Bringing your dependants to the UK

You are allowed to bring your dependants, and any adult dependants will be allowed to work in the United Kingdom if you are given permission to stay for more than 12 months.

If you want to bring your dependants with you, you will need to show that you have a further £533 (in London) or £400 (outside London) a month for each dependant that you bring with you for up to a maximum of nine months. 

Background reading

Once you've accepted a place on a course at a UK school, college or university, your institution may send you information to help you prepare for your arrival. Read this carefully – it may tell you more about the institution and the local area, and include practical information such as opening times of offices, local travel advice and important steps you need to take (such as applying for accommodation, or registering for your course).

Living Costs

When you are planning your budget for living in the UK, it is not just your course fees that you need to take into account. You also need to calculate your everyday living expenses including your food, accommodation (rent and other bills), books and equipment, and clothes - making sure that you have enough left over for leisure activities and socialising. The cost of living varies between different regions of the UK; London, for example, is more expensive than average and costs may also be high in other major UK cities.

Budgeting for the year

At boarding schools and some international study centres, accommodation and meals are included in your fees, but if you are on a course at a further education college, higher education college or university, you will probably need to budget for rent and also for buying and cooking your own food. Even if your institution has a canteen, you will usually need to pay for the meals you eat there separately from your rent. You should always plan your living expenses over 12 months, even if the academic year is shorter, as you may have to pay accommodation and other costs over the holidays. It's also worth checking what bills you are expected to pay and which are included in your rent, as this can have a big effect on your budget. Student accommodation in halls of residence can often look more expensive than a room in a shared house, but all bills and internet access are usually included in the cost of your room, whereas in private accommodation you will be expected to pay these separately. Before you arrive, your institution should be able to give you clear guidance on exact prices of its accommodation, meals in its canteen, bills you will be expected to pay and the cost of living in the local region.

Online budget planners can help you to work out how much money you will need throughout the year. You will find it helpful to look at this before you arrive in the UK. You may also find it useful to check out the websites of UK shops and supermarkets that sell a range of products, such as www.tesco.com and www.debenhams.com, as this can give you a basic idea of UK prices for food, clothing and other essentials you will need throughout your time here.

Cheaper Living Options

If you're going to be living on a budget, there are several tips for value buying. Outdoor markets are good for fresh food and cheap clothing and you will often find these close to areas where there are large numbers of students. Larger supermarkets where you can buy in bulk are generally cheaper than smaller local shops and stores and many sell good quality clothing, household goods and electrical equipment as well as food and other provisions. Some supermarket chains offer online shopping and will deliver your shopping to your home. There may be a small charge for this, but it is likely to be no more than your bus or taxi fare and much easier than struggling home with bags of heavy shopping.