Guidance

Student sponsor guidance

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

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
1 October 2013
Last updated
17 July 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Applying for a Student sponsor licence (accessible)

HTML

Applying for a Student sponsor licence

PDF, 611 KB, 75 pages

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Sponsorship duties (accessible)

HTML

Sponsorship duties

PDF, 797 KB, 104 pages

Student sponsor compliance (accessible)

HTML

Student sponsor compliance

PDF, 378 KB, 24 pages

Higher education regulatory reform (accessible)

HTML

Higher education regulatory reform

PDF, 287 KB, 15 pages

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

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 17 July 2023 + show all updates

  2. Added accessible HTML versions of documents.

  3. Sponsorship Duties guidance updated to confirm sponsors can accept Certificates of Application as proof of an unsponsored EU or EEA national's right to study in the UK (paragraph 2.11).

  4. Updated 'Sponsorship duties' document. Clarification added surrounding study abroad programmes and work placement durations.

  5. Sponsorship duties document update. Changes are detailed on page 5 of the document.

  6. Updated 'Sponsorship duties' guidance to reflect changes made to the ATAS requirement to apply to work routes as well as study routes.

  7. Updated guidance documents for use on or after 1 December.

  8. Updated all guidance documents to reflect new Student Visa route.

  9. Updated all 4 documents to reflect immigration rules changes.

  10. Updated guidance to be used from 1 August 2019.

  11. Replace all 4 documents with new versions.

  12. Updated guidance.

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

  14. New guidance on higher education regulatory reform added.

  15. Guidance documents updated.

  16. Updated sponsorship duties guidance.

  17. Updated guidance for use on or after 6 April 2017.

  18. Updated guidance for use on or after 24 November.

  19. Updated guidance on 'Sponsorship duties'.

  20. Updated guidance.

  21. Updated guidance for educators.

  22. Updated guidance.

  23. Updated guidance for sponsors

  24. Updated tier 4 compliance guidance.

  25. Updated guidance

  26. Updated guidance

  27. Updated guidance.

  28. Updated guidance.

  29. Updated guidance.

  30. Updated sponsors' duties and compliance.

  31. Updated guidance.

  32. Updated sponsor guidance.

  33. Updated documents for use on or after 1 July 2014.

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

  35. First published.