How to Defer a UK University Offer: Deadlines, Deposits and Your CAS
TL;DR: Can you defer an offer from a UK university? Usually yes, once you have accepted it, but the university decides, not you. Most allow a move to the next intake or the next academic year, set a deadline for the request, keep your deposit against the new start date, and issue a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for it. Ask early, in writing, and before you register.
A late visa decision, funds not yet in place or a late English result can make the original start date unrealistic. A deferral keeps the place you worked for; a late arrival can cost you the place. This guide sets out how four UK universities handle deferral, what happens to your deposit and CAS, and what to ask. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local steps are near the end.
Not sure your offer, funds and English scores will be ready? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Who decides whether you can defer?
The university does. Every policy read for this guide treats deferral as a request, not a right. The University of Glasgow says requests "will be considered individually and are not guaranteed". Three conditions come up again and again:
- You have accepted the offer, and the course accepts deferred entry (Nottingham).
- You have met the academic and reference conditions within the offer deadline (Nottingham).
- Any deposit is paid. Glasgow says that to be considered for deferral to its 2027 intake you must have paid any relevant deposits.
How four UK universities handle deferral
| University | How far you can defer | Deadline to ask | Deposit | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nottingham (postgraduate) | To the next academic year | One day after the latest date to register | Needed to defer; a CAS deposit of £4,500 or more already paid counts | Once; after that, a new application |
| University of Sheffield (postgraduate taught) | Up to two academic years from the original start | The date on its key dates page | Not stated on the deferral page | Request deactivates your current offer |
| University of Glasgow (postgraduate) | To the next available intake | Not stated; ask admissions | Kept and held against your account for the next year | Up to twice |
| University of Westminster (postgraduate) | The next intake or the next academic year | 1 November (September start); 30 March (January start) | Not listed as a refund reason | Fee for the new year applies |
Two details are easy to miss. Sheffield warns that "requesting a deferral will deactivate your current offer". Westminster charges "the tuition fee amount for the academic year you are going into", which may be higher.
Want a second opinion before you ask your university to move your start date?
What happens to your deposit?
Most universities keep it and move it to the new start date. Glasgow says it "will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant's account" for the following year. Nottingham keeps the deposit for the following year, and adds that if you later decline the deferred offer, the deposit is not refundable.
Refund rules are stricter. Glasgow considers a refund after a visa refusal only when it was "based on matters outside of the applicant's control", deducts a 25% administration fee, and refunds nothing where the visa was applied for too late. Nottingham deducts £100 and refuses refunds after a refusal for credibility or deception reasons. Our guide to the UK university deposit for international students covers the payment side.
What happens to your CAS and visa?
A CAS belongs to one application for one course start. UCL says a CAS number "is valid for use for 6 months from the date it was issued" and "can be used only once for a single application". GOV.UK says you must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
So a CAS issued for a January start will not normally carry you to a September start. Expect a new CAS for the deferred date once the new cycle opens: Sheffield says it cannot issue deferred offers until the new admissions year begins, usually in September. If a visa refusal is the reason you are deferring, the University of Bradford notes that a new CAS is needed for another application. Our guides to the CAS and the UK student visa processing time explain both steps.
Your situation and what to ask
| Your situation | What to ask the university |
|---|---|
| Visa decision will not arrive before the last arrival date | Can I defer to the next intake, and will my deposit move with me? |
| Funds will not be ready for the 28-day period | What is the deadline for a deferral request, and will the new fee be higher? |
| English result arrives after the CAS deadline | Can you hold the offer for the next intake once I send the result? |
| Visa refused | Will you issue a new CAS for a new application, or for a deferred start? |
| Scholarship attached to the offer | Does the scholarship move with the deferral, or do I reapply? |
The last question matters: Nottingham says its scholarships are usually withdrawn on deferral, and you reapply the next year. If your offer was withdrawn rather than deferred, read UK university offer withdrawn.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- If you needed a TB test, GOV.UK says the certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray. A deferral of more than a few months can mean a new test at the IOM clinic in Colombo before you apply again.
- Your funds must again meet the 28-day rule for the new application, so keep the money in place or plan when to move it back.
- Keep the bank receipts for any deposit sent from Sri Lanka as proof of payment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I defer a UK university offer after I have paid the deposit?
Usually yes. Glasgow and Nottingham hold the deposit for the following year, but neither guarantees a deferral.
How many times can I defer?
It depends on the university. Nottingham allows one deferral, Glasgow up to two, and Sheffield up to two academic years from the original start.
Do I need a new CAS if I defer?
In most cases, yes. A CAS is valid for 6 months and can be used only once, so a later start date normally needs a new one.
PS: Students who defer well ask early, in writing, and keep the reply. Write to admissions this week if your visa, funds or English result is running late. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will help you plan the new start date.
Sandeepani Wickramasinghe
References
- Deferring your offer, University of Nottingham. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/already-applied/deferral.aspx (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Student visa CAS deposits, University of Nottingham. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fabs/finance/frequentlyaskedquestions/cas-deposits.aspx (accessed 18 October 2026)
- After you apply (postgraduate taught), University of Sheffield. https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/apply/after (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Offer holder FAQs, University of Glasgow. https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/offerholders/faqs/ (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Deposits, University of Glasgow. https://gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/feesandfunding/deposits (accessed 18 October 2026)
- After you apply (postgraduate), University of Westminster. https://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/after-you-apply (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, UCL. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/immigration-and-visas/student-visa/confirmation-acceptance-studies (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), University of Bradford. https://www.bradford.ac.uk/international/support/visa-support/student-visas/confirmation-of-acceptance-for-studies-cas/ (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Student visa: your course, GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/course (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants, GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/overview (accessed 18 October 2026)
