CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) Explained

What a CAS is

A CAS — Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies — is a unique reference number that a UK university or college issues to a student it has accepted onto a course. It is not a paper certificate or a visa; it is an electronic record held on the sponsor's system, and you enter its reference number into your Student visa application.

Think of the CAS as the university formally confirming to UK Visas and Immigration that it has offered you a specific place. This page is general information only and not immigration advice — always check the current rules on gov.uk.

Who issues it and when

Only a licensed student sponsor — a university or college approved by the UK government to recruit international students — can issue a CAS. It is normally issued after you have received an offer and met the conditions to firmly accept your place, which often includes paying a deposit and providing required documents.

The timing is controlled by the university, so the best source for "when will I get my CAS" is your own admissions or international student office.

What a CAS typically contains

A CAS usually records details such as your personal information, your course and its start and end dates, the level of study, the tuition fees and any deposit already paid, and a reference to the documents the university used to make your offer. You must check these details carefully, because your visa application needs to be consistent with them.

• Your personal and passport details
• Course title, level, and start and end dates
• Tuition fee information and any deposit paid
• The unique CAS reference number you use in your application

How the CAS feeds into your visa application

When you complete the online Student visa application, you enter your CAS reference so that UK Visas and Immigration can match your application to the place your sponsor has confirmed. The information you give must line up with the CAS — for example the same course and dates — and you submit your supporting documents alongside it.

Because processes and document rules change, follow the official gov.uk instructions for exactly how and where to enter your CAS and what to submit with it.

Common things to get right

Check every field on your CAS as soon as you receive it and ask the university to correct any error before you apply, because mismatches can cause problems. Note any expiry or validity window the university mentions, and keep the email or statement they send you.

If anything is unclear, the university that issued the CAS is the right first point of contact, and the official gov.uk page is the authority on how the CAS is used in the visa application.