If you hold a Student visa, you may be able to bring your family to the UK with you as your dependants.
If you hold a Student visa, you may be able to bring your family to the UK with you as your dependants.
The UK Government recently announced changes to the rules about Student visa holders and their dependants so it important that you read this page carefully. If you have any doubts or concerns about the eligibility of your dependants to enter or remain in the UK, then please contact us.
If you started your course before 1 January 2024 these new rules will not impact you please read the section below 'students who started a course before 1 January 2024'.
Who can bring dependants with them to the UK?
As a Student visa holder at Royal Holloway, you can have dependants with you in the UK if:
- You are studying a full-time course and you are being sponsored (financially) by your national government to study that course; or
- You are studying a full-time research-based higher degree (see below)
Find out more about applying to study a Research Degree at Royal Holloway
| Subject | Course Level | Course Type |
| Classics | 7 | MA by Research |
| Comparative Literature & Cultures | 7 | MA by Research |
| Drama, Theatre & Dance | 7 | MA by Research |
| English | 7 | MA by Research |
| European Studies | 7 | MA by Research |
| Film, Television & Digital Production | 7 | MA by Research |
| French | 7 | MA by Research |
| Geography | 7 | MA by Research |
| German & Related Studies | 7 | MA by Research |
| Hispanic Studies | 7 | MA by Research |
| History | 7 | MA by Research |
| Italian | 7 | MA by Research |
| Management | 7 | MA by Research |
| Music | 7 | MA by Research |
| Philosophy | 7 | MA by Research |
| Politics & International Relations | 7 | MA by Research |
| Biological Sciences | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Computer Science | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Earth Sciences | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Economics | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Electronic Engineering | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Geography | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Information Security | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Management | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Mathematics | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Physics | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Politics & International Relations | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Psychology | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Social Work | 7 | MSc by Research |
| Biological Sciences | 8 | PhD |
| Classics | 8 | PhD |
| Comparative Literature & Cultures | 8 | PhD |
| Computer Science | 8 | PhD |
| Criminology | 8 | PhD |
| Criminology and Sociology | 8 | PhD |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 8 | PhD |
| Earth Sciences/Geology | 8 | PhD |
| Economics | 8 | PhD |
| Electronic Engineering | 8 | PhD |
| English | 8 | PhD |
| Forensic Psychology | 8 | PhD |
| French | 8 | PhD |
| Geography | 8 | PhD |
| German | 8 | PhD |
| Health Studies | 8 | PhD |
| History | 8 | PhD |
| Information Security | 8 | PhD |
| Italian | 8 | PhD |
| Law | 8 | PhD |
| Management | 8 | PhD |
| Mathematics | 8 | PhD |
| Media Arts | 8 | PhD |
| Music | 8 | PhD |
| Philosophy | 8 | PhD |
| Physics | 8 | PhD |
| Politics | 8 | PhD |
| Psychology | 8 | PhD |
| Social Sciences | 8 | PhD |
| Social Work | 8 | PhD |
| Sociology | 8 | PhD |
| Spanish | 8 | PhD |
| Clinical Psychology | 8 | Professional Doctorate (DClinPsy) |
Who is a dependant?
Your partner and your child can be your dependants. Other relatives cannot enter the UK as a dependant on your Student visa.
In all cases, you and/or your dependant will need to provide documentary evidence with the visa application to prove this relationship.
Partners
Your partner must meet 1 of the definitions below to qualify as a dependant for the purposes of your Student visa
- Your husband or wife; or
- Your civil partner including same-sex or opposite-sex couples who have registered their partnership and who have thereby gained formal legal recognition of their relationship.; or
- Your unmarried partner or same-sex partner. In both cases, you need to have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for a period of at least two years before you make your visa application.
Children
Child dependants must meet all of the below criteria
- If your child is applying to come to the UK for the first time, they must be younger than 18 years old when they apply.
- Your child must not be considered 'independent'. This means
- they do not have a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner, and
- they live with you (their parent(s)), except where they are living away from the family home due to education e.g. attending school or university, and
- they are not employed full-time , and
- they are wholly or mainly dependent upon their parents for financial support, and
- they are wholly or mainly dependent upon their parents for emotional support
If your child is over 16 years old when they apply, they will need to provide documentation to demonstrate that they meet this definition of 'dependent'.
- Both of the child’s parents must be in, or coming with the child to, the UK. The only exceptions to this requirement are when the child's other parent is dead, or if you (the main applicant for the Student visa) have sole responsibility for the child's upbringing, or if there are other serious or compelling considerations that mean the child should be with you in the UK and you have made suitable arrangements for the child's care. You will need to provide documentary evidence of any of the exceptions listed above.
Financial Requirements
Alongside the financial requirement that you must meet as the main applicant, you will need to demonstrate that you (or your partner) have held a further amount for each dependant you wish to bring with you to the UK. The amount you need to show depends on where you will stud your course
- Studying at the Central London campus £7,605
- Studying at the Egham campus £6,120
You can see our full guidance here on meeting the Financial Requirements for Student Visa applications.
How to apply and the conditions of dependant visa holders?
How to apply?
If your dependants are applying for their visa from outside the UK, then they will need to follow the instructions for making their visa application here.
They will need details of your Student visa application i.e. the application number and information from your CAS when they apply.
If your dependants are already inside the UK then we suggest you contact us for advice on whether they are eligible to apply.
Conditions of the dependant visa
Your dependants will be granted permission to work in the UK. They will be able to undertake full-time employment in most professions with the exception of being unable to work as a professional athlete.
Your dependants will also be able to study in the UK. This includes children who are of school age. If you need assistance with finding a place at a local school for your children then please contact us.
Students who started a course before 1 January 2024
If you started your course before 1 January 2024 and you are studying any post-graduate masters course at level 7 then you will also be eligible to bring your dependants to the UK on your Student visa.
If you started your course before 1 January 2024 and would like assistance in brining your dependants to the UK then we strongly advise that you contact us for further help.
