By Ghazali Ibrahim
A recent surge in advertisements highlighting that research degree courses are exempt from the government’s dependants visa ban has prompted warnings to UK universities to closely monitor their marketing practices.
Reports have emerged of dozens of online promotions for master’s by research programmes emphasizing the ability for international students to bring family members, rather than focusing on the academic benefits of the courses.
One such advert boasted that the programme “required no research proposal” and that successful applicants could “bring your dependents along!”.
Universities have sought to distance themselves from the marketing materials, attributing them to agents.
However, they also acknowledged that increased attention on dependents is understandable, given the need for clarity on frequently changing rules.
Critics argue that this trend reignites concerns that the student visa system is being exploited as an immigration back door.
Shadow skills minister Neil O’Brien expressed concern, stating that “any hint that is creeping back in would be a major concern”.
