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Guidance

Student route: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on how to consider applications from people to enter or remain in the UK as students.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
15 November 2013
Last updated:
3 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated in line with Immigration Rules changes.

  2. A table of changes from the last version of this guidance can be found in the document. Changes include updates to clarify guidance around guardianship arrangements for child students. Information added about the visa brake policy coming into effect on 26 March.

  3. This guidance has been updated in line with Immigration Rules that come into force on 11 November 2025. A full list of the changes is included in the document.

  4. Added new information in the 'Assessing applications for dependant partners and dependant children' section. Added new information about what to do if you doubt the evidence provided to meet any of the relationship requirements in the 'Proof of relationship for dependant partners' section.

  5. Updates to the guidance, including Child Student safeguarding policies in line with changes to the Immigration Rules.

  6. Updated the Student and Child Student guidance to version 9.

  7. Updated the Student and Child Student guidance - full details of changes can be found within the document.

  8. Updated to reflect a change in the rules on maintenance requirements.

  9. The guidance has been updated as follows: expanded on the 'when the student dependants are permitted' section following amendment to ST 31 of the Immigration Rules; corrected SCQF level wording for research courses; and minor formatting changes.

  10. Guidance updated as follows: added references to Appendix Children for Applicant applying as a dependent child and Applicant not applying as a dependent child; added references to Appendix Relationship with Partner for Applicants applying as a dependent partner of a Student; added detail on requirements for students holding official financial sponsorship to bring dependants.

  11. CAS information updated to include that academic course level will indicate whether postgraduate courses are taught or research. References to the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) updated or removed. Updated requirements for eligibility for students to bring dependants. Removed references to the requirement to register with police.

  12. Accessible version updated to version 3.

  13. Accessible version added.

  14. Updated guidance to reflect immigration rules from 6 April 2021.

  15. The guidance has been updated to reflect the updated financial levels that apply and information on how the financial requirement has been removed from this guidance as it now sits in the standalone financial guidance. Amendments have also been made to the information on the conditions section of the guidance to remove reference to the 'no work as a postgraduate doctor or dentist' condition and the information on validity requirements has been updated to mirror the structural change to the immigration rules.

  16. Updated guidance.

  17. Updated guidance document

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  19. Replaced the document with a new version.

  20. Guidance document updated.

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  23. Guidance document updated.

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  44. First published.

Documents

Student and Child Student (accessible)

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Student and Child Student

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Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff consider applications from people who wish to enter or remain in the UK to study.

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