International College

Host Our Students

Homestay Providers

Hosting an international student can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Many of our homestay providers find that hosting an international students deepens their understanding of new cultures and the additional income can also be very welcome. For our international students, living with a local host allows them to experience British culture firsthand, as well as giving them more opportunities to practice their English outside of the classroom.

Accommodation is an incredibly important part of an international student’s experience whilst studying in the UK. For this reason East Sussex College has an Accommodation and Welfare team located on all three campuses. Our staff work very hard to place students in the right homestay, that they are safe and well looked-after, whilst at the same time managing their expectations and making sure our hosts enjoy the experience too. Our exceptional student support, as well as our excellent relationship with hosts means that we are able to meet students’ needs as well as supporting our hosts. In many cases we have worked alongside the same homestay providers for years.

East Sussex College is fully-accredited by the British Council and complies with all UK and British Council requirements regarding the hosting and safeguarding of students.

Being a Homestay Provider

East Sussex College only places students in homestay accommodation in Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings.

If you are considering hosting a student for the first time, It is important that you ask yourself these questions: Why do you wish to host an international student? If you are considering it only for the additional income it is important to remember that hosting an international student is more than simply providing a room and food. Both East Sussex College and our international students expect all our hosts to talk to students, include their student in day-to-day activities and support their general health and wellbeing during their studies here.

Good reasons to host an international student include an enjoyment of travelling abroad and experiencing different cultures. Your children may have now left home and you would like additional company in your household, or you would like your household to experience living with a student from a different culture.

Essential Requirements

To become a host you should:

  • Live in Lewes, Eastbourne or Hastings

And be able to provide:

  • A clean and a well-maintained living environment
  • A bedroom with a bed, desk, adequate lighting, curtains or blinds and storage facilities for clothes and belongings. (If there is no desk in the bedroom there should be a quiet study area that the student can use)
  • Wi-Fi internet access
  • A front door key
  • Breakfast and dinner (when providing half-board accommodation) with light lunch at the weekend, or access to the kitchen and food storage facilities (when self-catering)
  • A valid Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate or a British Gas Annual Service Checklist (where necessary)
  • A DBS check on all adults living in the household who are 18 years and over (East Sussex College will cover the cost of the DBS check)
  • Clean linen provided and washing done once weekly

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I get paid to host a student?

£140 pr wk half board from April 2023, rising to £150 in Sept 2023

What meals do I need to provide?
  • Half board option: you provide breakfast & dinner Mon-Fri and all meals at weekends
  • Self catering option (18 yrs+): student cooks own meals in your kitchen
  • Packed lunches not normally required
  • Full board option only on request
What ages are the students staying with us?

All 16 yrs and above (mostly 16-19 yrs in Hastings and Eastbourne)

How long do the students usually stay?

Mostly 3-4 months (we do have some longer term some students that can stay up to 12 months+)

How many students can I host?

One student per bedroom

How to Become a Homestay Provider

Please contact us to discuss hosting a student. We will ask you to complete an application form. Once we have received your completed application form we will arrange a mutually-convenient appointment to visit you at home. This is a brief and informal meeting to get to know you, give you more information about hosting East Sussex College’s students and for you to ask us any question.

If you are considering hosting a student please contact us using the details below or complete our online form.

LEWES ACCOMMODATION OFFICE

If you live in Lewes and are considering hosting a student, please contact our Lewes Accommodation and Welfare team at:
Telephone: +44 (0)30 300 39940
Email: accommodation.lewes@escg.ac.uk

EASTBOURNE AND HASTINGS ACCOMMODATION OFFICE

If you live in Eastbourne and would like to host an international student, please contact our Eastbourne and Hastings Accommodation and Welfare Officer Emma Williams at:
Telephone: +44 (0) 30 300 39935
Email: accommodation.ebnandhst@escg.ac.uk

I would like to become a host family

Please fill in the form below and we will get back to you within 5 working days.