Have you thought about
hosting an international student?

Hosting International Students

The UK is renowned for its quality education, with globally recognised qualifications; leading universities; innovative subject options and culturally diverse environments. Consequently, increasing numbers of international students are choosing to study in the UK at school, pathway colleges and universities. As such, there is a growing need for educational guardians and where applicable – mainly for school children – hosts to support them by providing them with a home away from home during school holidays, exeat and/or leave-out weekends.

If you’re interested in becoming a UK host family for College Guardians, please contact us to register your interest. Looking for a little more information? Continue reading below.

Who can become a host?

Our current and past hosts include families, couples and single people. We don’t look for a particular category but focus on the individual qualities that our hosts display. The most important feature that those wanting to host overseas students have, is that they are caring, kind, supportive and understanding. Students need to be able to feel comfortable and enjoy their time outside of school, so being able to communicate and support them is essential.

Our hosts offer a home from home experience and need to have the space for students to join in with activities, as well as the space to be able settle on their own. A bedroom, room to study and communal spaces to enjoy are a basic requirement.

As part of the selection process, we give careful consideration to matching a suitable host with the individual needs of each student.

What’s included?

Hosting international students in the UK can be short term or long term and flexible to fit in with your lifestyle. Durations include anything from a few weekends a year, to half term and/or the longer school holidays.

Successful hosts are happy to give their time to students, whether it’s supporting them in general, assisting with their studies or making sure they enjoy themselves. For some, this might include helping them to learn to adapt to life in the beautiful English countryside; for others, a large busy city. We often hear of stories where host and their resident children have been cooking new dishes together or trying out different sports. There really is something for everyone and the benefits far surpass that of just the students.

One of the many benefits of welcoming an overseas student into your home is that they can teach you a lot too. Along with each student’s background brings their own customs, cultures, and ways of life. An interest in this brings so much more to the hosting experience as you learn from each other, developing an understanding of life outside of a typical British family.

We try wherever possible to ensure that children return to the same family throughout their school careers. Many of our hosts have kept in touch with the children who have stayed with them over the years, and it isn’t uncommon for host families to be invited to commemoration celebrations and graduations.

How do I become a host?

If you’re interested in becoming a UK host for an international student, please contact us to register your interest.

All our host families are carefully selected, interviewed and checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This includes regular visits to hosts homes, with inspections to ensure that all the requirements are met. We also offer training to all our hosts and are on hand 24/7 to offer support to them.

Ready to
become a UK host family
for overseas students?

Reasons to host international students:

Enjoyable experience for you and your family

Open your home to a whole new culture and learn from your guests

Competitive rates of pay

Get in Touch

Require more information or want to ask us a question? Please feel free to get in touch.