Are you a student who…
- Is independent, responsible, and communicative?
- Wants to be actively involved in a small community in the midst of a pristine cloud forest?
- Wants to learn or improve Spanish and make international friends for life?
Would you like to have an exciting experience in the lush rainforest of Monteverde for your junior or senior year? Build confidence, connections, and language during a Study Abroad at the Monteverde Friends School.
Each year, we have a few seats available for international students from outside Costa Rica in grades 11-12 to spend a semester or a year in our school. The experience enriches both the student who joins us and our school as we exchange and learn about different cultures.
Join us for a semester or a year of Study Abroad in Costa Rica!
“The small class sizes are truly incredible. My writing skills in English and Spanish were dramatically improved thanks to all the individualised attention I received. Students and teachers develop very close relationships. They were mentors and friends, not taskmasters. I also appreciated the intergenerational component of the Monteverde community. I felt as comfortable playing a pick up soccer game with 3rd graders or playing Friday afternoon Scrabble with octogenarians as I did conversing with my own peers.”
Former International Student
Enjoy more great testimonials from students and parents
Applications are due September 15, 2026.
- Enjoy an incomparable culturally immersive experience living with a host family and building friendships in a welcoming, tight-knit community.
- Receive a rich bilingual education, with small group Spanish support.
- Participate in hands-on activities and special mini-courses to explore your interests with teachers and students.
To learn more, please fill out this interest form and we’ll be in touch soon!
We are a very small school with a primary focus on local students, and on providing a stable educational environment. The following requirements help us select the best candidates for the opportunities we can offer.
Application Process
Please contact us to request the Study Abroad Information Packet. Other documents that may be of interest to you include the CDC recommendations for Costa Rica, an introduction to living in Monteverde, and a list of suggestions on what to bring. For more information, get in touch!
“We were attracted to MFS for its academically rigorous bilingual and bicultural program. I was able to grow academically on par with my classmates back in the U.S. while dramatically improving my Spanish, all within a setting which prioritized Quaker values of respect and non-violence, which have influenced me to this day.”
Former International Student
Fees
In addition to the fees listed on the tuition page (which includes tuition, home stay, and Spanish as a Second Language classes), other costs include one trip each semester to a location outside of Costa Rica, money for bake sales (to pay for ingredients to make baked goods), class trip costs, spending money, and costs associated with your grade projects.
Would you like to share this opportunity? Share this flyer with your friends, classrooms, or Meetings.