How to apply for a CAS number
To request a CAS number, applicants must firmly accept their unconditional offer.
Please send us your confirmed qualification results via the applicant portal (Student View) as soon as you have them, so that you can apply for your CAS.
Once you have an unconditional offer that you have firmly accepted, you will be sent an invitation to complete your CAS application using Enroly CAS Shield.
You can access your CAS Shield application by following the link in your email. The steps to complete your CAS application are then outlined in CAS Shield.
If you have any questions about your CAS application, please use the chat function in CAS Shield to access support.
Obtaining an unconditional offer
To request a CAS, you must have first received and accepted an unconditional offer.
To receive an unconditional offer, you must meet all of the conditions outlined in your offer. If you have any questions about your offer conditions, please contact the admissions team through Student View, or speak with your agent.
English language requirements for Student visa route
You must meet the UK Home Office requirements for English language ability.
Unless you meet one of the approved exemptions, you must have a valid English language qualification that is equivalent to:
- a minimum of level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) if you will be studying a course at degree-level and above (eg bachelors, masters, postgraduate diploma/certificate, doctorate).
Please refer to the list of English language qualifications we accept. View a (gov.uk).
International tuition fee deposit
Most applicants are required to pay a £5,000 deposit before a CAS will be issued.
Some applicants are exempt from paying the international tuition fee deposit, for example students in receipt of a US federal loan are exempt. View the full list of deposit exemptions.
You are strongly advised to pay your deposit as soon as you can to avoid delays in the CAS application process. However, you can pay the deposit after you request your CAS, or after you have passed your pre-CAS interview.
Financial evidence requirement
As part of your CAS application, you may be required to submit a bank statement to show that you can financially support your studies in the UK.
If you are a national of a country not listed on the (gov.uk), you must be prepared to present financial evidence as part of your CAS application before any CAS number will be issued.
You must provide a valid bank statement that shows the first year of tuition fees, plus living costs (as determined by UKVI), minus any deposit or course fees paid in advance. The funds must be held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days.
Further guidance about the UKVI financial requirements, including the living costs, can be found on our applying for a visa webpage.
Pre-CAS interview
Some applicants will require a pre-CAS interview as part of our assessment of their suitability for sponsorship under the Student visa route. If required, you will be sent an invitation for the pre-CAS interview through Enroly CAS Shield.
Applicants who do not respond to the interview invitation, fail to attend, or do not pass the interview will be refused a CAS/Student visa sponsorship and their offer of a place at the university will be withdrawn.
Interviews will be conducted via CAS Shield. You may also be required to attend a follow-up online interview with a member of the Visa Compliance team.
Other important information
Study gaps
As part of your CAS application, we will require to have evidence of any study gaps in your personal history.
We will request evidence of employment, further study or other activities. You will need to provide references, employer letters, or any other relevant evidence of your activity over this period.
Maximum UK study periods
You must meet the Home Office requirements about maximum time spent studying in the UK on a Student visa.
Unless you meet one of the approved exemptions, your course at the 国产探花 must not lead you to exceed the maximum time limit for study within the UK on a Student visa.
- You must not spend more than a total of five years studying at degree-level on a Student visa.
- There are no longer any limits for study undertaken above degree level (eg masters study at RQF level 7). However, any further same level study will be subject to meeting the academic progression requirements.
Academic progression
You must meet the Home Office requirements for academic progression.
If you have already studied in the UK on a Student visa (whether the course has been completed or not):
- your new course of study must represent academic progression from your previous study ie it must be at a higher academic level than your previous UK course, or
- you must meet one of the state exemptions from academic progression outlined in UKVI rules.
For example, you must meet an exemption to academic progression to study another course at the same academic level of study as previously completed. This could include applying for a new masters course after previously completing a masters degree in the UK.
If applicable, the Visa Compliance team will assess your eligibility at the CAS application stage.
Find out (gov.uk).
Receiving a decision on your CAS application
Before we can issue you with your CAS number, we will need to assess your completed CAS application, all supporting documentation and pre-CAS interview responses (if applicable) against Home Office visa regulations.
This means that CAS assessments and timescales will vary according to your personal circumstances, and we cannot guarantee that you will be issued with a CAS, even if you hold an unconditional academic offer to study and have provided us with all requested information.
Our CAS deadlines are the last possible chance for you to complete your CAS application and still receive your CAS number, but it does not guarantee that you will also have enough time to apply for and be granted a CAS, and then receive your visa.
A CAS number can only be used in a visa application up to six months after it has been assigned.
The Home Office rules allow you to apply for a visa six months before the start of your course – however, the 国产探花 will start issuing CAS numbers three to four months before the start date of a course.