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:

‘“Student 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)