Trimester Exchange Programs

For students who are interested in a longer term, fully immersive experience, we have trimester-long opportunities to spend a term in a different country and culture. Students who participate in these programs come home with a new understanding of and appreciation for both their home culture and the cultures of others. 

Trimester exchanges are both cultural and academic in nature, and we expect Woodberry students to put forth their best academic effort. The grades received in trimester exchanges are not applied towards Woodberry’s transcripts or final GPA calculations. These programs have been built in conjunction with the college counseling office, which supports and encourages these opportunities.

For all exchange programs, participants continue to pay tuition fees at their own school, but not at the school they are visiting. Families are responsible for payment for activities, transportation, health insurance, and incidentals while on exchange.

Student Eligibility: Rising fifth formers in good academic standing. 

Overview: Based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Hilton College is an all-boys, all-boarding school with 590 students. The school has a large campus footprint, including a 5,500-hectare wildlife reserve. Exchange students are expected to participate fully in the Hilton program, both inside and outside the classroom. All boys play at least one sport (cricket, water polo, basketball, canoeing, rowing, rugby, and field hockey are among the choices). They can also choose to participate in cultural activities (music group, drama, debating, etc.), community outreach projects, and are particularly encouraged to make use of Hilton’s unique and beautiful estate for camping, hiking, and wildlife observation.

Approximate dates: Fall trimester 2025

Exchange Coordinators: Mandy Alexander and Craig Wilkinson (Hilton)

Student Eligibility: Rising fifth formers in good academic standing. 

Overview: The Michaelhouse exchange program experience is an authentic South African “in the bush” experience. Like Woodberry, it is rural, located 1.5 hours from its closest big city, Durban. One of the highlights of this program is a cultural immersion experience, where students hike through an area called “Pondoland” and stay with the kind and generous people of the land. 

Approximate dates: Fall trimester (mid-term of Michaelmas quarter, departing at the beginning of matric exams). *Note, there is a term break in this time. Michaelhouse can arrange a host family, or your son can travel with friends or with you!

Exchange Coordinators: Mandy Alexander and Leigh Koetze (Michaelhouse)

Student Eligibility: Rising fifth formers in good academic standing. 

Overview: Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, St. John’s is home to 800 boys. Unlike Woodberry, St. John’s is a five-day boarding school, so students who participate in this program have the opportunity to enjoy boarding school life during the week, then enjoy a homestay with their host family or new friends on weekends. 

Approximate dates: Fall trimester 2025 (Michaelmas term through Half Term break) 

Exchange Coordinators: Mandy Alexander and Richard Venter (St. John’s)

Hale School of Perth (Australian Exchange Program)

Student Eligibility: Current fourth formers in good academic standing

Overview: Perth is a coastal city on the west coast of Australia. Hale School is Perth’s oldest boys school, located in the northern suburbs of Perth. Students who participate in this exchange will enjoy proximity to both the beach and the city, and get to engage in athletics, academics, sister-school activities, and creative and performing art experiences that will allow Woodberry students to step out of their comfort zone. Students will be paired with a local host family of another Hale School student who will endeavor to include exchange students in as many excursions as possible to get to experience all Perth and Australia have to offer. This exchange is ideal for students who have been interested in an exchange but ineligible based on their desire to pursue their fall sport or afternoon activity. 

Approximate dates: Spring 2025

Exchange Coordinators: Mandy Alexander and Luke Bower (Hale School)