The CAS letter, or the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Letter, is a crucial document for international students planning to study in the UK. This letter confirms a student’s admission to the university and provides essential details for the student visa application. Students cannot apply for a UK visa without a valid CAS letter.
Understanding how to obtain your CAS, the processing time, and the necessary documents will help ensure a smooth visa application process. Proper preparation and attention to detail can prevent delays or rejections, allowing you to focus on your academic goals in the UK.
Here, we will discuss the UK CAS letter, its full form, importance, and contents. We’ll also cover how to obtain it, the required documents, the processing time, and the differences between conditional and unconditional offers. Additionally, we’ll explore the Combined CAS and CAS Shield, deadlines, and the next steps after receiving the letter.
Table of Contents
What Is the Full Form of CAS?
The full form of CAS is Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. UCAS, or the University and Colleges Admissions Service, issues this letter. This UK-based charity serves as the central admission service for all undergraduate programs at universities and colleges in the UK. All international students seeking to study in the UK must obtain a CAS letter to apply for a student visa.
What Is a CAS Letter?
A CAS letter is an electronic document that the university sends to inform applicants of their acceptance into their chosen program. Students must fulfil the requirements before applying through the UCAS online portal to obtain a CAS letter. The CAS letter contains the necessary information for applying for a student visa to study in the UK.
What Is Included in a CAS Letter?
Here is a list of all the information included in a CAS letter:
- 14-digit CAS reference number
- Sponsor License Number or SLN of the University
- Sponsor license address
- Your qualifications
- Start and end date of the course
- Your Passport number and name
- Course Title
- Tuition fees
- Fees you have already paid to the university
- Accommodation fees if you have already paid any
- English language proficiency test scores
- Nationality
- ATAS requirements
What Is the Combined CAS Number?
The Combined CAS number is issued to students pursuing more than one course at the same university. Students can apply for a single student visa to stay and study in the UK with a combined CAS number till both courses are completed. You might face difficulty getting a student visa if you pursue multiple courses without a combined CAS number.
Importance of CAS Letter
A CAS letter is mandatory for applying for a student visa to study in the UK. The UKVI authority checks and verifies a student’s information using the CAS letter. The CAS letter serves as the official confirmation from the university that you have been accepted.
Remember to match all your details in the visa application with the details in the CAS letter, because any mismatch can result in your visa application getting rejected. The biggest importance of a CAS letter is that you cannot apply for a student visa without it.
How to Get a UK CAS Letter?
Here are all the steps that every student must follow to get a CAS letter to study in UK universities. Follow them carefully to ensure a successful application.
Step 1: The first step in obtaining a CAS letter is to apply to universities and receive an offer letter from them. This offer letter will contain essential details you must enter into the UCAS portal, such as your program and duration. You may be required to deposit a portion of your tuition fees after accepting an offer letter.
Step 2: Log in to CAS Shield with your email. You have to use this portal to apply for the CAS letter.
Step 3: Put down all the necessary information and upload the required documents. These include a colour scan of your passport, a copy of your previous academic transcripts, a copy of your English language proficiency test certificate, and evidence of tuition fee deposit.
Step 4: Complete and submit the application and wait for the CAS letter to arrive.
What Is the CAS Shield?
The CAS Shield is an online self-service system used by international students applying to UK universities to upload their information and necessary documents. Students must log in to CAS Shield with their email and then upload their information there. Students must also complete all the information and upload the necessary documents on the CAS Shield portal.
Required Documents for the CAS Letter
Here is a list of all the documents required for the CAS letter.
- A colour scan of your valid passport
- Copy of previous academic transcripts
- English language proficiency certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL
- Evidence of tuition fee deposit payment
- ATAS certificate (if necessary)
How Long Is the CAS Letter Processing Time?
It generally takes 1-2 weeks for the CAS letter to arrive after applying if all the documents and information are in order. However, it can take up to 3-4 weeks, so check your email regularly after applying through the UCAS portal. Receiving a CAS letter will not take longer than 90 working days.
What Do You Do if You Get a Conditional Offer Letter?
A conditional offer letter indicates that you must fulfill additional entry requirements before starting your course at the university. For international students, this requirement typically involves improving their language proficiency score. You can continue the application process as soon as you have met the requirements.
How Is the CAS Letter Issued?
The university first emails the candidate to start the process. Then, the student must log in using the link attached to the email. An option is displayed on the screen for students to check their CAS statement. Sometimes, the students must request a CAS number and upload additional documents such as bank statements, academic certificates, etc. After completing the submission, the students will get a link that will take them to their CAS letter.
What Is the Deadline to Apply for CAS?
If you are applying from outside the UK, you can apply for a CAS letter up to six months before your course start date, and up to three months if you are applying from within the UK.
What to Do After Getting the CAS Letter?
Students must start applying for a visa after getting the CAS letter. The CAS letter contains crucial information required for the UKVI authority to verify the application. Make sure to match the CAS letter information with the visa application information.
What Should You Do if You Have Multiple CAS Letters?
You should carefully evaluate all universities and courses and choose the most suitable offer for your visa application. You can only accept one CAS letter, and your visa application will use the information from this letter. Consider all your options and pick the best one.
Conclusion
The CAS letter is one of the most important documents regarding studying in the UK because students need it to fill out the visa application form, and the UKVI authority uses it to verify students. So, take extra caution while applying for a CAS letter.
FAQs
It typically takes between 1 and 2 weeks to get a CAS letter in the UK. However, it can take up to 3-4 weeks for various reasons, so check your email regularly after submission.
No, CAS does not mean visa approval. Students can apply for a visa after receiving the CAS letter. Students must use the information on the CAS letter to fill out the visa forms. However, getting a CAS letter does not mean having a visa.v
Yes, CAS is an acceptance letter that confirms you can study at a university in the UK. However, you must apply for a visa first to begin your journey.
Yes, in some cases, you can get a CAS letter without making a deposit. However, you must deposit in most cases. Go through the university website to learn how much money you must deposit to get a CAS letter.
There is no fee for the CAS letter itself, but most universities require a deposit before confirming it. Check the university website and the application pages to learn about the money you need to deposit for a CAS letter from that university.