Why do students choose a homestay accommodation? And just at that stage in life when you’re striking out on your own for the first time by leaving the family home. The most often quoted reasons are very practical. Some courses may only last a short period of time so a hosted homestay can be the easy, most straightforward option. It’s the same thinking behind why students won’t try for a room at a halls of residence, which are available only for the first year. Why bother when you will need to start looking for another place just a few months later?
There are of course very real benefits for the younger student studying in an unfamiliar place thousands of miles away from the world they know. It’s not simply about support when feeling a little homesick while trying to settle in over the first few days or weeks. It’s not even the obvious boost to speaking English more fluently – living with a host homestay family will definitely help you to overcome the language barrier when meeting new people.
Staying with a family is also often seen as an invaluable opportunity to experience the realities of daily life in a new country. At the same time you can learn first-hand from your hosts about many of the everyday things you need to know about money, food and travelling in the local area. It can also save you money too!
Spiralling costs of studying and living in London or other cities
There can’t be many students who are not aware of the spiralling costs of studying and living in London or even in other key cities, such as Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool, Oxford or Manchester. Unfortunately, there is likely to be more financial worries for some international students who will be coming to the UK to study in the academic year 2016/17, which may make a hosted homestay their best option for allowing affordable study.
At the start of March, the UK Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published its proposal to change the eligibility for living cost support provided to international students. The legislation under consideration is aimed at non-UK EU nationals who will now have to be resident in the UK for a longer period if they wish to apply for a maintenance loan to meet living costs from Student Finance England.
Students from the EU will see the time they are now required to live in the UK increase from three years to five years ordinary residence. Eligibility to receive living costs will also depend on where the student is or has been living, not necessarily where the education provider is located. In addition, a student will not become eligible for full support part way through their course if it was begun prior to meeting the five-year residence requirement.
You don’t have to worry about having enough money to feed yourself
So for a student with limited finances or simply worried they would not be able to navigate the often shark-infested waters of private residential lettings – where basic amenities and furnishings can be both low-level and costly – a standard homestay accommodation can be a great, affordable option.
Remember, a hosted accommodation means you don’t have to worry about having enough money to feed yourself as nearly all homestay hosts include meal plans. Many also provide laundry and light cleaning services so you won’t have to hunt through the wardrobe drawers every time you need to find a clean top to wear.
But how do you know if a homestay scheme will keep its promise and provide a host who really will look after you at the level you expect? One way is to check to see if they are approved to standards set by the British Council, who are the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. When a scheme, such as Hosts International is recommended on the website of the British Council, then you (and your parents) may no longer have to ask “why choose a homestay accommodation”, you already have the answer.