United Kingdom Study Abroad — Dependent Policy | Best #1

Keyur Kapadiya
4 min readDec 21, 2023

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United Kingdom Study Abroad — Family visits will be prohibited for international postgraduate students enrolled in non-research United Kingdom study abroad as of January 20, 2024.

In the past, international students were permitted to bring their partners and children to the UK under the protection of the dependent visa. Only postgraduate international learners are affected by these new limitations. In the UK, it was already against the law for undergraduate students to bring dependents. [ United Kingdom Study Abroad]

Prospective Indian students will also be impacted in their decision-making process by this regulatory change. The inability to bring dependents may discourage students from choosing the UK as their study abroad location.

What effects will this new regulation have on students wishing to pursue United Kingdom study abroad when it takes effect in January 2024?

Prospective Indian students’ decision-making process may be impacted by this regulation change. The inability to bring dependents may discourage students from choosing the UK as their study abroad location.

In contrast to other target markets, postgraduate programmes in the UK are quite short, taking just approximately a year to finish. After these modifications, the pupils’ own inclinations will determine how crucial it is for them to travel to the destination nation with their families. from India. The inability to bring dependents may discourage students from choosing the UK as their study abroad location.

Who is known as a ‘dependent’?

Immigration and visa laws usually define what constitutes a “dependent,” although they can differ from nation to nation. A family member who is permitted to accompany the primary visa holder in the UK and depends on them financially is referred to as a “dependant” in the UK.

A spouse or civil partner, an unmarried partner, and children under the age of 18 can all fall under this category. Depending on the particular visa category, dependent visas may occasionally be granted to additional family members, such as parents, grandparents, or children over the age of 18.

In Canada, a “dependant” can be a parent or grandparent, a husband or common-law partner, children under 22, and (depending on the immigration programme) a kid.

Depending on the particular visa type, a spouse or de facto partner, children, and other family members may be considered “dependents” in Australia.

A family member who can be sponsored by the principal visa holder to enter the nation with them is commonly referred to as a “dependant” in the United States. Spouses and single children under 21 are common examples of dependents

What privileges and rights would the dependents have in the United Kingdom study abroad under the revised rule?

Depending on the particular visa category, the rights and advantages for dependents under the amended UK regulations vary, but they typically include the right to live and work in the country, the capacity to travel in and out of the country while the original visa holder’s visa is valid, access to medical care via the National Health Service (NHS), as well as entry to education for dependent children.

The dependent’s visa usually lasts the same amount of time as the primary visa holder. It is important to consult the official regulations of the relevant visa programme or the UK Home Office for the most up-to-date and correct information regarding the advantages and rights of dependents, since the modified policy regulations may have made changes.

What is the difference between the rights and benefits of dependents of international students in the US, Australia, Canada, and EU?

Depending on the precise class or category of the visa, international students’ dependents have different rights and privileges in different countries.

  • Depending on the particular visa type, people may have different access to healthcare and education while they are lawfully residing and working in the United States.
  • In Australia, access to healthcare varies, although dependents are normally able to work and participate in the educational system.
  • Dependents are allowed to live, work, access healthcare, and get education in Canada.
  • Subject to the particular laws of the host nation, the European Union’s member states have different rights and benefits for dependents, such as legal residency, access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

As the Spring 2024 enrollment approaches, have you observed a change in the universities that Indian students are choosing to attend?

Indian students continue to find the UK to be a popular destination, but feedback indicates that as 2024 approaches, demand may be waning.

Students wishing to study in the UK are frequently admitted till the end of the year because the visa application process is typically swift and simple.

India was the country to receive the greatest number of dependent US visas between 2021 and 2022. Is studying in the US the best option for Indian students who intend to bring dependents with them?

The incapacity of dependents to work may deter overseas students from bringing their families with them or may even encourage them to look elsewhere for their studies, despite the fact that the US issued the most dependent visas to Indian students.

Australia has seen a sharp rise in the number of new dependents, with a startling 136% year-over-year increase. With 7,114 dependent visas issued to Indians on study visas during the Australian government’s fiscal year July 2022 to June 2023, India ranked first with a dependent-to-main application ratio of 0.20.

Dependents can apply for a visitor visa, work permit, or study permit in Canada. For overseas students and members of their immediate family (spouses and young children), the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme (PGWPP) offers a clear path to remain in Canada and obtain the post-graduation work experience needed for applications for permanent residency.

Originally published at https://www.wecoverseaseducation.com on December 21, 2023.

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