CAS Letter UK: What It Is and When You Get One

A CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is an electronic record with a unique reference number that your UK university issues after you accept an unconditional offer. You enter that number in your Student visa application, and you can't apply without it. The CAS statement your university sends shows your course, fees and personal details, so check it carefully.

What is a CAS, exactly?

Despite the name most students use, a CAS isn't really a letter. It's an electronic record your university creates in the Home Office's sponsor system, identified by a reference number. What you receive is a CAS statement: a summary of that record, usually sent by email or shown in your applicant portal.

Only universities licensed to sponsor international students can issue one. The CAS is how your university vouches for you, and the Home Office uses it to confirm that the course exists, that you've been accepted onto it and that the details in your visa application match what the university has confirmed. gov.uk's Student visa guide lists the CAS as a required document.

When do you get your CAS?

Only after you've accepted an unconditional offer. If your offer is conditional, for example on final results or an English score, you first meet the conditions, the university confirms the offer as unconditional, and then you accept it.

Timing varies by university and intake. Some universities issue CAS statements in batches ahead of the course start, while others issue them as soon as your file is complete. Ask your admissions team when to expect yours and put that date on your plan, because your whole visa timeline hangs off it. If you're aiming for a January intake, the gap between your CAS and the course start can be short, so have your funds and TB test ready before the CAS arrives.

What's on your CAS statement?

The layout differs between universities, but you'll usually see:

• Your personal details: full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number.
• Your course: title, level, start and end dates, and where you'll study.
• First-year tuition fees and any amount you've already paid, including your deposit.
• Any accommodation fees paid to the university, if that applies to you.
• How the university assessed your English, whether through a test, its own assessment or your previous degree.
• The qualifications it used to make your offer, and whether you need an ATAS certificate.

Two parts matter most for the visa. The fees-paid figure decides how much tuition you need to show in your bank balance, on top of your living costs. The English section shows how your language level was assessed, which tells you whether you need a separate secure English test.

Keep the CAS statement safe after you arrive. If you later apply for the Graduate visa, gov.uk asks for the CAS reference number from your Student visa application.

How is a CAS different from an offer letter?

Your offer letter is the university's admissions decision. It says you've been offered a place, often with conditions, and it's between you and the university.

Your CAS is the university's confirmation to the Home Office that it will sponsor you for a Student visa. It comes later, after your offer is unconditional and accepted, and after any checks the university runs. You need both, but only the CAS reference number goes into your visa application. Don't treat an unconditional offer as the signal to book flights. Wait for your CAS, then your visa decision.

Why do some universities ask for a deposit or an interview first?

Universities that sponsor international students are responsible for the students they bring in, so many run their own checks before they issue a CAS. Two are common.

The first is a tuition deposit. Some universities ask you to pay part of your first-year fees before they issue a CAS. The amount varies, so check the figure on your offer or the university's fees page. Whatever you pay should appear on your CAS as fees paid, which lowers the tuition you have to show in your funds.

The second is a credibility interview, sometimes called a pre-CAS interview. Some universities use it to check that you're a genuine student who understands your course, your costs and your plans. Prepare the way you would for a visa interview: know why you chose this course and this university, how you'll pay for it and what you want to do afterwards. Some universities also ask to see evidence of your funds at this stage.

What if your CAS has a mistake?

Fix it before you apply. The caseworker compares your visa application with your CAS, and a wrong passport number, a misspelt name or a missing payment can hold up your application. Go through this check the day your CAS arrives:

1. Compare your name, date of birth and passport number with your passport, character by character.
2. Check the course title and dates against your offer.
3. Check that every payment you've made appears under fees paid.
4. Check that the English assessment and qualifications match what you submitted.
5. If anything is wrong, email your university's CAS or international admissions team with evidence, and wait for the corrected version before you apply.

If you renew your passport after your CAS is issued, tell the university so it can update or reissue your CAS. Don't submit a visa application with a CAS you know is wrong and hope nobody notices.

Next steps

Put your expected CAS date, deposit deadline and visa window on the dated application roadmap, and see our UK study guide for fees, funds and the Graduate Route. If you're from India or Pakistan and Germany is on your list too, it has its own pre-visa check: here is the APS interview explained.

FAQ

Is a CAS the same as a visa?

No. A CAS is your university's confirmation that it will sponsor you. You still apply for the Student visa yourself and must meet the other requirements, such as funds and the TB test where it applies.

Can I get a CAS with a conditional offer?

No. You need an unconditional offer that you've accepted. Meet your conditions first, then accept the unconditional offer. Your admissions team can tell you which conditions are still open.

Does my CAS affect how much money I need to show?

Yes. It shows your first-year tuition and what you've already paid. Any unpaid first-year tuition is added to the living-cost funds you must hold, so a bigger deposit means a smaller balance to show.

What should I do if my CAS hasn't arrived?

Ask your admissions or international team when it's due. Check whether anything is still outstanding on your side, such as a deposit, a document or an interview.