CAS Letter UK Guide: Requirements, Application Tips & sample

What is the CAS Letter UK?

To begin with, the CAS full form UK stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Usually called a CAS letter, it is not an actual physical letter. Instead, it is an electronic document that is issued by your university once you accept an unconditional offer and pay an initial deposit to confirm your seat in the university.

Now, a CAS letter UK is an important requirement for international students to get a UK student visa. Why? Because it acts as proof that you have been accepted into a university and the institution is willing to sponsor you.

This CAS letter for UK is generated using the UK Home Office’s system and contains a 14-digit alphanumeric code that is unique to each student. This CAS number contains important details regarding the student on a secure database, which is accessible to both the university and the UKVI.

Read more: MBBS in UK

Important Information Regarding CAS Letter UK

• Students need to apply for a visa within 6 months of receiving a CAS letter.
• A CAS Letter UK acts as a reference for the UKVI to confirm that you are enrolled in an academic institute and are a genuine international student.
• A CAS letter is also required when existing students want to extend their current student visa validity period.
• The CAS letter gives you 30 out of the 40 points needed for a Tier 4 (G) student visa.
• A CAS number can only be used for one visa application.
• Your chances of visa after CAS letter do not increase. You still need to meet all the requirements, like showing proof of finances.

What Information Does the CAS Letter List?

Now that you understand what is CAS letter in UK? Let’s take a look at the kind of information it contains. A CAS Letter UK provides all the necessary information regarding you and your course to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This includes:

1. 14-digit CAS number, which you will use during your student visa application.
2. Your university or sponsor’s license number and address.
3. Your personal details, like name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, and other important information that can be used during your visa application.
4. The program you are going to study at the university, along with its title, start and end date, and the address of your primary site of studies.
5. The qualifications used by your university to assess your eligibility for the program. This includes your academic and English language qualifications.
6. The total tuition fees you have already paid to the university, and the total tuition fees that you owe for your first year of study.
7. If you have paid any accommodation fees or not.
8. If you require ATAS clearance or not.

One thing you need to note is that the UKVI will access this information through their online system to decide if you qualify for a student visa or not.

This means your chances of visa after CAS letter depend on how well you meet all the CAS letter UK requirements. The same information will also be used for deciding how long your visa will be valid and what kind of conditions it will apply to.

Sample for CAS Letter UK

Here is a CAS letter UK sample. However, do note that every university follows a different format, and this CAS letter sample is not uniform for all. Check it out:

How to Get CAS Letter for UK University?

To get a CAS Letter UK, it is really important that you first understand that at your university, applying for CAS is a mandatory requirement.

For example, there are some universities like Kingston that require students to send a request, whereas many other universities like the University of Nottingham send the CAS number on its own.

Also note that different universities have different processes, which also influence in how many days CAS letter comes from UK. However, the typical process includes:

Receive an Unconditional Offer

The first step in receiving a CAS letter for UK is to get an unconditional offer from the university you want to study at. To get this, you first have to meet all the language and academic requirements of the university and submit the required documents (if any), like transcripts, personal statements, and references.

Pay a Tuition Deposit

In most cases, UK universities require you to make an initial tuition deposit to confirm your seat. This is usually around £2,000 to £5,000, and the university will not issue a CAS until the payment is made. Also note, this fee is non-refundable and acts as an insurance of your financial commitment and helps in lowering the risk of visa refusal.

Complete Pre-CAS Checks

Universities in the UK are required to ensure that they are sponsoring a genuine student to the UK Home Office. For this, they conduct a pre-CAS check, which includes completing a form or a questionnaire. This check is usually done by universities through their online self-service system. This system asks you for information like:

1. A colour scan of your valid passport.
2. Copies of academic transcripts and certificates.
3. Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL scores).
4. Evidence of your financial capacity to cover tuition and living costs, as required by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
5. An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, if your course requires one.

Credibility Interview

The next step in getting a CAS letter UK, is to attend a credibility interview if required by your university. This interview is usually conducted by all the top Universities in UK for International students for applicants who come from high-risk countries and want to attend a course that has stricter compliance measures.

Receive the CAS

Once you meet all the conditions that are required by the university, the college will do internal checks and issue your CAS. The CAS letter for UK is usually sent by email and includes your unique CAS number and CAS statement.

Check Your CAS Statement

And lastly, thoroughly check it once you receive the CAS Letter UK. Look for your personal details, details of your course, and the fees paid. If you find any mistakes in the CAS letter, contact your university and get it corrected because any discrepancies can lead to a lower UK CAS letter processing time 2025 and might even result in visa refusal.

Requirements and Validity for CAS

There are a few CAS letter UK requirements that you need to meet in order to get one. Some important requirements and validity for CAS include:

Requirements for Getting a CAS

1. An unconditional offer from your university mentioning your admission to their full-time course.
2. An acceptance letter that you need to formally accept on the university’s online portal.
3. Documents like a valid passport, academic transcripts, qualification certificates, proof of English language proficiency, ATAS certificate, and previous UK visa/CAS details, if applicable.
4. An initial tuition fee deposit to your university, which is typically around £2,000 to £5,000.
5. And the last CAS letter UK requirements are passing the financial/credibility check, which is often done by the university.

Validity of a CAS

• Duration: A CAS letter in the UK is only valid for six months after the issuing date.
• Visa Application Window: You have to submit a student visa application within six months of receiving a CAS letter. In addition to this, you can not apply for a UK student visa more than six months before your course starts.
• Reapplication: In case your visa application declines or if your CAS expires, then you will have to connect with your university and submit a request for a new CAS letter.

When to Apply for a CAS Letter?

The best practice is to apply for a CAS Letter UK as soon as you get an unconditional offer letter from your sponsoring university. This is typically around 3-6 months before your course starts. However, a few timing considerations you should keep in mind are:

• The sponsoring university can issue your CAS letter up to 6 months before your courses start if you are from outside the UK. If you are already in the UK, then the university can issue it up to 3 months before the course starts.
• Most of the UK universities have a final deadline to request a CAS, and it is usually 4 – 7 weeks before a course starts.
• The CAS letter processing time in UK for each university is usually around 5 to 15 working days once all the required documents are submitted.

How to Get Your CAS Letter on Time?

Lastly, since a CAS letter in the UK is such an important document, it is really important that you keep these things in mind to receive your CAS on time and avoid any delay.

• Make sure to submit your recent financial documents. If you submit older ones, there is a good chance that it can cause delays.
• Make sure to regularly monitor your university’s portal and your email for any updates. If your CAS processing time is delayed beyond the university’s stated processing time, then contact them immediately.
• To avoid any delays due to silly errors, check your CAS letter as soon as you receive it. Look for any discrepancies, and if you find any, report them to the university immediately.

Conclusion

In conclusion, getting a CAS Letter UK might be a simple process, but it is a lengthy one and relies on a lot of deadlines. So make sure that you plan, gather all the documents, and stay aware of all the deadlines set by your university. Additionally, if you are looking for expert advice or help to avoid making mistakes in your CAS letter for the UK, then you can connect with Gradding’s study abroad consultants and get tailored help when needed. Connect today!

FAQ’s:-

1. Who Issues the CAS Letter in the UK?

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS is a letter that is issued by your education provider (A university that has accepted you in their course). It is an important document for international students as it helps in supporting student visa applications in the UK.

2. Can I Request Changes to My CAS Letter Once Issued?

Students can request changes to their CAS letter once it is issued. But the changes they can request are strictly limited by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Minor changes like passport details or spelling mistakes can be corrected by adding a “sponsor note”. For major changes, UKVI requires a new CAS letter.

3. Can I Apply for a UK Student Visa Without a CAS Letter?

Students can not apply for a student visa without a CAS letter. It is an important document issued by your university to confirm important information like your personal details, the university’s license number, and more for the UK’s Home Office to check.

4. What is the CAS Number and How is it Used in the Visa Application?

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number, or CAS number, is a 14-digit unique alphanumeric code provided by your university. This code connects to an online record in the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system that connects details about you and your course.

5. Do all Universities in the UK Issue CAS Letters the Same Way?

All the universities in the UK only follow the same regulations from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI); they do not issue the CAS letter in the same way. The process for each university can differ in terms of timing, platform used, and specific requirements.