Are there any qualifications required for taking a spouse as dependent in the UK for a PhD/Postgraduate?
Yes, your spouse can join you as a dependant if your PhD is full time and lasts nine months or longer. You must be married or prove a genuine two year relationship, and your spouse needs maintenance funds of up to £7,605 held for twenty eight days, plus visa fees.
You can bring your spouse to the UK as a dependant while you complete your PhD, since a full time doctorate of nine months or longer qualifies under the Home Office's postgraduate research rules. Both of you need to meet separate relationship, financial, and administrative conditions before the visa is approved. Your spouse's rights once approved are broad, including full time work.
What Your Spouse Needs To Qualify
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Relationship proof | Marriage or civil partnership certificate, or two years of a genuine relationship if unmarried |
| Age | Both of you must be at least 18 |
| Maintenance funds (London) | £845 per month for up to 9 months, totaling £7,605 |
| Maintenance funds (outside London) | £680 per month for up to 9 months, totaling £6,120 |
| Fees | Dependant visa fee of £490 plus Immigration Health Surcharge of about £1,035 per year |
The 28 Day Rule And Your Spouse's Rights
Your spouse's maintenance funds must sit in a bank account for a consecutive 28 day period, ending no more than 31 days before the visa application date. This is on top of the funds you must show for your own tuition and living costs, unless your scholarship explicitly covers dependants. Once approved, your spouse can work full time in the UK, with only a few exceptions such as training as a doctor or dentist, and they can also study.
My Advice
Start saving your spouse's maintenance funds early and keep them untouched for the full 28 day window before you apply, since even a small dip can trigger a refusal. Gather your relationship evidence, such as joint bank statements or a marriage certificate, well ahead of your own PhD visa application so both applications move together smoothly.
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