The United Kingdom (UK) government has reissued a new statement, giving the go-ahead to international students pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program as the only eligible immigrants to bring in dependants via the study route. Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner Nigeria made this known in an interview with the Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. He noted that earlier this year, there was a change in the educational system aimed to reduce the influx of foreign students bringing dependants into the UK.
The envoy emphasized that the significant rise in dependents was placing strain on many universities, leading to implementing these changes.“The decision to restrict dependants for students in higher education aims to address the unsustainable pressures placed on universities due to the surge in dependant numbers,” Montgomery explained.
He further highlighted the strains on accommodation, medical services provided by the National Health Service (NHS), and schooling for dependants as key concerns that prompted the change.
According to Montgomery, the policy specifically targets students pursuing short-term degrees, stating that it is a sensible change majorly because of the large higher education sector in the country.
