Advice on guardianship for international students

All schools (and universities for students under 18 years of age) will require you to have a guardian in place. The guardian will be able to support you with a number of areas including:

• Pastoral and welfare support whilst you are in the UK
• Travel arrangements
• Host stay family arrangements
• Someone to turn to for advice and support whether for setting up a bank account or just someone to talk to when needed

There are so many areas that a guardian will be able to support you. Whether that guardian is a family member, a friend of the family or a more structured official guardianship; you will have choices to consider.

The family and friends’ option is wonderful if you have this but you may also feel it is too much pressure to place on relations and friends. If this is the case, then a guardianship can support you for the added extras eg. Organisation of travel arrangements etc. that perhaps is not something a family member would want to have to deal with.

With no-one in the UK previously known to you, then you would need to consider the official guardianship services. Here is some initial advice for you:

• Always ensure that the guardianship is accredited with either Boarding Schools Association or AEGIS (Association of Education Guardianships for International Students) and bsa.
• Be sure of what is being offered as some guardianships will give an inclusive price, some will have added extras but appear cheaper than most and some will be entirely flexible
• Get to know your guardianship of choice and ask to meet the necessary individuals you will be working with through a Zoom or other such platform
• Ensure that there is a 24 hour emergency service offered