Homestay program

HOMESTAY
The Homestay Program provides incoming graduate international students, including spouses/partners, with a 3-5 day stay with a local host before settling into their regular housing. Homestay experiences often become the basis for life-long connections between the graduate internationals and their host.

For Internationals

International preparing a meal in his Homestay host's kitchen.

The Homestay program affords international graduate students the opportunity to develop informal friendships with their Host away from the University’s academic life.

Homestay program matches as many graduate international requestors as it can with volunteer hosts who have been approved by the Homestay program chair. The maximum 5-day stay usually occurs between mid-August and the start of the Fall term.

Male homestay host and male international eating American pancakes.

Participation requirements

The Homestay application period for the Fall quarter is closed.

Applications to apply for the CCIS Homestay Program are initially sent out in the Welcome Letter from the Bechtel International Center soon after your acceptance to Stanford, or around early to mid-June.

Please read through the Homestay qualifications before you send an application. The link to the Homestay Application Form is in the Homestay qualifications document.
After applying, you will hear from the Homestay Chairperson regarding your application status. If you have been assigned to a Host family, you will receive his/her contact information, and they will receive your information so that you may connect with each other prior to your arrival.

For more information contact: Homestay@CCISstanfordU.org

For CCIS Volunteers

Female Homestay host and female volunteer hugging.

Becoming a Homestay Host is easy and generally involves welcoming a graduate student or couple to the USA, Palo Alto and Stanford University.

Typically, the host family will meet the student at the airport (if possible) and have them as a guest in their home for 3 to 5 days before they move on to campus housing.

Female Homestay host with male international in his graduation robe.

There are myriad of activities on campus for students, but arriving international graduate students often need more help adjusting to the area and culture. Homestay hosts help students shop for a bike, open a bank account, get household items they need to get started (including a visit to the Loan Closet), learn to navigate food shopping, and explore transportation on and off campus. Homestay friendships often continue through the student's time at Stanford; sharing holidays, family gatherings and fun times.

Participation requirements
Homestay host volunteers are recruited throughout the year. In-home stays, for a 3-5 day period, usually occur in the months of August and September. If you're interested in becoming a Homestay host:

Read the Homestay Volunteer Guide.
Complete and submit the Homestay Host Application.
If you have questions about the Homestay program or being a host, please email the Homestay Chair at: Homestay@CCISstanfordU.org
CCIS Membership is required.

For more information on becoming a CCIS volunteer Homestay host, please contact: Homestay@CCISstanfordU.org