A host family can be an individual, a couple, either retired or with children at home, who opens their home to an international student studying in the UK. Host families for international students are usually genuinely interested in offering a home from home for a young person and welcome them as part of the family. Students stay with a host family either for a long period of time if they are studying at a day school in the UK or just for short holidays if they are, like Bright World Guardianships students, all full boarding students.
Why do I need a host family?
We are often asked by overseas parents as to when they should expect their child to stay with their host family.
The majority of UK boarding schools close during holiday times and some weekends. All students need to leave and UK-based students go home to their parents.
Many international students do not have a family member or family friend to go to during the short breaks and do not want to make the long journey back home overseas. During these times, an important part of our role is to find them a safe and welcoming host family who will take good care of them.
There may also be the need for international students to stay with a host family unexpectedly. Cancelled flights, early and late arrivals due to flight timings can mean that students need a host family all of a sudden. It is at these unexpected times that the Bright World network of host families across the UK and, crucially, near to airports always prove very useful.
Where our international students come from
Our UK host families become a home from home for students from across the globe. Whilst students from anywhere in the world could need a Bright World host family, many that we welcome come from Asia, Africa, and the USA. Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Japan are just some of the locations that many students call home. Wherever our students come from, they are always welcome at their chosen host family’s home.