The UK government clarified that only international students pursuing a PhD are allowed to bring their family with them to the country.
Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He mentioned that the policy for international students in higher education was changed earlier in the year to restrict bringing dependents to the UK, aiming to reduce the increasing number of foreign students doing so.
He elaborated that the significant influx of dependents was putting excessive pressure on many universities, leading to the introduction of these changes.
He clarified that these restrictions do not affect everyone, stating that those undertaking long-term research degrees such as a PhD were exempt from this rule.
He explained, “Those coming to the UK for a doctorate can still bring their dependents, but if you are coming for an undergraduate or short-term master’s degree, I'm afraid the rules have changed.”
“People need to understand why this change was implemented. It is a sensible change due to the large higher education sector and the increasing number of foreign students bringing their dependents,” he added.
He also noted a recent surge in demand for British education, which has led to a significant increase in foreign students bringing their dependents.
Montgomery mentioned that he had discussed the policy change with some universities before his term as High Commissioner to Nigeria, as it had been in the works for some time.
He pointed out that university Chancellors had raised concerns about the large student populations and the challenges in accommodation, access to medical services under the National Health Service, and access to schools if dependents were brought along.
Montgomery highlighted that in 2019, before the Coronavirus pandemic, only one and a half thousand dependents were brought in from Nigeria on study visas, whereas in 2022, this figure had increased to fifty-two thousand dependents, marking a thirty-fold rise.
He emphasized that the significant increase in dependents was not unique to Nigeria, mentioning similar trends among Indian students coming to study in the UK.
He pointed out, “It's not just about Nigeria, we observed similar increases, for example, among Indian students coming to study in the UK.”
Discussing the implementation of the policy, Montgomery expressed that it was too early to gauge its impact on undergraduates, as the changes were announced in 2023 but took effect earlier this year. He indicated that the impact would be assessed in September 2024, with the next round of academic admissions.
“I believe your wider audience needs to understand that there is strong demand for UK education. In 2022, 65,000 study visas were approved for Nigerian applicants, while in September 2023, around 115,000 study visa applications were received from Nigeria.”
He further explained, “Ninety-five percent of these applications were approved, and over 110,000 study visas were issued last September compared to 65,000 the previous year, indicating nearly a doubling of Nigerian study visas in 2023, showcasing the high demand.”
The speaker is genuinely happy and proud that the UK has a strong higher education sector and is still one of the top six economies in the world, despite being only 2.5% of the global economy.
He mentioned that 17% of the best universities in the world are in the UK, and this is something they take pride in.
He appreciates the demand for schooling in the UK, but wants to highlight there are other important factors to consider.
He pointed out that the future value of the naira will significantly impact the ability to afford education for many people.
He hopes that the number of people bringing dependents to the UK will be a minority, not a majority, and that demand for studying in the UK will continue.
NAN
