Did you know… that English is spoken as the language of choice by around 1.75 billion people – or one quarter of the world’s population! That’s according to the British Council, the UK organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, to which, Hosts International is listed as an approved homestay accommodation provider. The British Council, which is a Royal Charter charity, also predicts that by 2020, the figure will rise to an incredible two billion people who will either be speaking or learning to use English.
In fact, the English Language Teaching (ELT) industry in the UK has grown by more than a third (34 per cent) since 2000 with often the largest share of English language students studying outside their home country. So, it’s not that surprising that in 2017, there was a 40 per cent increase in study-related sponsored visa applications to English language schools, say the Home Office (Immigration statistics, October to December 2017, Pub: Feb 2018).
Overseas students clearly love learning English in England itself – either on a full-time course or on a part-time course. It’s often another reason why many opt for family hosted accommodation during the time they are studying in the UK – the opportunity to practice speaking the new English words and sentences they are learning every day! It’s worth mentioning that quite a few hosts are tutors, lecturers or in the caring professions who will often make a point of starting a discussion with their English-Learning students at mealtimes.
Some students from abroad might be concerned to hear that you need a visa in order to study on an English-learning course. However, the reality is that “short-term” study means students on an English language course are only allowed to stay in the UK for 11 months. There are students from countries, such as the US who will not require a visa if they wish to come to the UK on a short-term course of 6 months or less.
Every course at each learning centre is likely to slightly vary
The rules can get somewhat confusing but the good news is that as a rule of thumb, both standard full time English Learning classes and Intensive courses tend to have an average duration of around 10 weeks, while a part time course lasts a little longer at 12 weeks, each according to the number of hours per week of compulsory attendance. But every course at each learning centre is likely to slightly vary, so it’s important to always double-check!
With average courses lasting no more than a dozen weeks or so, international students will be keen to have no unnecessary complications or worry over where will they will stay while studying. However, finding accommodation for such a short period of time can be quite a challenge.
The most obvious route is private renting with a landlord or estate agent. However, they tend to only provide for shorthold tenancies on a minimum fixed-term contract, which is never less than six months, and will be unsuitable for students on a shorter study programme, and who plan to return home immediately their course finishes.
Also, there can often be problems with deposit refunds. Despite legislation introduced in 2007 aimed at protecting a tenant, not all landlords properly comply with the requirements of their Tenants Deposit Scheme, or find reasons not to fully refund at the end of the tenancy. One recent NUS survey reveals that three quarters of students will end up in debt just to cover deposits, letting agency fees and other initial costs just to secure a very basic accommodation. That’s apart from the cost of the weekly rent.
All the hassle taken out of their short visit to study in the UK
Some students may decide to live in a hostel or “couch-surf” with someone they know – both options not ideal for anyone trying to study!
There can be no doubt that homestay accommodation may be the only real solution, especially for students who are looking to simply have all the hassle taken out of their short visit to study in the UK. A reputable hosting organisation will take care of everything, from both rigorously vetting and selecting the student’s preferred choice of family host – “as near to college as possible, please” is the usual request – to picking up from the airport and dropping off at the homestay!
And you don’t have to be alone, either! Many hosts offer group accommodation too, so you can be with friends applying to the same course or just select to stay where other same-age students are also in the same house. Cost of living expenses are rising all the time, especially in London and the other major university towns, such as Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge and Manchester. So saving on buying main meals can make all the difference!
With your weekly laundry part of the service package, and your breakfast and evening meal prepared for you every day, the only thing you have to worry about is not losing the front door key!