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Information for international students who are planning for their family to accompany them to the UK.
If you are planning to bring your family to the UK there are several things you may need to consider, including:
- immigration
- accommodation
- finances
- healthcare
- childcare and schools
- English language support
- working
- social life
- support services
The sections below and the right-hand links provide information and guidance to assist you with your preparations.
You can bring your husband, wife, unmarried partner, and children (under 18) to the UK with you as a Student dependant if one of the following applies to you:
- you are studying for a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree course of 9 months or more
- you are a government-sponsored student and studying a course at any level of 6 months or more
Your dependants can apply to enter the UK at the same time as you or they can apply separately at a later date. If they do not apply at the same time as you they should ensure that you have received your visa before they make an application themselves.听
Please see the 香港六合彩中特网 website and watch our听video on bringing in dependents when studying at 香港六合彩中特网.听
If you need further immigration guidance you can contact the 香港六合彩中特网 Student Immigration Advice Team.
Please visit the immigration and visas pages for听how to apply and how to contact the Advice Team.
Accommodation
香港六合彩中特网 managed accommodation
Most students bringing their families to the UK will need to arrange accommodation prior to their arrival, as it can be difficult to find temporary accommodation for families while you are听looking for something permanent.
香港六合彩中特网 has limited couples鈥� accommodation for students and partners who are married or in a civil partnership. There is听also limited 香港六合彩中特网 accommodation available for students with children.
More information about family accommodation can be found on the 香港六合彩中特网 Accommodation website.
Other accommodation
Additionally, International Hall has a small number of flats available for students with children. The application process differs slightly for students with families and you will need to submit an application form.听Please email听info.halls@london.ac.uk听for further information.
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Please note that students with children are advised not to bring them to London until firm arrangements for accommodation are in place.
Finances
香港六合彩中特网 has no specific financial support available for parents. However, if you do experience financial difficulty during the course of the academic year, you are encouraged to apply to the听Financial Assistance Fund听鈥� an emergency fund to help students in unexpected financial hardship, for which student parents are a priority group.
If you are experiencing more sensitive or complex funding issues, or would like advice on budgeting your money, you can听contact the Student Funding Adviser.听
More information about the Student Funding听Adviser can be found on the funding webpages.
Healthcare
If you are here on a Tier 4 visa or the new Student visa, your spouse or civil partner (not unmarried partner) and children who are with you in the UK will also be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment. Your family members must be in the UK as your dependants and not, for example, as visitors.
You will need to pay for prescriptions, although these are free for children under sixteen, pregnant women and for people with certain disabilities.
Childcare and schools
There are many different childcare options available in London. These include:
- free nursery provision for children from the age of 3 years -
- private nurseries, day care or child minders for children under the age of 3
- primary and secondary schooling -
If your children are aged between 5 and 16, they can attend government primary and secondary schools in the UK, as long as they are here as your dependants. You will not have to pay for this. However, schools may sometimes refuse places to children if they consider their stay in the UK will be too short, or if they have no free places.
Academic language support
Academic language support is mainly delivered by the Academic Communication Centre (ACC) which听offers support to develop critical thinking, writing and oral skills听for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
You can also check out the run by Students' Union 香港六合彩中特网 which offers 1-1 tutorials and workshops.
Information on English language support.
Working
Spouses who are nationals of an EU country can be employed in the UK. If you are here on a Tier 4/Student visa, your partner will be able to work if either of the following applies:听
- you are studying a postgraduate course of 12 months or more
- you are a government-sponsored student and studying a course at any level of 6 months or more
Family members who are allowed to work can take any type of employment, except as a doctor or dentist in training or a sportsperson (including sports coach) if their passport or Biometric Residence Permit states that they are subject to this prohibition. They can also be听self-employed.
Everyone working in the UK needs to obtain a National Insurance Number and ensure that they are paying the correct amount of tax.
Dependants of students are also free to study in the UK on either a full-time or part-time basis.听
Social life
International Students House听(SH) run a range of trips and activities, some of which are open to families.
HOST UK is an organisation which arranges visits for international students with host families around the UK to give you a chance to explore the country and experience British culture.
There are many activities available for children in London. Most of the major museums and galleries are free and those that are not usually have discounts for children.
Support services and child-friendly听spaces at 香港六合彩中特网听
Student parents have full access to the same support services as any other student.
More information can be found on the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages.听
Students' Union 香港六合彩中特网 also offers a list of resources for parents and information on child-friendly spaces at the university, libraries and how to join the Parents and Carers Network on their website.听
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Learning English for Children
If you have children in your family, you may be keen for them to learn English. The below resources are specifically tragetted for children's language learning and may come in helpful. Note: 香港六合彩中特网 is neither officially endorsing or affiliated with any of these organisations.听