Homestay
From first arrival to feeling at home
Every year thousands of students studying in the UK become part of a new family. Ours are chosen for warmth, checked properly, and close enough to school that a Friday afternoon feels easy.
What a homestay actually is
A homestay is a British family who welcome a student into their home for leave-weekends, half terms, holidays or the whole term. Students eat with the family, join in with normal life, and get to practise English without it feeling like a lesson.
As a minimum you can expect the student to be fed, have a clean, comfortable home, and their own study bedroom. What makes it work is less measurable: genuine interest in the student as a person.
How host families are checked
Every family goes through the same process, and it does not stop once a student arrives.
- 1
Application and references
We collect references and talk through why the family wants to host.
- 2
DBS* checks
Every household member aged 16 and over is DBS checked before any placement.
- 3
Home visit and interview
We visit the home, see the student’s room, meet the family and check the practical details.
- 4
Training and review
Safeguarding training, ongoing support and regular review, including asking students how it is going.
* The enhanced UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks criminal records to help confirm a person’s suitability for work, including overseas applicants.
Homestay life
How we match
Travel time first
We try to make it as easy as possible, and secure a homestay within a short journey of school.
Interests and routine
Quiet house or busy house, pets or no pets, early risers or night owls, it all counts.
Food and faith
Dietary needs and religious observance are agreed before arrival, not negotiated after.
Supported, not simply moved on
Most issues come from cultural misunderstandings, so we work with the student and homestay to resolve them first. If the placement genuinely isn’t working, moving the student is always available as a last resort.
Homestay questions
What can we expect from a homestay family?
Every family is different, but as a minimum you can expect the student to be fed, have a clean, comfortable home, and their own study bedroom. Exact arrangements depend on the service you have chosen, your contract sets them out.
Is Study Links still the guardian if my child stays with a host family?
Yes. We remain the guardian. We arrange for your child to stay with a family and we stay responsible throughout.
Can my child make their own arrangements?
If a student wants to stay with friends or relatives, we’ll need your written permission and details of the responsible adult. The school may also need to approve the arrangement. Study Links will remain available to support the student in an emergency.
How are host families checked?
Every household member over 16 is DBS* checked. We interview the family, visit the home, check references, provide safeguarding training and review the placement regularly. Students tell us how it is going, and we act on what they say.
* The enhanced UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks criminal records to help confirm a person’s suitability for work, including overseas applicants.
Is homestay arranged automatically for leave-weekends and half terms?
No. Homestay for leave-weekends, half terms and other school holidays is arranged on request. Just let us know when accommodation is needed and we’ll organise the appropriate homestay.
How much does homestay cost?
It depends on location, the homestay service and the guardianship package you have chosen. Ask us and we will give you a clear figure for your situation.
From hosts and students
It wasn’t just about the money because it has become a way of life for me. I love it when they tell me about their families, home and country.
Could you be a host family?
We welcome hosts everywhere in the UK, and we support you all the way through.