View entire study abroad journey

Know all about the CAS Letter for UK

Topics covered

CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter is the most important document you’ll need

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an essential document that is a prerequisite for obtaining a student visa if you are planning to study in the UK . It's an electronic document that will be issued by your university in support of your application for the UK student visa . As an international student, you need to request a CAS letter before applying for the student visa as it is normally issued after you have accepted an offer and paid the mentioned deposit* to secure your place. The letter typically comprises your details, course of study, study duration, and a unique CAS number.

As you can see in the sample CAS letter above, you will find the following details covered in your CAS letter:

14-digit reference number assigned for the CAS
Sponsor License Number (SLN) of your desired university
Course title and duration i.e., start and end dates
First-year tuition fees or the entire course fee including scholarships if any
Partial tuition fees paid to the university
Partial accommodation fees paid
Scores in English language proficiency tests like IELTS scores

Importance of CAS number

The 14-digit CAS number is unique to each student. This number is essential for the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) to confirm that you are a genuine international student at a UK university . This is done by accessing your CAS record stored on the secure databases which enlist information supplied by your desired university to UKVI further mentioning your personal and course-specific details.

Requirements and validity for CAS

There are certain requirements that you need to fulfil when applying for your CAS letter. Following are the documents you’ll need to submit in order to receive a CAS letter.

Transcripts and marksheets
Updated passport
Valid documents and credentials

The CAS letter has a validity of six months but can be utilised three months prior to the start of the course.

How to apply for a CAS letter?

In order to be issued with a CAS, you will need to fulfil the following requirements:

Meet all the required conditions mentioned in the conditional offer letter
Upload all the necessary documents on the university website
Pay the initial deposit and confirm your admission

Some UK universities don’t require an initial deposit for CAS, especially for UG
Each university has its official website link where you can find steps to obtain a CAS
Please note that UK universities also conduct a pre-CAS interview which includes questions on your study plans, background, finances, career plans, etc.

Deadline to apply for a CAS letter

Applying from overseas: Generally, CAS requests are accepted within 90 working days of the latest course start date but if you have been granted an extension by the faculty or if your university has decided to treat your application as a special case then it can be delayed.
UK CAS processing time: The letter is usually issued on a first come first serve basis. It’s better you submit the application early for a quick response. However, there is no fixed period, it depends on the university.

It is possible for you to get multiple CAS letters from multiple universities, but then you’ll have to decide which one to choose for your higher education.

Remember, any inconsistency in the information mentioned by the university to issue the CAS letter and the information specified by you on the application form can trigger your visa application to be declined. Since the CAS can directly affect your visa request, it is always advisable to make a thoroughly researched application. Getting some expert tips on the same can be very helpful for you. You can always connect with IDP’s international education specialists if you need any guidance regarding submission of your CAS letter.