Exchange students are students who travel to a foreign country to live and study abroad as part of an exchange program. These programs allow students to learn about different cultures, explore new places, make friends from around the world, and even improve their language skills. Exchange students can be high school or college students, and they attend classes at a local high school or university, usually as part of their current course of study. Exchange programs are designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about another culture and language through hands-on experience. Exchange students live with a host family or in a designated place such as a hostel, an apartment, or a student lodging. The term "exchange" means that a partner institution accepts a student, but it does not necessarily mean that the students have to find a counterpart from the other institution with whom to exchange. Costs for the program vary by the country and institution, and participants fund their participation via scholarships, loans, or self-funding. Exchange programs became popular after World War II, intended to increase the participants understanding and tolerance of other cultures, as well as improving their language skills and broadening their social horizons.