Secondary School Exchange Scholarship

How to Apply

Calendar for SSE Scholarship Application & Notification for a 2024/25 Gap Year in the UK

August/September 2023: SSE Applications open!

ESU sends participating schools Invitation to Apply.
SSE Applications & information posted on ESU website.
Submit the SSE Application.
Please note: by submitting an SSE application, the student confirms if offered a SSE Scholarship to a UK boading school, they will accept the place for the 2024-25 academic year and defer their college acceptance for one year.

November 2023:ESU sends interview materials to the SSE Committee Regional Chairs.

December 2023: SSE Applications Due, December 1st

Students will submit completed SSE applications as 1 PDF by December 1st to their school SSE Coordinator or via email to Alice Uhl at auhl@esuus.org

December 5 - 10, 2023: ESU Regional Chairs conduct interviews (in person or via Zoom/FaceTime).

December 15, 2023: ESU SSE Committee selects finalists and sends SSE applications to the ESU UK for placement.

January 2024: Notifies SSE applicants of their status and schedules UK School interviews via Zoom.

February/March 2024: The ESU US notifies finalists and families of their placement. A $2,000 non-refundable program fee is due to the ESU upon acceptance of placement.

April/May 2024 Complete UK school forms and apply for UK Student Visa (visa expeditor service recommended)

Summer 2024 Pre-departure orientation

September 2024: Students depart for UK

July 2025: Students return to the US