The rules on who can bring a partner or children to the UK as a student have tightened dramatically — and most students are now ineligible to bring family at all.
Who can still bring dependants on a UK Student Visa?
Since January 2025, only students enrolled on PhD programmes or research-based postgraduate courses can bring dependants (a partner or children under 18) to the UK. Students on taught undergraduate or postgraduate courses — including masters degrees, MBAs and law conversion courses — can no longer bring family members.
- ✓PhD students and research-based postgraduates → can bring partner and children
- ✓Taught masters (MSc, MA, MBA, LLM etc.) → cannot bring dependants
- ✓Undergraduate students → cannot bring dependants
- ✓Foundation or pre-sessional English students → cannot bring dependants
How big has the impact been?
The restrictions have had a dramatic effect on dependent visa numbers. Dependent grants fell 87% below the peak recorded in the year ending June 2023. In the year ending December 2025, just 19,647 dependent visas were issued alongside student visas — down from a peak of over 150,000.
Can a student's partner work in the UK?
Student dependants who are permitted to enter the UK (those accompanying PhD or research students) are generally allowed to work without restriction. Their BRP will typically show "no restriction on employment." However, since most students can no longer bring dependants, this applies only to a small proportion of international students.
New English language rule for partners on work visas
Separately from the student rule, from 2026 partners applying for a dependant visa on a work route (such as the Skilled Worker Visa) must demonstrate basic English language ability. This does not apply to student dependants themselves but does affect partners of workers joining them in the UK.
💡 Tip
If you are starting a PhD or research programme and want to bring family, apply for their dependant visa at the same time as your own student visa — it is simpler and typically faster when done together.
What if my course changes from taught to research?
If you transfer from a taught programme (such as a masters) to a research programme (such as a PhD) and update your visa category accordingly, you may then become eligible to sponsor a dependant. Speak to your university's international student office or an immigration solicitor if this applies to you.
Not sure if your family qualifies? Get advice from a vetted UK immigration solicitor
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