Au Pair and Study
For students with an interest in working with children and spending time abroad learning a language, or improving your language skills.
Au Pair and Study
These packages are offered in conjunction with our partner language schools across Europe.
For students with an interest in working with children and spending time abroad learning a language, or improving your language skills.
Learn about past students’ experience of their Au Pair and Study course:
Included in the package
Contents of the package can vary by destination depending upon the language school and city but typically they include the following:
- Travel durations to suit your needs (typically upwards of 12 weeks but shorter stays are sometimes available in during the summer months)
- Enrolment at a language school for intensive language lessons at a level to reflect your ability in the subject.
- Application support – our team can advise on visas, medical, DBS etc.
- Matching to a suitable and vetted family
- Half board accommodation with your family
- Optional cultural & social programme
- Detailed pre-departure information pack
- 24/7 Emergency support from UK office
- Programme certificate
- Travel and medical insurance (supplements may apply).
Find out more in our below Au Pair and Study FAQ.
The course has helped a lot since I’ve been back in the UK. It’s given me a lot of independence and confidence and I know its cringey but I feel like a can do anything that life throws at me in terms of tackling challenges and overcoming fears or doubts I may have along the way.
Kassie Manderson
The family have always been welcoming, always made sure that I know that the house is mine and the things that are there are for me to use as well. I don’t have to ask or worry about it. They make me feel at home.
Tilly O’Connor
Application Process
Stage 1 - Deposit and First Stage Application
To apply for a place on the programme we will require a £150 deposit (fully refundable if your application is not successful) and the following documents, all of which can be completed or uploaded via your Babel account which we will create for you:
- Application form
- ‘Dear family letter’. You should write a letter (in the target language or in English) to introduce yourself (name, age, where you are from, a little information about your family, hobbies/interests, education, likes and dislikes, work experience, childcare experience, why you want to become an au pair and your future plans.
- Au pair agreement.
- Photographs: 2 passport style photographs of you smiling plus a few photographs with some children you have looked after or family/friends (the more we have, the better but about 5 is ideal).
- If you are not a native English speaker you will need to take an Online English level test. This is to check that you will be able to encourage a good standard of English for the children whom you are looking after.
Stage 2 - References
Once your application documents are submitted, we will inform you whether you have been accepted onto the programme. This usually takes about a week.
We will then request the following:
- Two references; one character reference and one childcare reference. These references should not be supplied by a member of your family but for example from a teacher, employer, somebody for whom you have done babysitting etc. The references can be submitted in either in the target language or English.
- A medical certificate, to be obtained from your GP to state that you are fit to work as an au pair. We can provide sample text here to help your doctor if necessary.
- Police report, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, suitable for work with children. We can support you with an application for a DBS but you will have to pay if you do not already have one.
Once these documents are received will start matching you with your Au Pair family.
Stage 3 - Introductions & Visa
Once we have an interested family we will send you their details to you. If you like the look of the family profile we will match you. At this point, some families request a video chat or phone call before the final decision is made (for beginners, this would be in English).
Your family is selected very carefully, taking into account all the information you provide, therefore placements are overwhelmingly successful. However if you do not like the suggested family, you are entitled to turn down a family once during this stage of the application.
Visa
At this stage of the process we would suggest that you apply for your visa as you will now have all the information you need to apply for a student visa which includes the host family address where you will be staying and a letter from the language school. Blue Stamp will provide these documents for you.
Stage 4 - Confirmations
Confirmation and start of the programme.
From here your prospective family will communicate with you via email and phone or video call and you will all get the chance to ask further questions and build your relationship.
The programme proposed dates are provisional. Even once confirmed it is important for au pairs to be flexible regarding the dates and length of stay as the family might need you to come a little earlier or leave later. The more flexibility you have with dates, the bigger range of options we will have to select the most suitable family for you.
In the unlikely event that we cannot find a suitable family, we will let you know 4 weeks before the planned starting date.
Please do not buy any flight tickets before the process is finished and we have confirmed the placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
[Anchor: au-pair-and-study-faq]Students aged 18+ are able to travel.
You must have a DBS (Disclosure and Baring Service formerly know as CRB) or be able to apply for one. This is a document from the government that demonstrates you do not have any convictions that would prevent you from working with children.
Yes! We are happy to arrange for pairs or small groups of friends to travel together. Each student creates their own booking and deals with payment and administration independently.
Au Pair placements are individual as we would not place more than one student with family at the same time.
Travelling alone can be a great experience and can be a good practice for going away to university if you are in a gap year. It also fosters independence in a safe and supported environment.
The language school will give you plenty of opportunity to meet new people and socialise in and out of the school. The staff at the school are also very supportive and used to having independent travellers. The host family will also be available to welcome you and introduce you to the area.
You may need/want to use public transport to get around the city during your stay. You shoudl allow some money for this. Your hosts will help you with a suitable travel pass to get best value for money where necessary.
There is a range of activities and excursions arranged by the language school. Some of these are free or very reasonably priced. Others are more expensive – for example day excursions at the weekend may cost approximately €30-40 including transport.
You should consider taking some Euros and having access to either withdraw more or be able to spend on a debit card. Many banks now provide services where you can spend abroad without being charged an additional fee other than the exchange rate. Feel free to ask us for more details.
Remember that you will receive an allowance from your Au Pair Family which can cover most of your weekly costs depending on how frugal, or extravagant your spending is!
These courses are sold for individual (or pairs or small groups of friends). However, once you arrive at the school there will be lots of other students there. In any given week, it is hard to know how many students will be travelling from the UK but there will always be lots of international students and usually plenty of people your own age around the school to mix with.
Au Pairing
We consider the information that you provide on your application form, the families that are available, the dates and duration of your stay. Working with the language school we pair you with your vetted family.
Au pair families are not like hotel rooms, there are not an unlimited number so it is not always possible to match ages or genders of children – you should be open minded and flexible but we will do our best to fulfil your preferences.
We consider the location of your family, making sure that they are a sensible distance away from the school you will be attending and well connected by public transport where necessary.
We aim to provide your families contact details and profile several months before your travel to allow you time to get in touch and start getting to know them. Sometimes, depending upon when you book, this is nearer to the time of your trip but it is always prior to your travel.
The duties expected of an Au Pair will vary depending upon the age of the child(ren) in your charge. Typically, the duties involve:
- Playing with the child(ren)
- Helping with homework
- Helping the child(ren) to learn an appropriate level of English
- Taking the child(ren) to the park or beach
- Dropping off and / or picking up the child(ren) from school
- Cooking dinner for the child(ren)
- Taking the child(ren) to evening activities
- Bathing the child(ren)
- Putting the child(ren) to bed
- Babysitting one evening per week
In addition you may be encouraged to speak English to the child(ren) and possibly adults in the house to help them with their English. Don’t worry though, you will have plenty of opportunity to practise your language skills!
Typically, you will have 20 hours at language school and a similar amount of work with the family. You will usually have fairly fixed hours but you shoudl remain flexible to gain the most out of the experience.
Typically, families are less than 30 minutes from the language school. You may choose to use local transport and this is very much part of learning to live abroad independently and provides opportunities to use your language skills too. That said, walking around the city is also a great experience!
Spain
You will receive an allowance of €50 each week from your family.
Germany
You will not receive an allowance.
Allergies and Dietary Requirements
Where small adjustments are needed such as avoiding strawberries for a mild allergy reasons or avoiding certain foods out of preference (like brussel sprouts, for example), you can simply inform us on your application and we will make sure that the host family knows to avoid these foods during your stay.
If you have a more severe allergy please let us know through your application. It is important we know this as soon as possible so that we can allocate hosts appropriately. Where slight adjustments to the food served are needed these can usually be made in most families. If more significant changes are needed we may seek a specific family who can cater for your needs.
If you carry an epi-pen (or similar) for allergies, we will inform the host family in advance if you are staying with a host.
Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal, Gluten Free and other specific diets can usually be accommodated. In some locations there may be a charge for a special diet to be provided. Again, please let us know of any requirements early in your application.
Some host families have pets. If you have a preference to avoid staying with a host family with pets please let us know via your application.
Booking and Payments
We recommend booking at least 12 weeks prior to travel. This gives plenty of time to arrange the appliation, enrolment at the language school, matching to your family, and completing your application.
Late applications may sometimes be accepted so it is worth contacting us to enquire about booking. We recommend booking early to to avoid disappointment.
The package is detailed above.
You will need to allow for the following in addition to your package:
- Lunches
- Optional Social and Cultural Programme
- Local transport if required
- Souvenirs / Gifts
Optionally, you may want to allow a small amount of money for a gift for your host family or the child(ren) or you may choose to bring something from the UK.
Travel
Students usually arrive by air at the local airport. We can arrange or advise about transfers or you can use public transport which is always the cheapest option and adds to the experience of being abroad.
Your hosts may meet you on arrival and we will confirm these arrangements in your pre-travel documentation.
As with most city breaks, to make the most of exploring the area there will be lots of walking and exploring using public transport. This will help you get to know the city and give you plenty of opportunities to use your language skills.
You may be required to take public transport to get to your language school.
Accommodation
Host Family Option: Breakfast and evening meals are provided.
Residence: Self-catering – no meals provided but there are always plenty of places to eat out to make the most of the local area and culture.
Close Accordion
Supervision
The Code of Conduct is part of the application process. It is an agreement that we ask students to sign in order to make clear the expectations of students on these trips. In general students are keen to get the most our of the trip and this is best achieved when following the simple rules.
A copy of the code of conduct will be available in the MyAccount created for all students travelling.
Miscellaneous
We have put together a handy packing guide here. Of course you may need extras that are not listed here but this is a starting point.
We have a Covid 19 Policy which should offer some reassurance. We will ensure that sensible precautions are being taken and we will keep our destinations and choices of travel up to date with the latest guidance from the FCDO making sure that we minimise risk as far as is practicable.
Ultimately, the decision to travel rests with students. We want you to feel safe when you travel. We recommend following the latest guidance from the national and international bodies that advise on health and safety in relation to this virus.
Looking for an alternative package?
Why not consider one of our Work and Study packages. Available throughout the year for 1 week upwards to destinations across France, Germany or Spain.
Over 18 and looking for a placement abroad?
Our tailor-made packages travel throughout the year. Get in touch to find out more.
