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How do I sponsor a migrant?

An interview panel

Money and care arrangements for child students

This page explains the financial and care arrangements that must be in place for a Tier 4 (Child) student, and your responsibilities in relation to these.

It is not your responsibility to confirm that the migrant has met these requirements before you give them a confirmation of acceptance for studies offering them a place to study. However, you may find it useful to assess whether you think they will meet the requirements, as we will not grant approve the migrant's application if the requirements have not been met.

Care arrangements

Suitable arrangements must be made for the travel, reception and care of all child students, including those aged 16 or 17, while they are in the UK.

All arrangements for children's care and accommodation must comply with the relevant UK legislation and regulations. You can find out about national minimum standards and inspection regulations for different types of accommodation by following the links below.

Your responsibility if the child will be in a private foster care arrangement

If a child student is going to be cared for in a private foster care arrangement during their stay, you must send the local authority in the area where they will be living:

  • the name of the foster carer; and
  • the address where the foster carer and the child student will be living.

You must send this information as soon as you become aware of the child student's arrival in the UK, so that the local authority is aware of their presence as soon as possible. If a child student is already in the UK and subsequently enters into a private foster care arrangement, you must send the above information to the local authority as soon as you become aware of this.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has produced guidance on this requirement.

Money (maintenance)

For a migrant to be given permission to study in the UK as a child student, we must have evidence that enough money (maintenance) will be available to pay their course fees and cover their living costs.

The amount of money (maintenance) that will be needed depends on whether they will be:

  • studying and boarding in a residential independent school; or
  • staying with a carer - a British citizen or other resident of the UK who has entered into a private foster care arrangement with the student's parent(s) or legal guardian, or a close relative of the child who has (with the permission of the migrant's parent(s) or legal guardian) assumed responsibility for the student's care while they are in the UK; or
  • staying with a parent or legal guardian who is accompanying them to the UK; or
  • living in accommodation of their own choosing, if they are 16 or 17 years old. (Children aged 16 and 17 have the legal right to live independently in the UK, and can make their own arrangements for accommodation if they wish. However, when they apply to us they will need parental consent to travel to the UK and to live independently.)

You can find a full explanation of our maintenance requirements in the Tier 4 migrant guidance (PDF 540K opens in a new window).