Can you repeat the information about taking a dependent with me during my studies in the UK for a Master's/PhD?
Here is that information again: under current UK rules, PhD and postgraduate research students, along with fully government-sponsored scholars, can bring a spouse, partner, or children under 18. Standard taught Master's students, such as an MA, MSc, or MBA, cannot bring dependents unless they qualify through government sponsorship.
Here is that information again. Whether you can bring a dependent to the UK depends entirely on the type of postgraduate program you join. PhD and research-based degrees generally qualify you to bring family, while standard taught Master's programs currently do not, unless you are fully funded by a government or international scholarship agency.
Who Can And Cannot Bring Dependents
| Program Type | Can You Bring Dependents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PhD or postgraduate research degree (including research-based MRes) | Yes | Applies to full-time doctorates and research-based higher degrees |
| Government-sponsored scholarship, over 6 months | Yes | Applies regardless of course type if fully funded by a national government or agency such as Chevening |
| Standard taught Master's (MA, MSc, MBA) | No | Classroom or lecture-based taught Master's students are currently barred from bringing dependents |
If You Do Qualify To Bring Dependents
- Eligible dependents: your husband, wife, or civil partner; an unmarried partner if you have lived together for at least 2 years; and children under 18
- Maintenance funds: you must show roughly £845 per month per dependent, for up to 9 months, on top of your own funds
- Work and study rights: dependents can generally work full-time (except as professional sportspersons or coaches) and can also study
My Advice
If bringing family is a priority for you, lean your program choice toward a PhD or a genuinely research-based Master's like an MRes rather than a standard taught MSc or MBA, and confirm the exact current maintenance figure directly on the UK government's official visa pages before you budget, since Home Office thresholds do get revised.
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