Where to start

Marriage may be the 'easiest' way to be together visa-wise, but honestly I think it's a bad idea to rush into marriage.  It's hard enough in the best of cirumstances, but if you're not ready or you don't know each other well enough, the consequences would be terrible.  Especially as people have to burn so many bridges sometimes to move over here. 
Try to explore the other options first-student, Bunac, work visa. 

Marriage may be the 'easiest' way to be together visa-wise, but honestly I think it's a bad idea to rush into marriage. It's hard enough in the best of cirumstances, but if you're not ready or you don't know each other well enough, the consequences would be terrible. Especially as people have to burn so many bridges sometimes to move over here.
Try to explore the other options first-student, Bunac, work visa.

Well said mindy, was trying to figure out how to word it.

I married my husband because i wanted to, we were ready.  Not cause it was easiest! 

Marriage may be the 'easiest' way to be together visa-wise, but honestly I think it's a bad idea to rush into marriage. It's hard enough in the best of cirumstances, but if you're not ready or you don't know each other well enough, the consequences would be terrible. Especially as people have to burn so many bridges sometimes to move over here.
Try to explore the other options first-student, Bunac, work visa.

I agree with this as well. We got married so we could be together and we have had some rather rocky times, including separation/reconciliation. I do NOT recommend getting married unless BOTH parties are sure they are ready. If I knew then what I know now..........

Marriage may be the 'easiest' way to be together visa-wise, but honestly I think it's a bad idea to rush into marriage.  It's hard enough in the best of cirumstances, but if you're not ready or you don't know each other well enough, the consequences would be terrible.  Especially as people have to burn so many bridges sometimes to move over here. 
Try to explore the other options first-student, Bunac, work visa. 

I agree with you, and this is why we are looking at other routes.  Yes marriage might be logistically the "easiest" way, but I don't really want to jump from one marriage to another ... and he doesnt want me to either. We'd like the opportunity to have a proper "relationship" like everyone else does (the courtship, moving things along gradually etc). 

Are there any good websites you can recommend for us to read into these options (most importantly the work visa one ... how to convince a UK employer to take him on etc)?  Thanks in advance for anything anyone can give us.

What does he do for a living?  Not sure if you said it earlier and I forgot...

At the moment he is at college, just finishing his second year of a two year course.  So he's not actually qualified to do anything yet (though his field is in graphic work etc - ok Im not very technically minded in that area!)

Hence why the work thing is an issue.  Basically, he'll do any kind of work going, if it got him over here.

Honestly, he's going to have a hard time finding a work sponsor.  He could come here as a student and go to uni.  I came here to do my MA, hoping I'd find a work visa after I was done.  I did and now I'm sponsored for a work permit. 

Yeah we know. The student angle has been discussed but we're unsure of grants/fees/loans whether he'd qualify and how hard it'd be to get into a university and get work after.

Again, any help would be much appreciated on either this or the work angle.

Thanks.

To be a student.. he needs to find a uni he wants to attend and apply.  If he's accepted, he can look into student loans which was how I funded my year.  Schools that accept Stafford loans are listed on the FAFSA website.  He should fill out a FAFSA form online to see if he qualifies for any federal aid and loans.  I financed $18,500 as a Stafford loan and $10,000 privately.  My tuition for one year of my MA was $16,000 (£7900).  It's not cheap but it's a way to be together AND get an education.

Do you have to have any specific US qualifications for UK unis to take you (level of entry etc)?

I did look at the FAFSA site, but to be honest couldnt find the list of schools that accept those loans

I really think he wants to work and pay his own way (don't know if he could fund anything privately like you did).  I'm not working at the moment either, so its becoming an impossible task it seems!