For an international student who wants to study in the United Kingdom, understanding how to get a CAS letter is a critical step. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, often called a CAS letter, is the official proof that a UK university has offered you a place and is willing to sponsor your student visa. Without this record you cannot apply for a UK student visa, and you cannot travel to start your course. This guide focuses especially on Indian students and explains how to get a CAS letter in a clear and structured way while also helping you plan payments for tuition fees and living expenses.
What is a CAS letter
A CAS letter, also called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, is an electronic record created by your university and shared with UK Visas and Immigration. It is not a printed certificate. You receive a CAS statement by email, which contains your CAS number and the course and fee details that the university has sent to UKVI. Universities and official guidance consistently state that a CAS number is normally valid for six months from the date it is issued, and it can be used only once for a student visa application.
Key details included in a CAS statement are
- Your personal details, such as name date of birth and nationality
- Course title level of study and start and end dates
- University sponsor license number and campus information
- Tuition fee for the first academic year and how much you have already paid
- Notes on documents that the university has checked, such as academic qualifications and English language test results
When you study the CAS process, it is important to remember that the visa officer will rely heavily on the information in this record.
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Who is eligible to receive a CAS
Before a university can issue a CAS, it must be confident that you meet academic and immigration requirements. In practice an Indian student who wants to know how to get a CAS letter must first satisfy three conditions.
First you must hold an unconditional offer for a valid course at a licensed student sponsor, such as a recognized university.
Second, you must accept the offer through the university portal and pay any required tuition deposit or accommodation advance that the university sets as a condition for CAS.
Third, you must provide documents that satisfy UKVI rules, including academic transcripts, degree certificates, a valid passport, proof of funds that cover tuition fees and living costs, and, where required, an approved English language test result.
When these conditions are satisfied, the university is normally ready to move to the next stage of your CAS process.
Also read: How to Pay University Fees in the UK from India
Step-by-step process to obtain a CAS from a UK university
Understanding how to get a CAS letter from a UK university becomes easier when you break the journey into simple stages.
Step one: accept your offer
Log in to the university application or admission portal, confirm that you accept the unconditional offer, and check any deadlines for paying deposits and uploading documents.
Step two: pay the required deposits
Most universities ask for an initial tuition deposit that is credited against your first-year fees. Some may also ask for an advance for university-owned accommodation. Paying this early is one of the simplest ways to move faster through the CAS journey.
Step three: upload and verify documents
You will be asked to upload clear copies of your academic documents, passport, and bank statements that show you meet the financial maintenance requirement. Some students may also need to provide a tuberculosis test report or an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate depending on the course and nationality. Universities can issue a CAS only when they are satisfied that your documents match UKVI rules.
Step four: pre-CAS checks
Many universities include extra screening before they issue a CAS, such as a short financial questionnaire or a credibility interview. These checks are designed to make sure that you understand your course and that you have realistic plans to fund your studies. Responding promptly and accurately at this stage supports a smoother experience for students who are focused on how to get a CAS letter without unnecessary delay.
Step five: CAS issuance
Once all checks are completed, the university creates your electronic CAS record and sends you an email with your CAS number and a CAS statement. You then use this number in your online student visa application. At this stage you are ready to book your biometric appointment and prepare your visa documents.
Documents required for CAS for UK universities
Your exact checklist will depend on the university, but Indian students who are focused on how to get a CAS letter will normally need the following core documents.
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates for your previous studies
- A valid passport that you will use for your visa application
- Evidence of tuition fee payments already made to the university
- Bank statements or an education loan sanction letter that proves you have enough funds for tuition and living expenses for the required period
- An approved English language test result if this is part of the university offer
- Additional documents such as a tuberculosis test report or ATAS certificate if your course or nationality requires them
Most universities share a CAS document checklist on their official site, and it is always advisable to follow that list carefully.
CAS letter processing time and why delays happen
When students ask how to get a CAS letter, they are usually equally concerned about how long it will take as they are about what documents are required. Universities and trusted education partners consistently indicate that once you have met all conditions and provided correct documents, the CAS is often issued within a window of a few days to a few weeks, depending on the institution, the time of year, and the volume of applications. During busy periods such as the months before the September intake, processing can take longer.
The most common reasons for delay are
- Tuition deposits not paid or not yet received by the university
- Bank statements that do not cover the required period or do not show enough balance
- Incomplete uploads of academic documents
- Missed replies to university emails with additional questions
If you want to manage the CAS stage more efficiently it is important to submit a complete and accurate file early and to monitor your email regularly so that you do not miss any clarification requests.
Read more: Best Time to Send Money Abroad
Understanding and checking your CAS letter sample
Many students search terms such as “CAS letter for UK” and “CAS letter UK sample” or “CAS letter UK requirements” or “sample of CAS” because they want to see what a typical CAS looks like. While each university template is different, the structure is similar. When you receive your own CAS statement, you should read every line carefully and confirm that.
- Your name date of birth and passport number are correct
- The course title, level, and start date match your offer letter
- The tuition fee and the amount already paid are correctly recorded
- The list of qualifications matches the documents you submitted
If anything in your CAS does not match your records, you must contact the university immediately and request a correction before you submit your visa application. Careful checking at this stage reduces risk throughout the rest of the journey for students who have invested effort in learning how to get a CAS letter with precision.
Sample of CAS Letter
What happens after receiving a CAS letter
Once your CAS is issued, you are ready to move into the visa phase. You will complete the UK student visa form online, enter your CAS number, and upload supporting documents. You will then book an appointment at a visa application center to give biometrics. For some applicants the UK authorities may also conduct a short interview to confirm that your study plans and funding are genuine.
In parallel, you should use this period to finalize your tuition fee payment plan, arrange accommodation, and prepare for travel. In other words, understanding how to get a CAS letter is not the final goal. It is the bridge between university admission and a well-prepared visa and travel plan.
Why Indian students face CAS and visa challenges
For many Indian students the main obstacles are not academic. They relate to documentation and funding. Bank processes can be slow during peak season. International transfers can arrive late or with unexpected charges. Funds may move in and out of accounts in a way that creates gaps in the maintenance history that UKVI reviews. These factors can result in additional questions from universities and can slow down the CAS process for UK courses.
Taking control of your financial planning is therefore a strategic part of the entire journey from admission to visa.
Paying tuition fees and living expenses after CAS
Once you hold a CAS letter for UK study, you have to convert your savings or the disbursement from an education loan into pounds and send it to the university and to your own UK account for living expenses. Traditional bank transfers can be costly in terms of exchange rate markups and service charges, and they can sometimes take several working days to reflect in the university system. During this time your fee status may appear as unpaid, which can in turn affect enrollment or create anxiety close to reporting dates.
Managing this stage well is just as important as understanding the CAS requirements because smooth and timely payments support both university processes and your own peace of mind.
How HOP Remit by moneyHOP helps Indian students
HOP Remit by moneyHOP offers a practical and student friendly way to manage international fee transfers. Instead of relying on slow manual processes you benefit from.
- Digital transfer initiation without repeated branch visits
- Transparent exchange rates visible before you confirm the transfer
- Faster crediting of tuition fees that helps universities update your status sooner
- Reduced uncertainty over remittance timelines which supports your planning and peace of mind
This aligns directly with the journey that begins when you first research how to get a CAS letter and continues through visa filing and campus arrival. By using HOP Remit students protect time money and confidence during a critical transition period and build stronger control over fee execution.
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Conclusion
For an Indian student who plans to study in the United Kingdom knowing how to get a CAS letter is one of the most important parts of the journey. When you understand the eligibility rules the application steps the documents required and the processing timelines you reduce uncertainty and position yourself for a smoother visa experience. When you also choose reliable partners such as HOP Remit by moneyHOP for your international payments you reinforce the financial side of your plan and avoid last minute complications. This combination of strong documentation and smart financial execution gives you a strong and confident start to your UK study experience.
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