when to arrange UK University Guardianship

Many universities now require prospective students to nominate their guardian at the start of the application and will not progress the enrolment until guardianship has been confirmed.

Different universities have different guardianship requirements and deadlines for students to appoint their guardian. It is important to check this for each of your university choices in advance so that you can be prepared and start researching guardianship options.

There is no explicit UKVI mandate for guardianship. However, universities themselves require that all international students under the age of 18 appoint a UK based guardian. The guardian must be a trusted UK-based adult, preferably through an accredited agency, ready to act in an emergency and support a student until they turn 18.

As part of our University Guardianship programme, we can provide a Visa Support letter, confirming that we are the nominated UK Educational Guardian. This helps with the visa application and a smoother arrival in the UK. We can issue this letter as soon as your guardianship fees are settled.

At Bright World, we understand that the needs and requirements of university students are very different to those of students studying at boarding schools. We have therefore developed the optimal university guardianship service, including a choice between two distinct options.

Our Full Guardianship package features an orientation visit from one of our Local Coordinators, based close to each university. For those who would prefer not to be visited, our Basic Guardianship package does not include a visit. Either way, our day to day commitment to safeguarding will ensure that all students are properly cared for, and both students and their parents are happy and relaxed.

You can view more information about our University Guardianship service below. Please note that airport transfers and host family stays can also be arranged, upon request.