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A CAS is the reference assigned by an eligible education sponsor for the Student visa process. It follows the university sponsorship checks and is separate from an offer letter, a fee receipt and the visa decision.
Understand what a CAS does
GOV.UK says a Student visa applicant needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from the course provider. The university must be an eligible licensed sponsor for the course. The CAS reference connects the visa application with the sponsor information about the proposed study.
An offer letter alone is not a CAS. A payment receipt alone is not a CAS either. Keep the university written instructions together so that you can distinguish academic admission, fee payment, sponsorship checks and immigration permission.
Follow the university own CAS process
Universities can ask applicants to clear academic and English conditions, provide documents, complete questionnaires or interviews, and meet payment requirements before assigning a CAS. The precise sequence depends on the institution, course and applicant. Do not assume an interview always happens before a deposit or always after it.
Ask the provider for its official process and deadlines for your intake. When an agent describes a requirement, compare it with the university instructions or request written clarification. Keep payment terms and refund conditions available before making a commitment.
Prepare for interviews using your own records
An academic interview, an English assessment and a credibility or pre-CAS interview can have different purposes. Clarify which assessment you are attending. Read your own application and course information, and be ready to explain how the programme fits your background and realistic plans.
Use accurate details about modules, campus, tuition and how the study will be funded. If a question exposes something you have not researched, verify it rather than memorizing a generic answer. A prepared explanation should remain consistent with the underlying documents.
- Review the course content and assessment approach.
- Understand the full cost and the actual funding arrangement.
- Check accommodation plans against the correct campus.
- Explain study or employment gaps truthfully and consistently.
Check the CAS information before applying
Compare the assigned information with your passport, course, dates and recognized fee payments. Raise errors with the sponsor. Under the Student validity rules, the CAS must have been issued within the permitted period before the visa application; check the current rule and university guidance when planning dates.
If you defer, change course or receive a visa decision that affects the CAS, ask the university what must happen next. Do not reuse a reference simply because it remains in an old email. Retain the final CAS information and the version of each supporting document used for the application.
Common questions
Is a CAS the same as a visa?
No. It is part of the sponsorship evidence used for a Student visa application. The Home Office makes the visa decision.
Does paying the deposit guarantee a CAS?
No. The university may have other academic, document, English or sponsorship conditions. Read the written requirements and payment terms.
Can a consultancy issue my CAS?
The relevant licensed education sponsor assigns the CAS. An intermediary can assist with communication but does not replace the sponsor decision.
Sources you can check
Open the original information and confirm the course, date and conditions that apply to you.
- GOV.UK Course and CAS requirements www.gov.uk
- GOV.UK Immigration Rules Appendix Student www.gov.uk
- UEL course admissions and payment information www.uel.ac.uk
Source-check date: 25 October 2026. Published information can change. Course offers, individual circumstances and official rules take priority over general examples. Read our research standards.