CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.  It is an alphanumeric code referred to as a 'CAS number'.  The CAS number links to a virtual document on the UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Sponsorship Management System.

If you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you need a CAS number.  

Each CAS is institution and programme specific.  That means that a CAS issued by the University of Southampton can only be used in a Student visa application for study at Southampton on the programme of study for which the CAS was issued.

A CAS can only be used once in a Student visa application.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat.

 

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - guidance

 

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on visas for study.

 

The information contained on this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

When your admissions application status becomes unconditional accept/firm and your course begins less than 6 months in the future, you will automatically receive an email inviting you to complete a CAS request form.

If you did not receive an email then please click on this link to access the CAS request form.

CAS key dates

The earliest we begin to issue CAS for September 2026 entry is 1 May 2026.

Once we have received your CAS request, we will contact you if we need further information or need to complete pre-CAS checks.  We aim to issue CAS within 10 working days of a request so it is important to submit your request promptly. Please do not send chase e-mails immediately after submitting your CAS request. 

If you make a mistake when completing your CAS request, please do not submit another CAS request, please contact casteam@soton.ac.uk for further advice, please highlight the error and the information which requires correction.

The latest date that we will issue a CAS depends on whether you are inside the UK or outside the UK.

In the UK - if you are eligible to make a Student visa application from inside the UK, we will issue you with a CAS as long as you apply for your new Student visa before the start date of your course.  If you hold a Graduate visa, you will need to have had a decision on your new Student visa before you can enrol and commence study.

Outside the UK - we will only issue you with a CAS where we belive there is enough time to complete any pre-CAS checks and for you to get your Student visa to travel to the UK in time to start your course.

Please note if you require ATAS Clearance for your course, your CAS will only be issued to you once we have received a valid and accurate ATAS Certificate. Please refer to our webpage on the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). If you submit a completed CAS Questionnaire prior to receiving your ATAS Certificate, there is no need to submit another CAS Questionnaire once your ATAS Certificate is granted.

Frequently asked questions

I've received an email asking me to complete a CAS request but I don't think I need a visa.  Please complete the CAS request form to tell us about your immigration status.

I already have a visa for the UK, do I still need a CAS?  This will depend on whether your current visa is valid for your new course.  If you hold a Student visa for a different university or for a different course, you will need a new CAS for a new Student visa application.  Please complete the CAS request form to tell us about your current visa.

What happens if you issue me with a CAS but then I decide that I want to study a different course or I want to defer entry?  Please contact us so that we can advise.  If you've already started your Student visa application, please do not proceed any further until we've responded to your request for guidance.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat.

 

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - guidance

 

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on visas for study.

 

The information contained on this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

If you are a current student and you need to extend your Student visa to complete your course of study, you will need a new CAS.

You should request a new CAS at least three months before your current visa expires.  To apply for a new CAS, complete a continuing student CAS request form.

If you are returning to the UK to study after a pause or external repeat, you should submit a CAS request at least three months before you are expected to return to study in the UK.

If you require ATAS clearance for your course, your CAS will only be issued to you once we have received a valid and accurate ATAS certificate.  Please see our webpage on the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS).

Please contact the VISAS Team on live chat before submitting your CAS request if you know you need extra time on your Student visa to complete your course.

You will be sent your CAS number in an email CAS statement. The CAS statement includes:

• your full details (name, date of birth, passport number, nationality)
• the academic level of any previous UK study undertaken on a Tier 4/Student visa
• details about your programme of study (name of course, start/end date, tuition fees payable, ATAS requirement)
• the academic qualifications you used to obtain offer and how you have met the English language requirement
• the agent name if you used a University agent to apply to the University (new students only)

It is really important that you check your CAS statement very carefully and inform the University by emailing casteam@soton.ac.uk if any of the details on the statement are incorrect and/or you make a payment towards tuition fees before you use your CAS in a Student visa application.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat.

 

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) – guidance

 

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on visas for study.

 

The information contained on this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.