The UK has announced that only foreign students earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) would be permitted to bring dependents into the nation in a major policy change.

Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, made this revelation on Sunday in an Abuja interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Students pursuing undergraduate or short-term master's degrees are not eligible for benefits because, according to the Envoy, the decision was made to alleviate "unsustainable pressures" put on social services and institutions as a result of the growing number of dependents.

“The decision to restrict dependants for students in higher education aims to address the unsustainable pressures placed on universities due to the surge in dependant numbers,” Montgomery explained.

He listed the main issues that spurred the shift as being the pressure on housing, the National Health Service's (NHS) medical facilities, and dependents' education.

Montgomery claims that the policy—which was unveiled earlier this year—focuses especially on students who are seeking short-term degrees.  “Those coming to the UK for an undergraduate degree or a short-term master’s degree will find the rules have changed,” he stated.

“Individuals pursuing long-term research degrees, like a PhD, can still bring their dependants. This change was necessary to maintain the sustainability of our large higher education sector, which spans many towns across the country,” Montgomery added.