According to The Times (UK), international students will only be allowed to bring their spouses and children to the United Kingdom if they are pursuing degrees considered “high-value” by the UK government, such as science, maths, and engineering.
This move comes as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman have expressed concerns over the significant increase in the number of family members joining foreign students, which has risen almost eightfold. The UK currently allows dependants to accompany their spouses or parents who have a valid student visa.
In 2022, Nigerian nationals accounted for the highest increase in the number of dependants accompanying persons with study visas, and they also had the largest increase in sponsored study grants compared to 2019.
The Times reported that the new immigration figures revealed that 490,763 students were granted visas last year, accompanied by 135,788 dependants, up from 16,047 in 2019. Foreign students will also be prohibited from bringing their families unless they are pursuing higher degrees, such as a master’s degree or a PhD.
However, universities and members of parliament from all parties have criticized this proposal, citing research indicating that foreign students contribute £35 billion a year to the UK economy.
This move is part of Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s efforts to restrict migrants from entering the UK. As we reported previously, Braverman is also considering reforming the graduate visa route, requiring foreign students to obtain a work visa by securing a skilled job or leave the UK within six months of completing their studies.
