In May 2023, the UK government announced new rules for student dependent visas. If your programme commences on or after 01 January 2024, 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 master's by research); or
- you are studying a course of more than 6 months and you are in receipt of a government scholarship award (full fees and living costs).
Our Master’s programmes are not research based, hence you will not be able to bring your dependants if studying a Master’s programme unless you are financially sponsored by the UK or an Overseas Government. The dependant does not need to be financially sponsored, however you must be awarded full fees and living costs.
Research degree students: If you are coming to LSHTM to study a full-time PhD or DrPH course and will be based in the UK throughout your course, you are eligible to bring family members to the UK on a PBS Dependant visa.
- Who can I bring with me to the UK on a PBS Dependant visa?
Dependants are defined as:
- husband / wife
- civil partner
- unmarried partner ((provided you have been living together for at least 2 consecutive years)
- children aged under 18
- children aged 18 or over but only if they are already in the UK with immigration permission as your dependants
- How do my family members make a visa application?
To make an application for a PBS Dependant visa, you should visit the Home Office website.
- Can I bring my child(ren) to the UK if a spouse / partner is not coming with me?
Only if:
- you are the sole surviving parent, or
- you have had sole responsibility for the child's upbringing, or
- there are serious compelling or other considerations (we do not have a definition of this but you should assume that "serious compelling considerations" refer only to extraordinary circumstances).
If both parents are responsible for looking after a child, then you must both come with the child to the UK. If you have 'sole responsibility' for your child, you will need to provide strong supporting evidence of this to the Home Office with your child's visa application. We advise you to make your child's application at the same time as your own visa application.
- How much does it cost to apply for a PBS Dependant visa?
The cost for a dependant’s visa made from outside the UK is £490.
- How much money do family members need to show?
For each dependant (whatever their age), you need to show maintenance costs of £845 per month of your stay in the UK, up to a maximum of 9 months’ maintenance costs (£7605 for each dependant). For example, if you are coming to the UK with a partner and child for 12 months, you would need to show £15,210 (2 dependants x £7605).
- How do they show they meet the financial requirements?
These funds must be held for a consecutive 28-day period with the end date no earlier than 31 days before the date of application.
- Is it possible to work in the UK on a dependant’s visa?
Dependants are entitled to work or study in the UK as there are currently no restrictions on these activities.
Useful links
Contacts
- Email the Visa Enquiries Team - General queries on visa applications and CAS
- Email Student Advice - Confidential advice on any specific visa queries