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International students face many challenges immigration laws, logistics of travelling to a new country, the academic rigor of classes and homework.

An international student’s housing situation can be yet another challenge—finding an apartment, the cost, navigating tenancy laws and leases, dealing with neighbors and roommates, learning the neighborhood. On the other hand, if an international student choses a homestay, the housing can actually be a help to the student’s study abroad experience. Here’s how a homestay helps international students to succeed…

Lower Cost

School is a financial challenge for any student, whether local or international. While you might be training for a high-paying career, studying abroad experience can be very expensive in the form of tuition and different cost of living.  

When you’re an international student far from home, every dollar counts. Homestays can save you a lot of money. If you compare a homestay with an apartment in a similar location and of similar quality even a shared apartment you will often find that the homestay can be almost half the price of an apartment.  

Homestays are more affordable than hotel or Airbnb in most cases. Dormitory housing might come close, but at a significant loss of quality and privacy compared to a homestay.

Host Support

Another big advantage of the homestay is living with a host. Whether you live with an individual or family during your U.S. homestay, you will find your homestay host to be a valuable resource for the success of your study-abroad. Here are some ways your homestay host helps you succeed:

Public Transportation. Public transit in a foreign city or country often carries a learning curve.

Homestay hosts can help you navigate the public transit environment, showing you how to buy fares, which buses and trains to board, and how to behave when you’re on board.

Showing up to class on time is one of the most important first steps of a study-abroad. Unless they score housing within walking distance of the campus, most international students depend on public transportation.

• Language Immersion. The homestay host probably doesn’t speak your native language. If your English skills need improvement, that is very good news. Living with a local host forces you to interact in English every day.

It may be awkward at first as you feel your way around the unfamiliar language, but by practicing every day with your host, you will be surprised at how fast you becomefluent in English.

• Friendship and Support. Americans choose to be homestay hosts because they love meeting foreign students and learning about a different culture.

Your homestay host is your friend and advocate, available to show you favorite cafes, parks, and places for entertainment. Hosts are also available to listen, empathize, and solve problems if you find yourself in a jam or feeling homesick.

A great homestay offers all of these advantages. HomestayMatch pre-screens every homestay host to make sure that every homestay we offer is a great one.