St David’s Catholic Sixth Form College is proud to welcome students from around the world through a variety of international exchange programmes and visits. From longer-term placements for students from Switzerland to short-term AFS exchanges and annual visits from students in Peru, France and Japan, these experiences enrich our college community and bring different cultures and perspectives together.
As part of our welcoming and inclusive sixth form community in the heart of Cardiff, our dedicated staff support visiting students and encourage them to take part in college life, build lasting friendships, and experience Welsh culture. In return, our students benefit from the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures, fostering greater understanding, curiosity, and a genuine sense of international community.
Types of International Exchange
Swiss Bilingual Matura
Each year, we are delighted to welcome a cohort of students from our partner school, Lycée Renens Lausanne, to spend an exciting and enriching academic year with us in Cardiff.
During their 10-month stay, our Swiss learners live with local host families, giving them the opportunity to experience everyday life in Wales while becoming part of our College community. Academically, they follow an ambitious programme, studying four A Levels across a wide range of subjects, from Languages to Physics, alongside the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
The EPQ is a particularly important part of their programme and plays a significant role in supporting their progression when they return to Switzerland. Each learner chooses a topic that reflects their academic interests while connecting to British culture, society, or literature. This gives students the opportunity to develop independence, research skills, and academic confidence through a genuinely personal project.
The programme is also about friendship, culture and belonging. Our Swiss students are paired with Welsh learners who help them settle into College life, practise their English and discover more about Welsh culture, traditions and everyday life. In return, our Welsh learners benefit from the opportunity to build international friendships and develop their own cultural awareness.
Throughout the year, students also take part in a programme of social and cultural experiences, including trips and activities to Cardiff Bay, Winter Wonderland, and the Gower, helping them discover some of the very best that Cardiff and Wales have to offer.
By the time they return to Switzerland, our aim is for every learner to leave with much more than academic qualifications: greater independence, confidence, lasting friendships and memories of a truly immersive Welsh experience.
AFS short-term immersion
We welcome students through our short-term international programme, working in partnership with AFS and Celtica (Celtic English). AFS is an international organisation focused on intercultural learning and providing young people with opportunities to experience different cultures and perspectives. This partnership lets visiting students experience life in a Welsh sixth-form college while developing their English language skills, making new friends, and immersing themselves in Welsh and British culture.
As part of their experience at St David’s, students also participate in Global Up, the AFS intercultural learning programme. Through Global Up, students are encouraged to explore cultural differences, reflect on their own identity and perspectives, and develop the skills and awareness needed to engage positively with people from different backgrounds.
Although these students may be with us for a relatively short time, they become part of our college community, attending lessons alongside local students and sharing their own cultures and experiences. We have welcomed students from countries including Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Germany, France and Italy. Their presence enriches college life and helps our own students to develop a broader, more outward-looking understanding of the world.
International School Visits
Peruvian Exchange
Towards the end of the last academic year, in partnership with Celtic International Language School, St David’s College welcomed 15 students and two teachers from Colegio Buen Consejo in Lima, Peru, for a month-long cultural exchange programme.
During their time with the college, the students engaged in cultural exchange programme activities, tours, discussions and group mentoring sessions. These activities helped to build confidence and intercultural understanding between both groups while giving students a meaningful opportunity to study in Cardiff.
Feedback from both sets of students was overwhelmingly positive:
“Working with the Peruvian students was amazing. We learned so much from each other, and it felt like we were part of one big community.”
“Everyone at St David’s was so welcoming. We loved the activities, made new friends, and learned a lot about Welsh culture.”
Japanese Exchange
For two years running St David’s College have welcomed students and staff from Nori Kevers School in Osaka for a short-term cultural exchange.
This year, we paired the visiting students with St David’s learners through a buddy system. This gave them the chance to experience college life firsthand, as our students developed confidence, leadership, and intercultural communication skills through the programme.
French Exchange
Students from Wales and France came together through a shared love of music at St David’s College last year, as part of an international exchange.
We welcomed 28 students and two members of staff from Lycée Anita Conti in Bruz, Brittany, for a two-day visit focused on collaboration and performance.
The trip, supported by Welsh Colleges and international partners in France, was the first time the group had visited Cardiff as part of a growing international exchange programme.
