What a CAS is and how to get one
Everything else in your application is checked against this one record. If the CAS is wrong, late, or already spent, nothing else you have prepared can rescue it.
Figures assessed against official UK government sources on 20 September 2026.
The short answer
A CAS is an electronic record your university creates once you firmly accept an offer. You apply using its reference number.
Two hard limits: it must have been issued no more than 6 months before you apply, and it can be used in one application only.
6 months
Maximum age of your CAS on the day you apply.
One use
A CAS used in an application that was granted or refused cannot be used again.
What is on it, and why that matters
Your CAS records:
- Course title, academic level, start and end dates, weekly study hours
- The address of your main study location
- Course fees, and accommodation costs where the sponsor holds them
- Work placement details, if your course has one
- Partner institution information, where relevant
- How your sponsor assessed your English, including test scores in all four components where applicable
- Whether an ATAS certificate is required
The fees figure is the one to check first, because it sets the number you have to prove you hold. Your proof of funds calculation is built from it.
The single-use rule is the expensive one
A refusal does not just cost you the £558 application fee. It burns the CAS, because a CAS used in an application that was granted or refused cannot be used again.
Reapplying means going back to your university for a fresh one, and that takes as long as it takes them. It is the strongest argument for getting the application right the first time rather than submitting and hoping.
The English requirement lives here too
The level depends on your course:
- B2 in all four components for a course at UK bachelor's degree level or above
- B1 in all four components for a pre-sessional course or a course below degree level
All four components means reading, writing, speaking and listening independently. A strong overall score that hides a weak component does not satisfy it.
Timing it against everything else
The 6-month CAS window and the 6-month early application window are not the same clock, and neither is the 28-day funds window. Getting a CAS early and then waiting can quietly expire it.
The timeline guide sets out how the deadlines stack.
Common questions
- What is a CAS?
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronic record your university issues once you have firmly accepted an offer, and you cannot apply for a Student visa without its reference number. It is not a document you fill in yourself.
- How long is a CAS valid for?
- It must have been issued no more than 6 months before the date you apply. Apply outside that window and the CAS is not valid, however genuine your offer is.
- Can I use the same CAS twice?
- No. A CAS cannot be used in a second application once it has been used in one that was either granted or refused. If you are refused, you need a new CAS from your sponsor before reapplying.
- What English level do I need for my CAS?
- B2 in all four components for a course at UK bachelor's degree level or above, and B1 in all four for a pre-sessional course or a course below degree level. Your sponsor records how they assessed you on the CAS itself.
- What information does the CAS contain?
- Your course title and academic level, start and end dates, weekly study hours, the main study location, course fees and any accommodation costs, work placement details where relevant, how your sponsor assessed your English, and whether ATAS applies.
Does your own plan actually hold up?
Pathminder checks your dates, your budget and your documents against the rules on this page, and tells you what is missing before it costs you an application fee.
Check your planFree. No card required.
Where these figures come from
Every number on this page is taken from official UK government guidance, not from agents or forums. Rules change, so check the source before you apply.