FAQs

To be eligible to bring a partner and children (under 18), a student must be on a 9+ months full-time postgraduate research programme OR have a government financial scholarship for a 6+ month full-time programme. Otherwise, there is the Standard Visitor route for short visits.

Student visa rules changed in January 2024

The Student visa rules changed in January 2024 to prevent certain taught students from bringing dependants on the student visa route. Only those studying postgraduate research courses (SCQF 11 or higher) or students with government-funded scholarships are eligible.

You will only be able to have dependants in the UK if:

• you are studying on postgraduate research programme of 9 months or longer (for example, PhD; doctoral qualification or a research-based higher degree)
• you are studying a course of more than 6 months and you are in receipt of a national government issued financial scholarship or sponsorship.

You can bring dependants to the UK if:

• you are undertaking a PhD or other doctoral qualification or a research-based higher degree (such as a Masters by Research MScR)
• you are studying a full-time programme of at least six months and are receiving a national government issued financial scholarship or sponsorship 

National government issued financial scholarship or sponsorship: The scholarship or sponsorship is not required to cover the full fees and living costs of the student in order to permit them to sponsor dependants. However, if this is the case, the applicant must provide separate financial evidence to demonstrate that they meet the financial requirement. If a scholarship does not cover the living costs for any dependants of the student then the applicant must provide separate financial evidence to cover them.

You can also continue to have dependants with you, if they are in the UK and you have commenced a full-time programme lasting at least six months prior to 01 January 2024 AND all of the below bullet points apply: 

• You are now commencing a new full-time programme that is not classed as a postgraduate research programme after 01 January 2024; AND
• Your Student permission is current or expired no more than three months before you apply for immigration application for your new programme; AND
• Your new immigration application is for a programme that is at least six months; AND
• Your dependant already has Student Dependant immigration permission (or it expired no more than three months before making the new immigration application), or your dependant is your child who was born since you were last granted your immigration permission; AND
• You are applying for immigration permission at the same time as your dependant.

Undergraduate students who are NOT government-sponsored or studying a programme of up to 6 months cannot bring dependants.

If your  programme commenced before 01 January 2024  (including where you are returning from an interruption of studies, and your programme commenced before 01 January 2024)

You can bring dependants to the UK if:

• You are a government-sponsored student who is studying a full-time programme of more than six months in duration; or
• You are a postgraduate student studying a full time programme of nine months or more

We assist students in pursuing higher education opportunities in United Kingdom.

Global Education Consultants offers free initial consultations to discuss your educational goals and assess how we can assist you. Depending on the services required, we charge a visa application process fee of 1100 GBP.