The English-Speaking Union

Secondary School Exchange: 2021 Application Now Available

How to Apply

Calendar for SSE Application and Notification for a 2021-2022 Gap Year

Fall 2020:  Call for applicants.

  • ESU staff sent an outreach letter to the committee, and then to school coordinators.  Student materials posted online.
  • Submit the SSE Application.

January 2021:  SSE Applications Due January 22, 2021

ESU staff will send interview materials to the SSE Committee Regional Chairs.

  • Students will submit applications as 1 PDF by Friday, January 22 via email to Alice Uhl at auhl@esuus.org or mail to:

The English-Speaking Union
C/O Alice Uhl
144 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016

February 4-18, 2021:  ESU Regional Chairs conduct interviews (in person or via Zoom/Skype/FaceTime).

February 21, 2021: Deadline for Regional Chairs to submit interview notes to the ESU for dissemination to the committee.

Early March 2021:  Confirm finalists, and send confirmation to the UK for placement. 

By April 8, 2021: American finalists placed in UK schools.

Mid-April 2021:  The ESU notifies finalists and families of their placement.  A $2,000 non-refundable program fee is due to the ESU upon receipt of invoice.

June 2021:  Pre-departure orientation at the ESU in New York.

September 2021:  Students depart for the United Kingdom.