On 18 October 2022, the Home Office has published changes to the immigration rules (HC719), which will affect applications of international students to study in the UK. The changes will take effect from 09 November 2022.

Changes affecting Student route applications

• Applicants who has a GCSE qualification or higher in Welsh, Scots Gaelic or Irish language will meet the English language requirement
• British Overseas Territories will be added to the list of majority English speaking countries. Applicants who are either citizens of, or who have a degree or degree-level qualification taught at a university or college in the British Overseas Territories will be able to demonstrate they meet the English language requirement

Changes affecting applications by dependants of a Student

• If the required funds of an applicant who is applying as a Student dependant drop substantially lower than the required amount between the date of visa application submission and the date of the visa decision, the Home Office caseworker will have to be satisfied that the dropped amounts have been used for costs associated with accommodation deposits or “other costs associated with the proposed period of permission in the UK”

Other changes 

• Nationals of Colombia, Guyana and Peru will no longer be visa nationals and will become non-visa nationals
• The definition of employment will be amended to make clear that it does not include standing for election in local or devolved government
• Midwifery students will be able to undertake electives with immigration permission as a Visitor
• The Ukraine Extension Scheme will become available to an extra group of people: people who had permission to be in the UK at any point from 18 March 2022 to 16 May 2023. However, no applications to the scheme will be possible after 16 November 2023
• All references to police registration will be removed from the immigration rules, any police registration condition imposed before 9 November 2022 ceases to have effect on that date
• Applicants for short-term student visas will be able to use official financial sponsorship as evidence of meeting the financial requirements