Home Away from Home is an opportunity for international graduate students and local Boston community members to connect in a social setting to enhance the Boston experience for both long-time residents and Northeastern students.
The goal of this program is to provide a way for students to build a sense of community in Boston and foster connections with local residents involved in our neighborhoods and campus community. Participants will have the opportunity to share their culture and learn a new culture through this exchange.
Summer 2025
We are kicking off our first summer of Home Away from Home! The summer series will encourage interactions between international graduate students and NU faculty and staff. Please review the FAQ and Guidelines below.
For Graduate Students:
Find your “Home Away from Home” in Boston!
Are you a graduate international student looking to connect beyond campus? Join Home Away from Home and be paired with a local community member who can help you explore Boston and feel more at home. It’s free, flexible, and a great way to build real connections and discover the city with a friendly local.
- Low commitment
- Cross-cultural friendship
- Enjoy a free coffee on campus with a new NU faculty/staff member
For Staff & Faculty Members:
Help a student feel at home in Boston.
Be part of Home Away from Home, a Northeastern University initiative connecting international graduate students with our community. Share your neighborhood, culture, and NU knowledge in a low-key, meaningful way. No budget, no pressure—just a chance to make a difference, one connection at a time.
- Build cross-cultural connections with current students
- Share your favorite local spots
- Free Wollaston’s coffee card to enjoy while meeting up with a student
The deadline to sign-up for Summer 2025 is June 30th. All matches will be introduced the week of July 1st. Questions? Please email Mallory Pernaa at m.pernaa@northeastern.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in Home Away from Home?
Currently this program is open to Northeastern’s international graduate students and Boston-area community members (non-student residents). This includes NU faculty and staff that are on campus regularly.
How does Northeastern match students and non-student residents?
After completing the initial interest form for Fall 2025, Northeastern staff review submissions to find a match near your neighborhood. All interested participants are invited to an annual kick-off in November to meet in-person on campus. In addition, we host semesterly group events to get acquainted. Throughout the year, students and community members are matched individually and connected via introductory email.
For Summer 2025, we will use an abbreviated sign-up form to expedite matches.
What are the requirements to participate?
We only ask that you meet up with your match at least once each semester in which you participate. Most matches report meeting up a few times each year as their schedules allow. View our full guidelines and expectations here.
For Summer 2025, we are only requesting that matches meet up one time due to the short semester schedule. This can be during business hours to accommodate faculty/staff schedules. It is not required to do any evening or weekend meet-ups.
Is there a cost to participate?
No, this program is free. All participants are encouraged to enjoy free events and opportunities in Boston. Individual matches have the option if they want to elect to do something that has a fee. Each semester there will be a group event for particiapants that is funded by Northeastern. Attendance is always optional.
Can NU faculty and staff participate?
Of course, our summer series is the best way for NU staff and faculty to get started. Sign up for Summer 2025 here. All summer matches will be communicated the week of June 30th.
All summer participants will be invited to continue in the fall and spring semesters if they choose to do so.
As a Boston community member, am I required to host students in my home?
No, this program does not require any hosting or housing. We simply encourage students and community members that are matched to explore Boston and create a plan that works for your individual schedules and personal preferences.
There is no requirement to host students during holiday breaks or during the academic year.
How do I sign up?
Summer 2025 series participants should sign up here.
Submit an interest form for Fall 2025 here. We review the form regularly and do monthly outreach from November- May. We encourage our participants to explore areas around Boston through our newsletter series featuring summer-time, New England Adventures.
Home Away from Home was featured in Northeastern Global News! Read the story here.
View photos of our past events!
