Why have a HOST visit?

The British Council and Foreign Office founded HOST in 1987. Thousands of students have enjoyed this experience.

5 reasons to have a HOST visit

• It is a unique opportunity to experience the real life of Britain
• It is safe – all the hosts are approved and known personally by HOST
• It is very good value for money, and may cost you only your train fare
• You will learn things which the university cannot teach you
• You will have some very special memories to take home with you

Who are the hosts?

All our hosts freely welcome students to share their lives during a short visit. There are hosts offering invitations in every  part of England, Wales, Scotland and N Ireland.

All our hosts are visited and approved by our volunteer regional organisers. We know your host and we know the home where you are going.

Our hosts are very varied - they are highly educated professionals and skilled manual workers; they are busy young families and active retired people; they live alone, and they are couples, and they are mixed generation families; they live in small towns and in the middle of the countryside, and by the sea, and in the suburbs of cities.

We do our best to match you with the right host for you. All our hosts are kind and generous with their hospitality, because they are interested in meeting international students and helping you to feel at home.

What does a HOST visit cost?

Application fee - The application fee helps to pay for HOST’s administrative costs. Your university may pay all or part of the fee for you. 

Visit – there is no fee for the visit itself, thanks to the generosity of the hosts. But you should take some money with you so that you can offer to pay for entrance tickets if your hosts take you out sight-seeing.

Travel – you pay for travel to your host. You can tell HOST your maximum budget for travel when you apply.

Refunds. If we are unable to find a suitable invitation for you on any of the dates you have given us, your application fee will be refunded.

No refund will be possible:

if you do not respond to our messages;

if you have reduced your availability to fewer than 3 dates;

if you decline an invitation which  corresponds to the terms of your application;

if you cancel a visit after accepting an invitation;

in circumstances beyond our control - such as extreme weather interrupting transport services - although in this case we will always try to re-arrange your visit.

What students say about host

I don't believe I've ever had an experience that engraved such a deep impression on me.  Bagas Marsudi - Indonesia - Chevening Scholar at University College London

HOST visits open one to the amazing other side of the British people. Stanford Tineyi Muchongwe - Zimbabwe - Chevening Scholar at SOAS

The entire package was full of fun and enjoyment. I enjoyed the British meals cooked by my host.The days I was there I completely forgot that I am in school studying. Adam Mutabakomu - Zambia - Chevening Scholkar at Bangor Ubiversity

I have never felt so welcomed and comfortable. I have enjoyed my time there and never wanted it to end. Fatouma Tabet Salem - Djibouti – Chevening  Scholar at Brunel University                                                                                                                                                  

I felt warm in my heart. Yaonan Chen –China - University of Manchester

I  liked that my hosts were interested in learning about my country. Nada Azhar – Pakistan – Chevening Scholar – University of Leeds

This visit confirms to me that people from all over the world could live peacefully with each other regardless of their nationality or religion. Maisara Alrayyes – Palestine – Chevening Scholar at Kings College London