About us

Welcome to InterStudies!

We’ve been offering high quality educational programmes in the UK since 2002 and in Ireland since 2005.
So you can rest assured that we know our stuff!

InterStudies is founded on care, compassion and cultural exchange. Anette Slot Larsen, our founder and Managing Director, was inspired to set up our company following her own experience with cultural exchange programmes and as an au pair back in the 80s – and today we have a strong, experienced international team running our programmes.

Our team is made up of different languages, locations, nationalities and experiences – and we think this is key for a company like ours. We’ve got former exchange students, host families and Local Support Coordinators in our ranks at Head Office, bringing invaluable experience to every aspect of what we do.

Proudly located in Edinburgh, we also have bases in Ireland and in the south of England.
You are always welcome to come and visit us!

At InterStudies, we are inspiring to make a difference!

Our mission

The InterStudies mission is to inspire to make a difference.

We want to continue to grow our programmes and our partnerships. We want to be continue to be reliable, trustworthy and responsible. We want to work with people who share our values. We want to provide an unforgettable experience for our students.

Our priority is to provide a great service, and an excellent programme selection at competitive prices.

We are always here for all members of our community!

"I really love seeing a shy student arrive and helping them to go on a journey, and eventually come out of their shell. It's amazing to see them blossom and gain confidence!"

Amanda, Regional Manager

"You have to have a passion for this role to make it successful. And you have to really care about the students! I really enjoy being an LSC, and I'll always go the extra mile."

Anita, LSC in the UK

"The best part of my job is seeing our students overcome their fears and turn in to independent, confident young people - ready for the next stage of their lives!"

Julie, Head of Production

Meet our team!

Anette Slot Larsen

Managing Director

Keeping the overview to help move us all forwards is Anette, our Managing Director. Having been inspired by her own experiences living and working abroad, Anette now enjoys the opportunity to make a difference for others. Though she is usually working even when she is not supposed to be, you can sometimes also find her at the theatre or on the beach!

Amanda France

Head of Communications

Working closely with our Managing Director, Amanda is our Head of Communications – overseeing and coordinating both internal and external comms. As well as this, Amanda is our Student Ambassador, meaning that she provides some extra support to our students on the programme. Outside of the office, she’s usually found watching or playing football.

Julie Halsey

Head of Production

Heading up our production team and overseeing our operations in both the UK and Ireland is Julie. Originally inspired to join our Head Office team after her ongoing experience as a host mum, Julie has been a part of the InterStudies team for almost a decade! When she’s not in the office leading our production team, Julie is a big fan of salsa dancing.

Bo Slot Larsen

Head of IT

Looking after our IT systems, servers and data is Bo – playing a vital role behind the scenes! Bo is responsible for keeping us up and running online, and he has been a valued part of the InterStudies team for a long time. When he’s not at work, Bo usually still enjoys sitting behind a computer screen – or you might catch him out sailing on the water!

Tanja Engly Steinaa

Head of Finance

At the helm of our finances and leading her department is Tanja. Having a passion for numbers is always helpful when you work in finance, and thankfully Tanja has that in abundance – as well as a passion for working with people! When she’s travelling, Tanja looks for nature – with her favourite spots being the Scottish Highlands or the Faroe Islands.

Louise Smith

Finance Manager

Working alongside Tanja in our finance team is Louise. Having been a part of InterStudies for over a decade, Louise brings invaluable experience to the team! She enjoys crunching numbers and working in excel (again, good qualities for a Finance Manager!) – and when she’s away from her desk, Louise enjoys spending time with her kids and her friends.

Petra Kiss

Head of Admissions

Responsible for our admissions and placements in both the UK and Ireland is Petra. Working with our partners and our online systems to receive and process applications, and with our Local Support Coordinators to process placements, it’s clear to see that Petra is great at jigsaws! Outside of the office, she’s usually found hiking in the mountains with her dog.

Holly Tonner

Programme Manager

Working on our programmes in the UK and Ireland is Holly – chiefly overseeing student support. Holly works closely with our partners and our Local Support Coordinators to make sure that students are well supported throughout their programmes, and that any issues are resolved following our procedures. When she’s not at work, Holly likes to spend time with friends.

Alicia Klages

Programme Coordinator

Looking after our programmes in both the UK and Ireland is Alicia. Having previously lived and worked in Ireland as an au pair, Alicia has been a part of the InterStudies team for many years – and we love having her here! Alicia works with admin in a lot of areas behind the scenes. If she’s travelling, Alicia epecially enjoys Paris, Rome, Prague and Budapest!

Lone Vedelstrup

Camps & Tours Manager

Having been a part of the InterStudies team since the very beginning, it’s brilliant having Lone in our ranks! Lone looks after our camps and tours which take place in the UK and Ireland every season – helping to plan, organise and run our events. A former English teacher, Lone has travelled extensively, and when she’s not at work, she’s usually out in her garden.

Sarah Highbury

Regional Manager – UK

Running our programmes in the UK is Sarah, our Regional Manager. Sarah heads up our team of Local Support Coordinators on student placements and student support, also working closely with our Head Office team. Sarah is also a host mum and she’s been a part of the InterStudies team for a long time! Outside of work, Sarah is usually by the sea with her family.

Amanda McNamara

Regional Manager – Ireland

Looking after our programmes in Ireland is our Regional Manager Amanda. Amanda works with her LSC team and our Head Office staff to ensure that students are well supported during their time in Ireland, and that they have excellent placements. When she’s away from her desk, Amanda is usually out on her motorbike somewhere – “free as a bird”!