Recent changes to the UK student visa rules, effective from January 1, 2024, have made it more challenging for international students to bring dependents with them to the UK. Under the new rules, only students enrolled in a PhD, doctoral program, or research-based higher degree lasting nine months or longer can bring their dependent partners or children. Additionally, undergraduate students on a government-sponsored course of at least six months can also bring dependents. Students pursuing non-research-based Master’s degrees are no longer eligible to sponsor dependents.

These changes are part of the UK government's efforts to reduce net migration, and the financial requirements for student visas have also been reviewed. Dependents of students who began their course before January 1, 2024, can still extend their visas as long as the main student’s visa remains valid. Those planning to switch to the Graduate visa (post-study work visa) can still have their dependents with them, provided the dependents were already living in the UK during the student’s course of study.

These adjustments align with the government's broader immigration strategy, including an increase in the minimum salary requirement for switching to a Skilled Worker visa and changes to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which rose by 66% on February 6, 2024. The changes reflect a tightening of immigration policies aimed at controlling migration while allowing talented individuals to study and contribute to the UK economy.