that applying for the program does not ensure the participation of any one student.
5. Apply
Applications will open in September 2026 for the 2027-28 school year!
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, speak to your teacher ad school principal about your interest in the program well in advance of the deadline, then apply!
6. Next Steps
Liaison Teacher Interview
A complete Interview Questionnaire is required to participate in the student exchange program.
Following the confirmation of the application receipt, the liaison teacher will schedule and lead an interview with the student and their family. Read the Interview Questionnaire.
The liaison teacher will send the interview guide to the Provincial Coordinator at prog.fedprov@gov.sk.ca. Please do not send original documents to the Ministry of Education.
Criminal Record Check
After the school, teacher liaison and family have approved the student's selection and match with a Québec students, all adults 18 years of age and over who reside at the host family's residence must submit a criminal record check (CRC) and a vulnerable sector search to prog.fedprov@gov.sk.ca.
With the individual's consent, CRC results will be subject to disclosure to the Québec counterpart agency. In the event of a positive CRC, the application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.