Guidance

Student sponsor guidance

How to apply for a Student sponsor licence and how to sponsor a student.

Published 1 October 2013
Last updated 1 December 2020 — see all updates

• From: UK Visas and Immigration

Documents

Applying for a Student sponsor licence

PDF, 611KB, 75 pages

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Sponsorship duties

PDF, 819KB, 101 pages

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Student sponsor compliance

PDF, 370KB, 23 pages

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Higher education regulatory reform

PDF, 287KB, 15 pages

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Details

This is the full policy guidance on sponsoring a student. Use this guide to find out how to:

• apply for (or renew) a university or college sponsor licence
• enrol international students who will be studying under the Student or Child Student routes

Published 1 October 2013
Last updated 1 December 2020 + show all updates

1. 1 December 2020

   Updated guidance documents for use on or after 1 December.

2. 5 October 2020

   Updated all guidance documents to reflect new Student Visa route.

3. 31 October 2019

   Updated all 4 documents to reflect immigration rules changes.

4. 1 August 2019

   Updated guidance to be used from 1 August 2019.

5. 10 January 2019

   Replace all 4 documents with new versions.

6. 16 July 2018

   Updated guidance.

7. 8 May 2018

   Updated sponsorship duties document to be used from 8 May 2018.

8. 4 April 2018

   New guidance on higher education regulatory reform added.

9. 11 January 2018

   Guidance documents updated.

10. 9 June 2017

    Updated sponsorship duties guidance.

11. 6 April 2017

    Updated guidance for use on or after 6 April 2017.

12. 24 November 2016

    Updated guidance for use on or after 24 November.

13. 18 July 2016

    Updated guidance on 'Sponsorship duties'.

14. 6 April 2016

    Updated guidance.

15. 12 November 2015

    Updated guidance for educators.

16. 11 August 2015

    Updated guidance.

17. 22 April 2015

    Updated guidance for sponsors

18. 8 April 2015

    Updated tier 4 compliance guidance.

19. 2 April 2015

    Updated guidance

20. 2 April 2015

    Updated guidance

21. 25 March 2015

    Updated guidance.

22. 4 March 2015

    Updated guidance.

23. 28 November 2014

    Updated guidance.

24. 24 October 2014

    Updated sponsors' duties and compliance.

25. 14 August 2014

    Updated guidance.

26. 1 August 2014

    Updated sponsor guidance.

27. 1 July 2014

    Updated documents for use on or after 1 July 2014.

28. 6 April 2014

    New version of guidance published for use on or after 6 April.

29. 1 October 2013

    First published.