GUIDELINES FOR HOST FAMILIES

Staying with a host family is very important part of learning English and understanding the way of life and culture for international students. We hope this will be a mutually rewarding experience. For this reason, we have created a set of Guidelines for those interested in becoming a host family. It will outline what is expected of you, your responsibilities and guidance for the experience.

What are my responsibilities?
There are many rewarding aspects to becoming a Host Family, but of course, you are taking on responsibilities too. The vast majority of hosting is common sense but we have put together a short guide to help.

As a Host, you are expected to provide the following:

• A caring stable environment.
• To provide students with single rooms (unless a twin room has been requested by 2 people booking together)
• A clean bedroom with a separate comfortable bed for each student, wardrobe space and a place for the student to study in peace.
• Be available to assist the student upon arrival with familiarising themselves with your house and locality.
• Make a small amount of time each day to converse with your student to help with their English as well as making them feel part of the family.
• Not to accommodate persons of the same nationality unless specifically requested by the students concerned
• To provide basic laundry facilities and to change bed linen regularly
• To make a daily bath or shower available
• To provide an adequate continental breakfast each day
• To provide a substantial dinner each night and a light lunch at weekends for students who have booked the half-board option
• To provide students with a door key so that they can let themselves in and out

BECOME A HOST FAMILY

We are always searching for suitable families who want to become a host family for international students. If you can offer a safe, comfortable, welcoming environment for foreign students, then we have students ready to share their Irish experience with you.

All host families will receive a weekly fee for hosting an international student.

• Benefits of Becoming a Host Family
  A chance to meet and engage with students from many different cultures and traditions.
• Flexibility to accommodate for short or long term.
• Generate additional income.
• We source students from a wide variety of colleges and schools, therefore increasing your chance of year-round business.
• Receive regular prompt payments.

What makes a suitable Host Family?

The most important part if you want to become a host family is your willingness to welcome a student into your home and to be part of your family for a short while. Most students who travel to Ireland to improve their English choose to stay with a host family to make the most of their experience. Host families may be ‘traditional’ families with children, young couples with no children, single-parent families and retired couples whose children have left home. All host families are carefully selected and visited by a member of staff EduStay Navigator

Apply to Become a Host Family & Home Visit

We invite persons interested in becoming a Host Family to complete our ‘Host Family Application Form’ online. Once we receive your application we will arrange a visit to your home (‘Home Visit’) at a convenient time for you.
A ‘Home Visit’ is where one of our staff members calls to your home to speak to you about the host family process and to view the room(s) where students will stay. The visit will last between 30 and 45 minutes. This is not an ‘inspection’. It is an opportunity for us to learn about you and an opportunity for you to ask questions about the Host Family process.

Once the Home Visit has been completed and you are happy to proceed we will add you to our Host Family list and we will book you accordingly.