Comprehensive Guide on Student Sponsor Licensing, Compliance, and Legal Framework in the UK

Produced in partnership with Sarah Rimmington of UK Council for International Student Affairs

Practice notes

Comprehensive Guide on Student Sponsor Licensing, Compliance, and Legal Framework in the UK

Produced in partnership with Sarah Rimmington of UK Council for International Student Affairs

Practice notes

This Practice Note provides an overview of the guidance documents relating to sponsors of students under the Student and Child Student routes and outlines the possible statuses a student sponsor may hold. It also discusses some key student sponsor licence issues and case law.

All Students and Child Students must be sponsored by a student sponsor, defined in the immigration rules as follows:

‘�ĜStudent sponsor” means a sponsor which [sic] listed on the register of licensed sponsors maintained by the Home Office.’

Since 5 October 2020, sponsors of both Students and Child Students have been called ‘student sponsors’ (in the Immigration Rules) or ‘Student sponsors’ (in guidance). Before then, Tier 4 sponsors sponsored Tier 4 (General) and Tier 4 (Child) students. For further information on these changes, see: LNB News 10/09/2020 99.

’Since then, terminology has changed, some requirements have become less restrictive and Legacy sponsorship has ceased to exist. Note that all sponsors hold a student sponsor licence, but Student Sponsor (both words in capitals)

Sarah Rimmington

Advice and Training Officer, UK Council for International Student Affairs

Before qualifying as a solicitor with Osbornes Solicitors LLP, Sarah worked as a law librarian in the Royal Courts of Justice and at Eversheds LLP. She has been an Advice and Training Officer at UKCISA since 2003, and has delivered training on student immigration for ILPA.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them. It does so through research, print and web-based publications, a national training programme, dedicated advice lines for students and advisers, and liaison and advocacy with institutions, agencies and government.

Jurisdiction(s):

United Kingdom

Key definition:

Immigration Rules definition

What does Immigration Rules mean?

Statements contained in House of Commons or Command Papers setting out the practice to be followed in the administration of the Immigration Act 1971 for regulating the entry into and stay in the United Kingdom of those who do not have the right of abode (including the period for which leave is given and the conditions attached in different circumstances).

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