A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is a 14-character reference number your university creates on the Home Office system once it has confirmed you as a genuine student who has met every condition. Without it you cannot apply for a Student visa.
What a CAS is
It is not a document you receive in the post; it is a record on a government database. Your university sends you a CAS statement showing the number and the details it has entered. Those details become the basis of your visa application, so any error there becomes an error on your visa.
What it contains
- Your personal details exactly as on your passport.
- Course title, level, start and end dates, and the campus.
- Tuition fee for the first year and how much you have already paid.
- Accommodation fees paid to the university, if any (up to £1,334 can count towards your living costs).
- How the university assessed your English.
- Whether ATAS is required.
- The documents the university used to make the offer, which you must submit with the visa.
When you get it
Usually three to four months before the course starts, after you have accepted an unconditional offer, paid the deposit and, at many universities, passed a short CAS interview or questionnaire about your plans and finances. A CAS is valid for six months and can be used once.
Common errors
A misspelt name, a wrong date of birth, a deposit not reflected, or a course end date that does not match the university's calendar. Check every line against your passport and offer letter before applying. If anything is wrong, ask the university to correct or reissue the CAS; do not apply and hope. We check every CAS statement with our students line by line.
