Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS): What to Check Before You Apply

TL;DR: A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is the reference number your UK university sends once it has offered you a place and you have met its conditions. You need it before you can apply for a Student visa, you must apply within 6 months of receiving it, and it can normally be used for one application only. Check every detail on it, from your passport number to the fees paid, before you apply.

For many students, the day the CAS arrives feels like the finish line. It is closer to the start of the visa stage. The CAS is the university's official statement to the Home Office about who you are, what you will study and what you have already paid. If any of that is wrong, your visa application carries the error with it. That is true whether you are applying from Sri Lanka or anywhere else.

This guide explains what a CAS is, what it contains and the five checks to make before you use it.

Waiting on a CAS and unsure what the university still needs from you? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What a CAS is

GOV.UK describes the CAS as a reference number your education provider sends once it has offered you a place on the course. You enter this number on your visa application, and you need it before you can apply.

The CAS is not the same as your offer letter. An offer can be conditional. A CAS is issued only when the university is ready to sponsor you, which usually means you have accepted an unconditional offer, paid any deposit it asks for and passed its own checks, such as a pre-CAS interview.

What your CAS contains

The Home Office's sponsor manual for creating a CAS lists the fields a university fills in. The main ones are:

The money section matters more than most students realise. GOV.UK says the amount you need for your course fees will be on your CAS, so the fees paid figure shapes how much money you must show for the visa.

Want someone to check your CAS details against your documents before you apply?

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Five checks before you use your CAS

1. Name and passport number match your passport exactly. A spelling difference or an old passport number is one of the most common fixes. Ask the university to correct it before you apply.
2. Fees paid is up to date. If you paid a deposit or more after the CAS was drafted, ask for the figure to be updated. It can reduce the money you must show. Our guide to maintenance funds explains the rest of the calculation.
3. Course dates are right. Note the start date and the latest date you can be accepted onto the course. Your travel plan has to fit inside that window.
4. English and ATAS fields match your file. If the CAS says a test was needed, your test result must match what it records. If it says ATAS is needed, you need the certificate before you apply. Our ATAS guide explains timing.
5. The date issued. Home Office caseworker guidance says a CAS issued more than 6 months before the date of application does not meet the validity requirement. Apply well inside that window.

The rules that catch students out

The Home Office's Student caseworker guidance sets three rules worth knowing:

• 6 months. The CAS must be issued no more than 6 months before you apply. GOV.UK puts it simply: apply within 6 months of receiving it.
• One use. A CAS cannot be used again if it was used in an earlier application, unless that application was rejected as invalid, withdrawn or declared void. A refusal usually means you need a new CAS.
• Still active. The CAS must not have been withdrawn or cancelled by the university or the Home Office since it was issued.

The third rule is why you should keep the university informed. If you defer, change course or miss a deadline, the university may withdraw the CAS, and a withdrawn CAS cannot support a visa.

How the CAS fits your visa timeline

Once you have the CAS and your funds have been held for 28 days, you can apply. The standard decision time from outside the UK is 3 weeks after you verify your identity. Our article on why student visa refusals are rising shows why a clean, consistent file matters at this stage.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Your CAS lists the passport you will travel on. If you are renewing your Sri Lankan passport, finish the renewal first and send the new number to the university before it issues the CAS.
• If you are paying fees by bank transfer from Sri Lanka, send the university the transfer confirmation so the fees paid figure on the CAS is current.
• You also need a TB test certificate from IOM in Colombo before you apply.

FAQ

What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies?

It is a reference number from your UK university confirming it will sponsor you for a Student visa. You need it before you can apply.

How long is a CAS valid?

You must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving it. A CAS issued more than 6 months before your application does not meet the validity requirement.

Can I use the same CAS twice?

Normally no. It can be reused only if the earlier application was rejected as invalid, withdrawn or declared void.

What should I do if my CAS has a mistake?

Ask the university to correct it before you apply. Do not submit an application with details that do not match your passport or payments.

When do students applying from Sri Lanka usually receive a CAS?

After accepting an unconditional offer and completing the university's checks. For a January start, that is often late November or early December.

PS: A CAS is only as strong as the details on it. If you want your offer, payments and documents lined up before the university issues yours, check your eligibility with Prosper.

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