Japanese Exchange Program

In 2025, St. Andrew's joined the exchange partnership with Momoyama Gakuin High School, an established international program founded in 1972 through the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

The Program

Students have the opportunity to spend their sophomore year at Momoyama Gakuin High School in Osaka, Japan, living with a host family, attending classes and joining the daily life of a Japanese school. In return, Momoyama students spend a year at St. Andrew's in Austin.

Who Can Apply?

Current St. Andrew’s ninth-grade students are eligible to apply during the fall of their freshman year for the opportunity to participate in the exchange during their sophomore year.

Students considering the program should understand that this is much more than a year of international travel. Participants are committing themselves to becoming active members of another school, family and community.

Applications for students in the class of 2030 are due by Friday, December 11, 2026.

Apply Here

Students should be prepared to...

List of 7 items.

Approach the experience with curiosity, maturity and flexibility.
Engage seriously in their academic responsibilities.
Adapt to the expectations and routines of their host family and school.
Participate actively in the life of the Momoyama community.
Work through language and cultural differences.
Advocate for themselves and ask for help when needed.
Embrace the increased independence that comes with living abroad.

What Students Gain

List of 6 items.

Independence

Students manage daily life away from home and learn to advocate for themselves.
Adaptability

New routines, customs and expectations become familiar with time and practice.
Language and Communication

Japanese improves through everyday conversations with classmates, teammates and host families.
Confidence

Students find out they can solve problems on their own, and learn when to ask for help.
Empathy and perspective

Friendships with people whose lives differ from their own change how students see the world.
Global connections

Students return home with relationships overseas and a clearer sense of how their own lives connect to people and places far from home.

What Is Expected of a Host Family?

List of 8 items.

Provide a private bedroom and comfortable place to call home.

Sharing a bathroom with siblings is perfectly appropriate.
Commit to one academic year or one semester.

Participants from St. Andrew's who study in Japan will be well taken care of by a host family or families. We therefore ask the families of participating students to open their home up to one of our visiting Japanese students for at least one academic semester as a way of bringing the exchange experience full circle.
Provide meals and include the student in family routines.

Students can participate in meals, age-appropriate household responsibilities, family activities and outings. There is no need to change the family's rhythm.
Help arrange transportation to and from school.

Families may drive, arrange carpools or use St. Andrew’s school transportation options. In cases of logistical challenges, the JEP team is prepared to support host families.
Help the student participate in St. Andrew’s life.

Athletic events, performances, dances and other activities are an important part of experiencing American high school life. Exchange students are encouraged to participate in school clubs, sports teams, and/or fine arts performances.
Communicate with patience and openness.

Asking questions, listening carefully, speaking more slowly when helpful and using translation tools can make communication easier. The JEP team is always available for support or guidance.
Treat the student as part of the family.

Appropriate household expectations, routines, curfews and responsibilities can help students feel included rather than like guests. The homestay experience is an invaluable part of the overall experience for the exchange students.
Stay connected with St. Andrew’s.

Families are not expected to navigate challenges alone. School staff and the Exchange Program team are available to provide guidance and support.

FAQs

List of 6 items.

What does the program cost?

Participating families continue to pay the SAS tuition for their child. In addition to school tuition, the required costs to participate in the exchange program are: health insurance (about $115 for the year), the airfare to and from Osaka, Japan, and an allowance.
When does the exchange year begin and end?

The official dates of the exchange program are mid-August through mid-July.

Once the students are selected during the winter, the program begins with an introductory Japanese course during a RISE or free block between February and end of May. Participants are then free to seek continued Japanese lessons over the summer leading up to departure. The JEP team can refer participating families to several language resources. In the first few weeks of August before departure, the JEP team will meet with participants again to go over last minute preparations. Departure to Japan is usually scheduled around August 20th. These students return to Austin in mid-July.
How are host families in Japan selected?

Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew’s Osaka) selects host families from a large pool of families from their school community. Host families range from families with multiple experiences hosting students to families new to the experience. Regardless, the school vets each family for their ability and enthusiasm for serving as a host family.
Who supports students while they're in Japan?

Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew’s Osaka) has developed a strong system of support over the 50+ years of facilitating their exchange program. Participating students will have a staff member assigned to them as a liaison with the host family. Students have several other faculty members working with them on a daily basis inside and outside of the classroom. In addition, host families are an important part of the support network, providing a warm and loving home environment for the students. Families of participating students are encouraged to stay in contact with their child’s host family.
How often can families communicate with their student?

Families may technically communicate as often as necessary with their child. Nevertheless, it is encouraged that the frequency of contact be limited to once a week so as not to contribute to unnecessary homesickness. Families are also asked to not visit their child in Japan until at least the Christmas break.
Does my student need to speak Japanese before applying?

Students applying for the exchange program do not need to be familiar with the Japanese language or culture.