If you are an international student coming to study at Ara, you may prefer to stay within a family ‘homestay’ environment.
If it is your first time in New Zealand, we strongly recommend you choose homestay accommodation. It is a great way to practice your English and experience life in Christchurch or Timaru and New Zealand.
New Zealand Education Advisory Services (NZEAS) organises homestays for Ara students. They will match you with an approved family in Christchurch or Timaru.
All homestay families are carefully selected for their friendly, helpful attitudes and comfortable homes. Homestay accommodation includes your own bedroom, meals (two a day during the week and three a day at the weekends) and laundry.
NZEAS will meet you at the airport, take you to your family and make sure you are settling in with your host family.
Homestay service
NZEAS offers the following services if you are in homestay accommodation:
- Police vetting of all homehost families.
- Full inspection of all homes and interviews with homehost families.
- Airport pick-up and delivery to homehost family on your arrival to Christchurch.
- A full “Welcome Pack” upon arrival.
- Greeting on your first day at Ara.
- Banking assistance on your first day at Ara.
- Language translators.
- 24 hour contact number for homehosts to be used in the case of an emergency.
- Follow up meetings with the student to ensure you are happy in their home environment.
- Day trips and outings for the students to places of interest around Canterbury.
Fees
| Homestay | Christchurch | Timaru |
| Placement Fee: (Includes pick-up from Christchurch airport and transfer to homestay) | $320 | $420 |
| Homestay Fee: (Includes two meals on weekdays and three meals on the weekend) | $266 | – |
| Homestay Fee: (Includes three meals a day) | $296 | $280 |
All fees must be paid in advance. Students do not pay families directly; fees are collected by Ara and families are paid in advance.
We require a minimum of two working days’ notice for new requests, however we would prefer you give us as much notice as you can.
Ten nights notice must be given if wanting to leave homestay accommodation.
Entry requirements
International students enrolled at Ara.