What Is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a UK Student Visa and How Do You Obtain One?

International students planning to study in the UK generally need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) before applying for a Student visa.

A CAS confirms that a licensed education provider has offered an applicant a place on an eligible course. It contains important information that the Home Office uses when assessing Student visa applications.

However, receiving a CAS does not guarantee that how the Home Office will approve a visa application. Applicants must still satisfy the relevant Immigration Rules.

Understanding how a CAS works, who needs one and what makes it valid can help students prepare their applications.

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic record issued by a UK education provider that holds the appropriate student sponsor licence.

It serves as an official offer of a place on a course of study and confirms that the institution intends to sponsor the applicant.

Unlike a traditional admission letter, a CAS is not a physical document. It is a virtual record containing a unique reference number.

Universities and colleges issue CAS records through the Home Office’s Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

The unique reference number allows the Home Office to access information about the applicant and their proposed studies.

Applicants applying under the UK Student or Child Student visa routes must provide a CAS as part of their visa application.

This includes international students applying to study at UK universities, colleges or other education providers licensed to sponsor students under the relevant route.

A CAS may also be required when an existing student applies for further immigration permission to continue their studies.

For example, an applicant may need a new CAS when:

• Applying for a Student visa to begin a course in the UK.
• Applying for further permission to complete an existing course.
• Returning to the UK to resume a course of study.
• Changing courses where a new Student visa application is required.

The CAS must confirm sponsorship under the same immigration route for which the applicant is applying.

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is assigned by a UK education provider holding the appropriate Student or Child Student sponsor licence.

Licensed institutions issue CAS records through the Home Office’s Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

Each CAS has a unique reference number linked to information about the applicant, sponsoring institution, course of study, finances, academic qualifications and English language ability.

Applicants must provide a CAS with their Student or Child Student visa application.

The institution issuing the CAS must hold the appropriate sponsor licence and remain on the Register of Student Sponsors at the date of the Home Office’s decision.

Students can check the institution’s status through the official Register of Licensed Student Sponsors.                    

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) contains mandatory information that the Home Office uses to assess whether an applicant meets the requirements of the Student or Child Student visa route.

Each CAS has a unique reference number linked to the CAS checking service, which contains information about the applicant’s:

• Personal details: Information identifying the applicant.
• Sponsoring institution: Details of the licensed education provider sponsoring the applicant.
• Course of study: Information about the applicant’s proposed course.
• Finances: Financial information recorded by the sponsor.
• Academic ability: Documents or information used by the sponsor to assess the applicant’s academic qualifications.
• English language ability: Documents or information used by the sponsor to assess the applicant’s English language ability.

For relevant postgraduate courses, it must identify whether the qualification is a taught course, research-based higher degree or doctoral qualification.

The Home Office also uses information recorded on the CAS to determine certain conditions of immigration permission, including work rights and eligibility to bring dependants.

A CAS must have been issued no more than six months before the date of the visa application.

Under Appendix Student, paragraph ST 1.2, a CAS issued more than six months before the application date does not satisfy the relevant validity requirement.

Students should therefore check the date their institution assigned the CAS before submitting their application.

A CAS must also remain valid and must not have been withdrawn or cancelled by the sponsoring institution or the Home Office.

Importantly, a CAS that has expired after the date of application may still be accepted if it was valid when the application was submitted and meets the other relevant requirements.

A CAS generally cannot be reused once it has been used in a visa application that resulted in a grant or refusal.

However, the Home Office permits a CAS to be used again in certain circumstances.

These include situations where the previous application was:

• Rejected as invalid.
• Withdrawn.
• Declared void.

The CAS must still satisfy the applicable requirements when it is used for another application.

Students should therefore confirm whether their existing CAS remains suitable before submitting a further visa application.

The Home Office checks the CAS reference number and its associated information when assessing a Student or Child Student visa application.

A CAS may be considered invalid if:

• The reference number does not match a valid record.
• The CAS belongs to another applicant.
• The sponsor has withdrawn or cancelled the CAS.
• The CAS was issued more than six months before the application date.
• The institution no longer holds the required sponsor licence or is no longer on the relevant register at the date of decision.
• The CAS has already been used in an application that was granted or refused.
• The CAS does not contain the mandatory information required under the Immigration Rules.

The consequences depend on the particular defect.

For example, a CAS issued more than six months before the application date may result in the application being rejected as invalid.

Where an applicant has submitted an otherwise valid application using an invalid CAS, the Home Office must refuse the application.

Applicants should therefore check their CAS information carefully before applying.

Obtaining a CAS is an important stage in applying for a UK Student visa, but it is not the only requirement.

Applicants must ensure that their CAS is valid, their supporting documents meet the applicable requirements and their application complies with the Immigration Rules.

At Morgan Smith Immigration, our immigration lawyers can assess your eligibility, review your CAS information and advise on the supporting documents required for your Student visa application.

For professional immigration advice, contact Morgan Smith Immigration on  0203 959 3335 or email [email protected].