A Homestay is an accommodation arrangement which allows a family (called a host) to rent out a private bedroom to a first year International (non-EU) Postgraduate student, for an academic year.

There are numerous benefits to hosting International students. Families get the chance to rent out an unused room, welcome new International students to the UK, broaden their experiences and build lifelong friendships with people from other cultures.

Homestay host requirements

Homestay hosts need not comprise a family in the traditional sense (two parents with children). They may be single parents with children, young couples without children, cohabiting adults, single adults or retired couples whose children have left home. Homestay hosts may live in two storey houses, bungalows or apartments and they may or may not have pets. The only stipulations are that hosts must work at the UEA, live in close proximity to the UEA campus (e.g. a 20-minute walk or a 30-minute bus ride from the UEA campus) and be welcoming, open-minded individuals who enjoy meeting people and interacting with different cultures.

Homestay hosts are expected to provide the following basic requirements for students:

• An English-speaking environment;
• A safe, clean and comfortable home;
• A kind and caring environment;
• A private study bedroom, which includes a standard sized bed (and mattress), bed linen and towels, hanging space for clothes (e.g. wardrobe/rail), a chest of drawers, a desk/table and a chair for the student to use when studying;
• Access to kitchen facilities and utensils;
• Access to laundry facilities (e.g. washing machine, iron and ironing board);
• Internet access (ideally wi-fi);
• Access to a private or communal bathroom (including a bath and/or a shower);
• Food items (e.g. cereal and milk, toast and butter/jam, juice and tea/coffee) to make a reasonable breakfast every morning;
• A key to the property.

Homestay licence

The Homestay accommodation licence (contract period) is 50 weeks and runs from 16th September 2013 – 3rd September 2014.

Homestay fees

Students are charged £110.00 per week to live in a Homestay. This fee includes a reasonable breakfast every morning, all utilities (e.g. water and electricity) and reasonable internet access.

Students pay their fees directly to the UEA and the UEA transfer payments, on a monthly basis, into host’s bank accounts.

Homestay host support

The UEA Homestay team carefully match hosts to students based on their interests and preferences and are on hand throughout the students stay to provide guidance to hosts and assist with any problems.

Homestay cancellation policy

The Homestay accommodation licence is 50 weeks and the minimum tenancy period is three months. If a host no longer wishes to house a student, after three months, they must inform the UEA Homestay Support Team (Homestaysupport@uea.ac.uk) and give one months notice.