Bringing a Partner or Children to the UK on a Student Visa: The 2026 Rules

For many international students, the hardest question is not about tuition or accommodation. It is whether their partner or children can come too. For most students, the answer is now no, so it is much better to know before you apply than after you have paid a deposit.

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The rule in one sentence

For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, you can only bring a partner or children on a Student visa if you are on a PhD or other doctorate or a research-based postgraduate degree of at least nine months, or if you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than six months. Taught master's students cannot bring dependants. That includes MSc, MA, MBA and LLM degrees, even though they are postgraduate level.

Who counts as a dependant

  • Your husband, wife or civil partner.
  • Your unmarried partner, if you have lived together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years.
  • Your children under 18, including a child born in the UK during your stay.

What this means for cybersecurity students

Most UK cybersecurity programmes are taught master's degrees, so they do not qualify. A PhD in cybersecurity does, and research master's degrees may too. If your funder is a government scholarship programme, check with your funder and your university sponsor whether you qualify under the government-sponsored rule before assuming either way.

What it costs if you do qualify

  • The Student visa application fee is £558 for each applicant, including each dependant, for applications from 8 April 2026.
  • The Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 per year for each dependant at the student rate, paid upfront for the full visa length.
  • You must also show extra maintenance funds for each dependant on top of your own. Check the current monthly figure on GOV.UK, as living-cost rates rise again for applications made from 30 November 2026.

Can your partner work?

Dependants who are allowed to come on a Student visa can generally work in the UK without a restriction on hours, and children can attend state school. This is one reason a PhD can be a workable route for a family, but the upfront costs for a larger family are significant.

If your course is taught

Be careful with agents who suggest there is a loophole, because an application that includes dependants who are not eligible will be refused. Realistic alternatives include:

  1. Studying alone first, then reviewing options when your circumstances change.
  2. Your partner applying in their own right through a work or skilled route if they qualify.
  3. Choosing a research route if the PhD fits your career plan anyway.

Note that once you move onto the Graduate Route you cannot add new dependants, though someone who was already with you as your dependant can continue.

Check before you commit

Always confirm your exact course type with the university before applying, and use our Student visa guide and financial requirement calculator to plan the money. Immigration rules change, so verify the latest on GOV.UK before you apply.

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