HOST UK visits
The University of Leeds has teamed up with HOST UK to link international students with British families for a cultural exchange experience.
If you're an international student/postgraduate researcher and you would like to visit a host family, through this scheme you can meet kind, friendly people in their home to enjoy traditional home-cooked meals, explore the area and try new activities like gardening, hiking or fishing.
HOST UK is a charity which wants to help you feel welcome in the UK, and to give you a taste of what British life is like. Enjoy a short time away from university work with a host family, and benefit from this unique opportunity.
All hosts are unpaid, and invite students because they enjoy welcoming you to this country. Don’t miss the opportunity to go participate in a cultural exchange this term, and experience true British culture for yourself.
Apply for a HOST UK visit
To apply, you must be a registered full-time student aged 18 or over. Spouses and partners of students can also apply as part of the application.
You will need to submit an application and pay on the HOST UK website.
Due to the limited number of available places, we recommend taking the following steps to maximize your chances of securing a visit:
- Consider travelling further afield to increase your chances of being matched with a host.
- Offer as many available dates as possible.
- Regularly check your email (including your spam folder) for important updates about your application.
The University of Leeds contributes to the cost of applying for your first HOST visit for University of Leeds students and spouse/partners:
| Type of visit | Usual cost | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Student day visit | £60.00 | £30.00 |
| Student weekend stay 2-nights | £110.00 | £45.00 |
| Student festive stay 3-nights | £150.00 | £50.00 |
| Spouse/partner day visit | £60.00 | £20.00 |
| Spouse/partner weekend/festive stay | £60.00 | £30.00 |
What students said about their stay:
"Don't think about it twice, apply to HOST UK! It will be the chance you are looking for to experience British culture. Get to know amazing people and to make more friends!"
Student from the University of Leeds
"I had an absolutely fabulous time with my hosts. If you want to learn about British culture I would strongly encourage you to go on a HOST visit. I feel like I could live in the UK for years and not understand the British culture so closely as I did during that one weekend."
Muhammad, from Pakistan, visiting Tyne & Wear
"At first I was hesitant about registering, but after the visit I would do it all over again without hesitation."
Virginia, from Malawi, visiting Hampshire
Apply to be a host
If you're from the UK, your family can experience this cultural exchange by becoming volunteer hosts and inviting international students to stay for a day or for a weekend. You can apply on the HOST UK website.