Advice for families
There are many issues that you need to consider before bringing your family (partner and/or children) to live with you during your studies, including accommodation, immigration and finance. If you do decide to bring your family, you should ensure you make preparations well in advance.
- Immigration issues
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Your family (spouse, partner or children) may be able to apply for a dependant visa to accompany/join you in the UK. In order for them to qualify you must be either:
- taking a postgraduate course which lasts 12 months or more, OR
- be a government sponsorsed student taking a course which is over 6 months long
Full information on the dependant requirements can be found by referring to the UKCISA guide on 'Bringing your family'. In order to bring children with you as Tier 4 dependants, both parents must be lawfully living in the UK, rather than abroad. There are only a few exceptions to this such as one parent has died or if you have sole responsibility for the child's upbringing.
Please note that babies born in the UK are not automatically British citizens. They can remain here without a visa, but if you wish to leave the country with them and return, they will require a dependant visa. Please email immigration@sussex.ac.uk if you have questions on any of these issues.
If your family does not qualify for Tier 4 depedant leave, or your family or friends wish to visit you in the UK, they could apply as a general visitor. A general visitor visa is valid for a 6 month period, but you can normally only have 6 months of visitor leave in any 12 month period. Full details can be found no the UKBA website and we have also produced an information sheet on I want to invite a family member to visit me [DOCX 30.42KB].
- Nursery and Pre-school facilities
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There is a nursery taking children from four months to three years of age and a Preschool taking children from three to five years. The nursery is on the ground floor of Norwich House and the Preschool is on the ground floor of Silverstone. Contact the Childcare Manager, Penny Peters, for further details. (Fees are currently between £23.60 and £26.80 per halfday session depending on the age of the child). This service can only be accessed by advance booking and it is advised that you apply at an early stage, preferably before you leave your home country, as places cannot be guaranteed. Places are allocated in the term before admission on a sessional/termly basis. For the latest information, see the childcare web pages.
In addition to the services provided by the University there are a wide range of other childcare services in the local area (eg registered childminders, nurseries, playgroups and after school clubs). More information can be found on the University of Sussex Students' Union website.
Family Room
The Family Room is managed by the University of Sussex Students' Union and is situated near East Slope on campus. The Family Room is fully furnished with toys for all ages of children. There is a bathroom, small kitchen and a garden. The Family Room is free for all student parents and their families to use. To find out more and to book the room, you can go to Students' Union website.
- Family Information Service and Direct-gov
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The Family Information Service (FIS) is a free, impartial service giving detailed information and advice on childcare as well as general information on a wide range of services for children and young people aged 0-19 years and their families in the city. Brighton & Hove FIS provides free information and advice on:
- registered childcare
- free early education
- children’s activities
- family support
- childcare careers
- local childcare jobs
Directgov is a Government-run website that offers information and guidance for parentson everything from maternity leave to immunisation.
- Schools in the local area
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Children aged 5-16 are required by law to go to school and are entitled to free schooling, with the exception of those who are here on a visitor visa. There is a wide selection of state schools in the Brighton & Hove area and more information it available online at the Brighton and Hove council website.You can also visit the Students’ Union website for more information.
When you have chosen your school you can either make an online application via the Brighton and Hove City Council website or post your application. If the school you applied for is already full, you will be offered an alternative.
- Finance
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The cost of living in the UK is high and it can be expensive to support yourself and your family, particularly if you will require childcare (for either pre-school age children or after school/holiday care). If you intend to bring your partner and children with you, you will need to prove to the immigration authorities that you have sufficient money to house and maintain them without recourse to public funds. Please visit the housing website for more details on the limited family accommodation available on campus and estimated prices. Privatesector housing can be more expensive, so you need to be realistic about costs and other issues before deciding that your family should accompany you.
- English Language Classes
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The Sussex Centre for Language Studies (SCLS) can assist your partner if he/she would like to develop their English language skills. Dependants can enrol on the feepaying English courses and they will receive a 10 per cent discount on the published fees (except for the pre-sessional courses). At certain times of the year, the SCLS also provides free English classes (taught by trainees), which many dependants take.
- Welfare Benefits
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Welfare benefits are provided by the UK Government to assist people with low incomes. However, most international students and their dependants, including those from the EU and EEA, are usually not eligible to claim welfare benefits because the benefits are either regarded as ‘public funds’ to which international students are not entitled, or there are other criteria such as residency requirements. Advice on benefits can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Students’ Union Advice and Representation Centre at Sussex. As the rules governing benefit entitlement are complex, it is essential to seek advice before making a claim.