What is CAS Letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?

Edited By Stuti Jain | Updated on Jun 07, 2024 12:14 PM IST

A CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is an important document for international students planning to study in the United Kingdom. UK universities issue the CAS letter as a confirmation of acceptance for an individual into a specific programme at their university.

The CAS letter plays an important role when applying for a student visa in UK, confirming that the university will sponsor you during your studies. To get a CAS letter, students must apply for the letter, submit the required documents, and pay the required fees, which differ by university. Read this article to learn about the CAS letter, its importance, fees, documents required, and more.

This Story also Contains

CAS Letter: Highlights
What is a CAS Letter?
What Does a CAS Letter Contain?
Importance of the CAS Letter
CAS Letter Sample
How to apply for a CAS Letter?
CAS Letter Fees 2024
CAS Letter for Work Permits

What is CAS Letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?

CAS Letter: Highlights

CAS Letter Full Form	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
Issuing authority	UK government
Required for	Admission to UK universities
CAS processing time	10-15 days
Validity	6 months
CAS fees	Varies by university; typically starts from EUR 2000

What is a CAS Letter?

The CAS letter full form is Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. CAS letters are digital documents sent by universities in the UK to prospective international students. This document confirms the student's acceptance into a course of study at a recognised institution and is necessary for applying for a UK student visa.

The University will send an email with a CAS number and CAS statement, which includes the information provided to the UK Visas and Immigration Department. Candidates will need this information to submit their student visa application.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference number is required for student visa applications. Students will use it to access the UKVI's online visa application system and link it to their CAS information.

What Does a CAS Letter Contain?

The CAS will be provided electronically to your email address. It contains important information about you and your studies at a university. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies details are mentioned below:

Student information
Your full name (as it appears on your passport)
Nationality
Passport number
Date of birth
Sponsor’s details
University sponsor license number
Sponsor University full address
Course information
Title of the course you will be studying
The academic level of the course
Start date of course
Expected end date of course
Progression details, if you have previously studied in the UK
Previous academic level (if applicable)
Progression justification (if applicable)
Academic documentation used to obtain the offer
List of academic qualifications used to obtain your offer, including English language qualifications where appropriate
Finance information
Course fees for the first year
Course fees paid to date (if applicable)

Also read: Admission Cycle in UK

Importance of the CAS Letter

A CAS letter is an important document that must be submitted to apply for a student visa and certifies that a student has been offered a letter of acceptance to study at a certain university. Students must either apply for a CAS letter from the institution or have it issued to them to get a valid student visa to start their full-time course at the university. Each candidate is allocated a unique CAS number, which is used by the Visa officer to determine whether the candidate has received an offer of acceptance.

CAS Letter Sample

Here is a confirmation of acceptance for studies UK sample, and students can refer it to have an overview of the actual CAS letter.

Dear Miss Vidyashree Mudalabeedu Shivanna

University Student Number: 6664456

Further to the unconditional offer you have received for the programme in Artificial Intelligence MSc FT at the University of Surrey, details of your application and our offer have been forwarded to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number is: E4G5CH4142V0D3, and the University's Sponsor License number is B5V1G9VP0.

Please check the details and inform us of any incorrect information immediately. Any errors may result in your visa being refused.
You can submit either originals or copies of your certificates and/or transcripts of your academic qualifications, as detailed in the list of evidence section of the CAS below, when you make your visa application.
You must also show that you have the funds to pay any remaining tuition fees and the required living costs.

You will need your CAS number and our Sponsor License number when making a Student visa extension application.

Please note that using this number will link your visa only to the University of Surrey.

Name (as on passport): First name(s): VIDYASHREE

Surname: MUDALABEEDU SHIVANNA

Country of Nationality (as on passport): India

Country of Birth: India

Date of Birth: 17 May 1987

Passport Number: S6278274

University Address: University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom

Course Title: Artificial Intelligence MSc

Course Level: QCF / NQF 7

Course Level of second qualification (where applicable):

Course Start Date: 20 September 2021

Latest Start Date: 8 October 2021

How to apply for a CAS Letter?

To apply for a CAS letter from a university, follow the steps mentioned below:

All international students must first apply, and get accepted by a UK university before they apply for a CAS letter.
After being accepted, the student should contact the university for all the documentations and requirements to apply for a CAS letter.
To get a CAS letter, students are required to provide all the necessary details, including personal details, proof of financial support, and English language proficiency certification. Some universities might ask for CAS fees deposit before they issue a CAS Letter.
The university will then process the CAS letter, if all requirements are met by applicants. The processing time for a CAS letter usually takes 2–4 weeks.

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CAS Letter: Documents Required

The documents required by a university to provide a CAS letter are mentioned below:

A copy of the main page of your current passport with your personal information.
Copies of all your current and previous UK visas.
A TB (tuberculosis) certificate, if required.
An official financial document that demonstrates that you have sufficient funding in your bank account to cover your tuition and living expenses while studying in the UK.

For more information, students are advised to check the official website of the university to learn more about the financial documents required to apply for a CAS letter.

Also read: Study in UK Intakes

CAS Letter Fees 2024

Universities may charge a fee for issuing CAS letters, which varies by institution. There are usually no additional expenses involved with receiving a CAS letter. The cost of your CAS normally comes included in your university application or tuition. However, students must verify with their university for any related charges. CAS letter fees for some universities is mentioned below:

CAS Letter Deposit

University	CAS Letter Fees
University of Law	EUR 6000
Regent University	EUR 2000
Westminster University	EUR 4000
Kingston University	EUR 5000
University of East Anglia	EUR 2000

CAS Letter for Work Permits

While the main objective of a CAS letter is to get a student visa, it may also be useful for work permits in some cases. For example, students who have finished their studies can submit their CAS letter in their application for post-study work visas.

Also, having a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies letter from a UK university does not ensure that a student visa will be issued. The CAS letter is one of several prerequisites for a student visa application, and it is considered for the verification of an individual's enrollment and acceptance at a UK college or university.

The UK student visa application process is separate from the CAS letter application process, and students must meet all the requirements set by the UK visa and immigration authorities in order to be granted a student visa.

The UK student visa application procedure is different from the CAS letter application process, and students must complete all the requirements specified by the UK visa and immigration authorities to get a student visa.

To apply for a UK student visa, submit your CAS reference number. This number is unique to you and links your visa application to the information provided by your university. Here is a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) number example: E4G5FA5A04U0W3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is CAS letter for UK student visa?

A CAS letter is an electronic document sent to the student, as an official acceptance into the university. Applicants can use this letter as a part of their application process. They must provide their CAS reference number to apply for a student visa in UK.

2. How long does it take to get a CAS letter?

Generally, the CAS letter is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Hence, those who submit their applications early will be given priority. The university will verify the students' documentation, and if verified, they will receive the letter within a couple of days (it may take a few days longer). Although the CAS is an important document, universities do not have a specific period for issuing it.

3. What is the validity of CAS letter?

The CAS letter has validity, and if students do not use it in due time, they will lose their chance of studying abroad for that semester. The letter will be valid for 6 months, but it can be used only 3 months before the commencement of the course.

4. When is the CAS letter issued?

The CAS letter is provided once a student accepts an offer and meets all other requirements. The email you receive will include personal data, the course duration, and a unique CAS number. There is no specific time to issue a CAS letter, however, it takes 3–10 days for the letter to be released.

5. Does CAS mean visa approval?

No, CAS does not mean visa approval, both visa procedure and CAS procedures are different. CAS letter is one of the application prerequisites of the student visa and can help in work permit in some cases, provided that the applicant meets all the requirements. To apply for a student visa, a candidate must have a CAS reference number.