Obtaining a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

A CAS is a virtual document issued by a higher educational provider willing to sponsor you to study in the UK. Once a CAS has been issued, you will be given a supporting letter that contains your CAS number. The CAS number needs to be included in your visa application form.

Please note that if you are in the UK, you must have a valid visa before we can issue you a CAS.

The CAS letter contains your unique CAS number, our sponsor’s number and course details, as well as your personal information such as names, date of birth, passport number and nationality.

When you receive your CAS, please make sure you check the document in detail (such as your full name as listed in your passport, nationality, date of birth, passport number). You must contact us as soon as possible if you spot any errors on the CAS.

This process starts by ensuring you have accepted your offer, and if you still have a conditional offer, meet all the conditions stated on your offer letter.

Then you will need to pay at least £8,000 of the first-year course fees as a deposit before you can proceed with a CAS request. Your offer letter will provide you with the instructions on how to make this payment.

If you are a new student, your CAS will be issued by International Student Compliance team. The CAS request will need to be done via the CAS Shield system. If you believe to be eligible and have not received the email invitation, please contact us via email at CASRequest@derby.ac.uk.

If you are a current student, you are not required to submit documents via CAS Shield. Please contact us at visa@derby.ac.uk.

In cases where a chargeback of any payments is initiated after a CAS has been issued, the University will immediately withdraw the CAS and its visa sponsorship. This behaviour is considered to be deceptive and seriously undermines a student credibility.

A CAS is valid for only six months and must be used in an application within that time. A CAS is valid for use by the institution that issued it. If you have a CAS from another institution but wish to study at the University of Derby, you will need to apply for a new CAS with us.

You can track the progress of your CAS request by logging into CAS Shield. Through this system, you will be able to see what is outstanding or if you are CAS ready. We will also use the system to send you messages to request further documents or information.

If you are applying via an Agent, they will also have access to follow your application progress via CAS Shield.

We cannot advise exactly how long it will take to receive a CAS, as it will depend on factors such as the quality of the documents submitted, successful completion of your interview or further immigration history required.

It is important that you check your documents carefully before submitting them via CAS Shield.

The University can issue a CAS up to 6 months before the course start date, if you are applying for your visa from abroad, and 3 months before the course start date if you are applying from within the UK.

The deadlines for issuing a CAS are:

• 7 weeks before the course start date if you are applying for your Student visa outside the UK.
• 1 week before your course start date, if your current visa permits study and you are applying for your Student visa inside the UK.

Once you receive your invitation to register on CAS Shield, you will need to complete and confirm information prepopulated, as well as providing information about previous travels, studies and financial information. Some sections will require documentary evidence such as your current passport, visa refusals, previous BRP, bank statements and sponsor letters, as appropriate.

A CAS can only be used once in a visa application. If you apply using one CAS number and that application is refused, you cannot use the same CAS number again when making another application. You will need to contact the International Student Compliance Team and provide them with a copy of your refusal letter.

We will normally only issue you with one CAS, so it is very important that you make sure everything in your application is correct to avoid your visa being refused.

CAS issue is also subject to availability, so we recommend that you complete all requirements as early as possible.

If you have decided not to continue with your application and wish to request a refund of your paid deposit, please refer to our International Deposit Refund Policy page on the website, where you will find the form you will need to complete.  All refunds must be requested within 14 days of making the payment, or within 14 days of notification of a change of status to your application. Refunds are not guaranteed, so please refer to our policy for refund eligibility information. An administration charge may apply.

The University will send you a CAS Shield invitation by email. Please check your email spam and junk folders if you do not receive this email once eligible, the email subject will be titled “Welcome to CAS Shield”.

Through CAS Shield you will be asked to submit details of your immigration history, upload supporting documentation, and complete a short video interview. Once all sections of CAS Shield are complete, and we have received your deposit payment, we will then begin processing your request and assessing your eligibility for a CAS.

Step 1: Go to CAS Shield using the link sent to your personal email.

Step 2: Create a password.

Step 3: Complete the CAS Checklist.

Step 4: Book your interview, if you are required to have one.

Step 5: Complete the remaining sections and upload your documents.

Why can I not proceed to the next steps in CAS Shield?

When filling out your information, please select the tick button to confirm your answers and continue to the next steps. If you cannot complete a section, it may be locked due to incomplete information in a previous section.

Please also note that certain sections, such as the Pre-CAS questionnaire cannot be edited once submitted.

When can I book the Interview and when will I get my outcome?

You can complete your interview whenever it is convenient for you. During your Interview you will be asked a series of questions, and your responses will be recorded. Once completed, your interview will be reviewed, and you will receive an outcome within a few days.

Who can I contact for support?

For any CAS related questions, please contact the CAS Issuance team using the chat bubble on the right-hand side of the screen. The CAS Issuance team will also use this chat to communicate any updates regarding your application.

For technical support, please contact the CAS Shield team using the chat bubble on the left-hand side of the screen for any system support issues, such as resetting your password.

You need to show that you have enough money to support your living costs and your outstanding course fees. Your outstanding course fees will be listed on your CAS and this figure with the figure for living costs will need to be available. The amount you need to show for living costs is calculated as follows:

You need to show that you have £1,023 for each month of your course up to a maximum of nine months (£9,207).

Examples:

• You will be studying English for Academic Purposes for 10 weeks (two and a half months) and have paid the course fees in full. You will need to show that you have £3,069 (£1,023 x 3 months) available to you.
• You will be studying a three-year undergraduate degree programme and have paid £8,000 towards the £15,000 course fee. You will need to show £9,207 (£1,023 x 9 months) for living costs and £7,000 for outstanding fees, for a total of £21,207.

You will need to show that this total figure has been available to you for at least 28 consecutive days prior to the submission of your application.

Important changes from 2 January 2025

Currently the maintenance level is set at £1,023 for people studying outside of London. This is being changed to £1,136 and the change will come into effect for students making a visa application from 2 January 2025. The current maintenance levels will remain in place up until that point.

The maximum amount that can be paid for accommodation deposit is currently £1,334, which will increase to £1,483 from 2 January 2025.

A maximum of £1,334 can be deducted from the amount you need to show for living costs if you have paid any money to the University of Derby for accommodation. Even if you have paid more than £1,334, this is the maximum figure that can be deducted. This does not apply to private (non-University) accommodation.

If you are self-funded, you can provide one of the following documents:

• A personal bank statement (current, deposit or savings accounts), no more than 31 days old at the time of your Student visa application, showing that you have held the required funds for 28 consecutive days, and a letter from your bank, no more than 31 days old, confirming the amount of funds in the account and that they have been there for 28 consecutive days; or
• A letter confirming a loan that is no more than six months old. The loan must be provided by your national government, your state or regional government, a government sponsored student loan company or is part of an academic or educational loans scheme.

Any of the above documents must contain:

• Your name
• The account number
• The date
• The name and logo of the bank
• The amount of money available

All documents must be original and not photocopies, showing all pages and high-quality scanned, not creased or crumpled. Bank statements printed at the bank will be acceptable as long as you also provide a letter from the bank confirming that they are genuine or get the bank to stamp each statement with their official stamp. 

You could also provide a certificate of deposit as evidence as long as it meets the following criteria:

• The certificate must have been issued within 31 days of the visa application
• At least 28 days must have elapsed between the date of the deposit and the date of issue of the certificate
• There must be no wording on the document that indicates the funds are frozen or otherwise inaccessible

You cannot use overdrafts, cryptocurrencies, stocks and shares, bonds, investments or credit cards as evidence of funds.

Financial documents should contain the contact details of the financial institution, such as phone numbers or email, as this may be needed during the assessment of your documents.

Can I use more than one account?

You can use more than one account to meet the requirement. UKVI will look at the total figure on each day across all bank documents provided. Please note that the most recent date on any documents provided will be used when calculating the 28-day period.

Accounts can be based in the UK or overseas. If the account is in a currency other than British Sterling (£), use oanda.com to check the currency conversion and ensure that you have the correct amount. This is the website that UKVI will use.

Financial evidence that is not accepted

• Bank statements from relatives other than your parents/legal guardian.
• Bank statements in a company’s name.
• Sponsorship letters written by a local (not international) company or organisation.
• Sponsorship letters written by a family member.

Are there any banks that are not accepted by UKVI?

Funds from an overseas account will not be accepted if the following apply:

• The Home Office is unable to make satisfactory verification checks of the overseas bank; or
• The overseas bank is not regulated by the appropriate regulatory body in the respective overseas country; or
• The overseas bank does not use electronic record keeping

You must make sure that the financial documents you provide will not face such issues.

Can I use a family member’s bank statements?

The only family members that can support you financially and use their documents are parents or legal guardians. You cannot use the account information of any other relative or friend.

In addition to your parent's/legal guardian’s bank documents you will also need to provide:

• Your birth certificate showing the name(s) of your parent(s),
• Your certificate of adoption showing the name(s) of your legal guardian(s), or
• An original or notarised copy of a court document naming your legal guardian(s)

Your parent/legal guardian must also provide a letter that confirms their relationship to you and that they consent to you using their funds for your stay in the UK. All documents must be original.

What if I am sponsored by a Government or an International Company?

An official financial sponsor is classified by UKVI as His Majesty’s Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or Independent School. If a sponsor is covering your course fees and living costs you will need to provide a letter that contains:

• Your name
• Your sponsor’s name and contact details
• The date of the letter
• The length of the sponsorship
• The amount of money the sponsor is giving to you or a statement that they are covering all course fees and living costs

If your sponsor is only covering part of your fees or living costs, you must show that you have the rest of the money needed.

What Guidance Do You Have For Applicants From India Using A Bank Loan Letter As Proof Of Maintenance

If you are an Indian applicant who will use a student loan letter from an Indian bank, please note that the letter must be a signed and verifiable agreement. The only condition the bank attaches to the loan is your receipt of a student visa from UKVI.

The agreement must confirm the funds can be available to you prior to your travelling to the UK. Please note that any other conditions are not acceptable. The letter must clearly state that the loan has been sanctioned.

You will still be required to pay the £8,000 deposit prior to the issuance of a CAS.

You must pay £776 for every year that you will be in the UK. If you are in the UK for part of a year that is less than six months you need to pay £388. If your time here includes part of a year that is more than six months you have to pay the full £776.

You can use the IHS payment calculator to check how much you will need to pay.

You must pay for the surcharge before you submit your visa application. During the application process you will be automatically directed to a separate page where you pay for the surcharge. This page will calculate how much you are supposed to pay based on the answers you give to questions in the visa application form. Once you have paid you will be given an IHS reference number and then redirected back to your visa application to complete the process.

If you apply for a visa outside the UK to study a short course such as pre-sessional English language course, for which your visa will be valid for less than six months, then you will not need to pay.

There may be other exemptions depending on your circumstances. Please check the IHS website for more information.

UKVI will contact you if there are any issues with your payment. You must make sure you can be contacted by telephone or email during your visa application process in case UKVI need to contact you. If you do not pay the correct amount your visa application can be refused.

UKVI will only refund your surcharge payment if your visa application is refused, you withdraw the visa application before a decision is made You will receive a partial refund if you have paid more than what was necessary. Additionally, you will receive a partial refund if you get less time on your visa than you asked for, or the visa application(s) of your dependant(s) are refused.

Please note that the above may change as per the UKVI website: https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/refunds

The credibility interview is about ensuring a student is genuine and credible about coming to study in the UK, and competent, including their command of English language, understanding, and answering questions.

The report of the interview will be sent to the Immigration officer who will make the decision on your application.

The Pre-CAS Interview that you will complete during the CAS request mirrors this interview and will help you prepare for your final interview with the UKVI during your visa application. Some students may also be required to have an interview when you arrive in the UK by the Border Agency.

Typical questions may include:

Why have you chosen to study in the UK?

• What is it about the UK that makes you want to study here?
• What made you choose the UK over your home country or another English-speaking country?
• You may want to discuss the positives of the British education system and how it will benefit your future career.

Why have you chosen to study at the University of Derby?

• What is it about Derby that makes you want to study here?
• Did you research Derby’s facilities and industry links?
• Did you look at any other universities?

You want to discuss why Derby was the best suited option for you over other UK universities.

Why did you choose your course?

• Why have you chosen this particular course?
• Did you consider any other courses?
• How does this course help with your future plans?

Think about how the course will benefit your future career prospects and aspirations. You may be asked questions about the structure of the course and the names of modules you will be taking. Make sure you are familiar with the course by looking at course information on our website.

How will you travel to your university?

• Where is Derby located?
• How much will it cost to travel from your accommodation to campus?

You will need to demonstrate your knowledge of Derby’s location in the UK and how you expect to travel to the university from where you will be living.

Do you plan to work in the UK?

You need to make it clear that you understand that your primary reason for coming to the UK is for your studies. If you do plan on working, explain how this will benefit you and your studies. You should also demonstrate an understanding of the limitations there are for work for students on Student visas.

Why is there a gap since your last studies?

• If it has been a few years since you last studied, you may be asked the reason for this.
• Why are you looking to return to studies now?
• Will this course benefit your current profession?
• What were you doing during this gap of studies?

How are you financing your studies?

• If you are funding yourself, or it is a parent/legal guardian, where has this money come from?
• Does your parent have enough money to adequately support you and how are they able to do this?
• What is their occupation and salary?
• Are your parents funding anyone else’s studies? The financial cost of supporting more than one child/relative will be considered by the UKVI officer.

This is not an exclusive list and more, similar questions may be asked.