You can claim 20 points if you can show that during your period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom, you had permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom as a:

• student; or 
• student nurse; or 
• student resitting an examination; or 
• student writing up a thesis; or 
• dependant of someone with leave in any category that allows dependants to join them in the United Kingdom.

Home Office will not allow you to get any points if you have been on a different category, which is not listed above. Home Office will refuse your application and you will not receive any refund.

You do not need to have lived in the United Kingdom throughout the entire period of your study. It is reasonable to expect, for example, that as a student you may have studied overseas and/or done research while getting the qualification you are claiming points for.

A dependant would be entitled to claim 20 points for this attribute, but if they are still in the United Kingdom they are unable to switch into becoming the main applicant for post-study worker. The dependant would have to leave the United Kingdom and make an application overseas for entry clearance.