UK Student Sponsors
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Independent Schools Licensed to Sponsor International Students

There are 894 route entries for 541 distinct name-and-town combinations on the UK Home Office register of licensed student sponsors. That is 356 entries on the Student route and 538 on the Child Student route.

Independent (private) schools sponsor pupils mainly on the Child Student route, for children aged 4 to 17 attending fee-paying schools, including many of the UK’s well-known boarding schools. Students aged 16 or 17 may in some cases be sponsored on the standard Student route instead.

If you are choosing a school for your child, always confirm the school appears on this register with an active status before paying any deposit.

Which schools can sponsor a Child Student visa?

Check that the school has a Child Student route entry, not just a Student entry. Show independent schools on the Child Student route. Read the Child Student visa guide for age, parental consent, care and accommodation requirements.

The largest concentrations are in London (107), Oxford (20), Cambridge (17), Reading (17), Edinburgh (15), York (12), Ascot (12), Manchester (11).

How to use this category

There are 894 route entries representing 541 distinct name-and-town combinations. An organisation can appear twice if it sponsors both routes; these are not necessarily two licences. This category accounts for 69% of register entries, not of international students.

Routes in this snapshot: Child Student: 538; Student: 356. Status counts: Student Sponsor: 831; Student Sponsor - Track Record: 16; Probationary Sponsor: 47. All these figures count rows.

Compare the sponsor's legal name, route and location with your course offer. Ask whether a partner institution or pathway college, rather than the teaching institution, will issue your CAS. Confirm deposit refund conditions if sponsorship changes. The register does not list tuition fees, scholarships, course availability or admission requirements.

Reading the register

The Status column describes immigration sponsorship, not teaching quality, scholarships or a guarantee of a CAS. Course eligibility, your circumstances and the provider's admissions checks still apply. Read the official sponsor guidance for the privileges and restrictions attached to each status.

The Student route is for eligible applicants aged 16 and over. The Child Student route is for eligible children aged 4–17 at independent schools. A provider may have an entry for each route under its licence.

Full list (894 route entries)

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Frequently asked questions

Why do some names appear more than once?

This category has 894 route entries and 541 name-and-town combinations. A provider may sponsor both Student and Child Student routes under its licence.

Does being listed guarantee my visa or a CAS?

No. The provider must approve your course and application for sponsorship, and UKVI assesses the visa application. Confirm both with admissions before paying.

How current is this list?

The register snapshot is dated 13 October 2026. Automated checks are scheduled daily; a failed download does not advance the snapshot date. Always verify the official register before acting.

Browse all cities and institution types or search the full sponsor list.

Source: Home Office student sponsor register, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Snapshot: 13 October 2026. See our methodology and limitations; always recheck GOV.UK before paying or applying.