Requesting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

What is a CAS?

CAS stands for ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’. This is a secure electronic record, generated by the University and shared with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). It contains detailed information about you, your course of study and your fees, and has a unique reference number. Once a CAS has been generated, you will ordinarily be emailed a statement of the relevant information (known as a ‘CAS Statement’), which you will need when completing your online visa application form. If a visa application is submitted before a corresponding CAS has been generated, it will be refused by UKVI.

How do I request a CAS?

University of Gloucestershire uses CAS Shield, an online self-service system that enables you to provide all the relevant information required by us to issue your CAS. All offer holders will automatically receive an invitation to CAS Shield, allowing you to log in and complete your CAS request. 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”.

Your personal details on CAS Shield will be prepopulated with the information you provided on your initial application, please check to make sure this information is accurate and up-to-date. Through CAS Shield you will be asked to submit details of your immigration history and to upload supporting documentation, you may also be asked to complete a short video interview. Once all sections of the CAS Shield form are complete, all documents have been uploaded, and we have received your advance tuition fee payment, we will then begin processing your request and assessing your eligibility for a CAS.

For information on the financial requirements to be met when submitting your CAS request, please visit the student route financial requirements page.

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 student credibility.

Please note, if you have a complicated immigration history and are uncertain as to whether you will be eligible to receive a CAS, you should initially submit your CAS Shield information without making an advance tuition fee payment, and contact [email protected] to detail your circumstances. Once your eligibility for a CAS has been confirmed, you will then be instructed to submit the advance tuition fee payment. Please ensure you apply for your CAS several weeks before the deadline if this is the case, as your payment must have been received by the CAS deadline, and it will take time for us to check your documentation.

What is the latest date the University will accept a CAS request?

The latest date the university will accept a CAS request is determined by your course level and start date, as well as your nationality, as standard UKVI visa processing times may be subject to regional variations – please see the table below for further information.

By the respective date listed below, you must have firmly accepted an unconditional offer, completed your CAS Shield application, submitted all supporting documentation, and the University must have received your advance tuition fee payment.

Please note, receiving an unconditional offer of a place on a programme does not guarantee you will receive a CAS. Your eligibility for a CAS will be assessed once you have completed your CAS Shield application and submitted all supporting documentation. The University has a finite number of CAS that can be issued, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. We aim to process all complete CAS requests within five working days, once all required elements have been fulfilled.