About us

Since 1979, our team of dedicated volunteers, local coordinators, and staff has helped over 90,000 students from nearly 40 countries participate in international exchange programs. Our tradition of excellence, combined with our unparalleled support on local and national levels, has made us the largest facilitator of high school year programs for exchange students coming into North America.

Our mission

EF Foundation for Foreign Study is a worldwide, non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging cultural awareness through international education and exchange. Today, EF Foundation reaches over oceans and across borders to teenagers around the world, providing semester and year-long high school placements in nine countries. With the support of host families, high schools, and EF Foundation representatives on five continents, we open the world for today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders.

A Local Organization with Global Reach

We are committed to making international exchange benefit everyone. We work hard to get students ready for their transition into Canadian life, and at the same time give our coordinators and host families the tools to be prepared and confident hosts. Our community-based focus with international reach sets EF Foundation apart. We are:

• Local. EF Foundation’s greatest assets live and work right in your community. Local coordinators find caring host families, match students and families, develop relationships with high schools, and team with a regional coordinator to provide assistance and guidance all year long.
• National. Our Toronto office manages each local support team, providing extensive training and 24/7 support. EF Foundation has been facilitating exchange for over 25 years, and brings more students to North America each year than any other program.
• Global. We have partner offices around the world. These international ties allow us to coordinate every aspect of the exchange experience, from the selection of students within their own countries to their placement here in Canada.

In addition to Canada, EF Foundation is officially recognized as an approved exchange program in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Costa Rica,Ireland, Japan and China.