Only PhD Students Eligible To Bring Dependants To UK – Envoy States Reasons
The United kingdom, UK, has said that only international students coming in for their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies were eligible to bring in dependents to the country, thereby giving tangible reasons.
Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja recalled that earlier this year the educational system policy changed for international students in higher education.
He noted that these international students are not expected to bring dependents into the UK in order to curb the increase of foreign student bringing in dependents.
Adding more reasons, the envoy pointed out that the huge surge in dependence was putting an unsustainable pressure on many universities, a reason why these changes were introduced.
According to Montgomery, before his posting as High Commissioner to Nigeria, he had spoken to some of these universities on the policy change, which had been in the pipeline for some time.
Montgomery noted that the universities Chancellors had complained of the huge student populations’ highlighting that accommodation was a huge challenge, access to medical services under the National Health Service and access to school if they brought in dependents.
According to him, the restrictions do not apply to all categories, adding that those doing a long term research degree, like a PhD, or doctorate were not affected.
“Those coming to the UK for doctorate can still bring their dependency but if you are coming to the UK with a study visa for an undergraduate degree, or short term master’s degree am afraid the rules have been changed.
“People need to understand why this change was brought in, and it is a sensible change because we have a large higher education sector and most of these universities are in towns across the country,” he added.
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