Bringing your family to the UK is a big undertaking and the information below will help you make an informed decision on whether moving to the UK is the right choice for your family. As well as practical considerations such as schooling, it is important to note that there is specific UK legislation about the safeguarding of children under 18, primarily making suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation while in the UK.
If you plan to bring your dependants with you, please bear in mind that the cost of living will increase accordingly. You should think carefully about whether bringing your family with you to the UK is a financially practical possibility; you may consider undertaking your studies while they still are at home.
To obtain visas for your dependants, you will have to show to UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) that you have sufficient funds for yourself (£9243) and each dependant (£6120) to live on for the first 9 months of your studies. These amounts are incredibly low, and you are going to require more funds to meet the basic cost of living in the UK.
You may also have to provide evidence that you have either a) arranged suitable accommodation or b) have sufficient money to pay the rent for suitable family accommodation that you will arrange for yourself and your family once you get to the UK. We would not recommend that you enter a contract with a private sector property owner or letting agent without first having seen the accommodation they are offering you. We recommend that you book at least 6 weeks of temporary accommodation.
Finding accommodation for you and your family will not only be costly but may take some time to arrange; therefore, you should be prepared to have to search for suitable accommodation once you arrive in Glasgow. Coming to the UK on your own in the first instance to find accommodation that most suits your needs is the best option; you can then bring your family to join you. The University has no accommodation for families and is unable to source accommodation for you.
As well as the cost of suitable family accommodation, you should consider other factors such as limited and expensive childcare facilities. Full-time childcare for children under school age is likely to cost around £1400 per month per child.
NOTE: If you have a Student Visa, your dependant partner is allowed to work full-time whilst you study in the UK. However, finding suitable employment may be difficult. Your partner may also have to consider their language skills when looking for employment. You and your family cannot rely on earnings from employment here in the UK to finance your stay in the UK. You and your dependants are not allowed to access public funds.