Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that although some international students are prohibited from bringing dependents, those enrolled in PhD programs are still allowed to bring dependents into the country.
Montgomery shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
He mentioned that the policy change, which was implemented earlier this year, prohibits international students in higher education from bringing dependents to the UK.
According to him, this decision was made to address the growing issue of many foreign students bringing dependents.
He noted that the unsustainable pressure on numerous universities due to the influx of dependents led to the introduction of these policy changes.
He pointed out that university Chancellors had raised concerns about the large student populations, specifically noting challenges such as limited accommodation, access to medical services through the National Health Service, and schooling for dependents.
Montgomery explained that the restrictions are not universal, highlighting that those pursuing long-term research degrees, such as PhDs or doctorates, are exempt from these limitations.