CAS information

Please note: this is not the same as financial sponsorship.

In 2009, the UK introduced a Points Based System (PBS) for visa applications. As of 5th October 2020, the Tier 4 (general) visa under this system has been renamed the Student Visa. The Student Visa of this system relates to International students applying to study in the UK. Under the PBS, applicants must be sponsored by an approved education provider, like the University.

To confirm their sponsorship, anyone who applies for a Student Visa to study in the UK must include with their visa application a unique Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number, linking them to the institution where they intend to study.

Please be aware that when students who have applied to study in the UK are issued with a CAS number, they become subject to Home Office rules on monitoring international students.

This means that we will have to report you to the Home Office if you don’t register at the University, or if you don’t attend your course.

The following describes how to request a standard CAS for your ELTC course and explains the steps we have to undertake before your CAS can be issued.

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Application stages

Stage 1 - Accept ELTC course offer

After successfully applying for an ELTC course you will be sent an offer letter. Attached to the offer letter is an acceptance form which you need to complete in order to confirm your place on the course.

On the acceptance form you will be asked whether you require a CAS number to apply for a Student Visa. If you do require a CAS you should indicate this on your acceptance form before returning it to us.

Stage 2 - CAS Request forwarded to University Admissions Department

When we receive your acceptance form we will send your details to the University's Admissions Department who will create a record of your CAS request.

Estimated timescale: Within 5 working days of returning your acceptance form to request a CAS.

Stage 3 - Eligibility and Document Checks

After the Admissions Department has created a CAS record, the ELTC will undertake a number of checks to ensure you are eligible for a CAS.

These checks include ensuring we have the correct personal details recorded for you, checking the validity of your passport and English test certificate, confirming your study history meets the eligibility requirements for a Student Visa (if you have previously studied in the UK) and confirming financial support (for sponsored students).

We are required to make these checks by UK Visas and Immigration.

If we need to contact you in order to request further information or supporting documents while undertaking these checks it will cause your CAS to be delayed.

We therefore strongly recommend you complete the application form in full and provide all the supporting documentation indicated on the application form when you first apply for your course.

Estimated timescale: Within 10 working days of returning your acceptance form to request a CAS and when there are less than 6 months remaining until the start of your course (if you are outside the UK) or less than 3 months remaining until the start of your course (if you are inside the UK). Please be aware that these steps may take longer between March and July each year due to the high volume of CAS requests we receive during this time.

Stage 4 - Details submitted to UK Visas and Immigration

Your details will be sent to UK Visas and Immigration who will allocate a CAS number for you.

Estimated timescale: Within 1 working day of your CAS eligibility checks being completed.

Stage 5 - Receiving your CAS

We will send you a CAS Confirmation Email confirming that your CAS number has been allocated. You will then be able to view your CAS number and CAS statement by logging in to the pre-registration website using your pre-registration username and password.

Estimated timescale: Within 2 working days of your CAS request being sent to UK Visas and Immigration

Stage 6 - Applying for your Student Visa

After you have received your CAS number you can find details of how to make your Student Visa application on the University's International Student Support webpages from overseas or from within the UK.

Please note that you will only be able to apply for your visa a maximum of six months before the date your course is due to start (if you are outside the UK) or a maximum of three months before the date your course is due to start (if you are inside the UK).

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Combined CAS  - For In-person 10 and 6 week Pre-sessional Course, and 4 week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme applicants

To get a Combined CAS, you need to apply for either our in-person 10, 6 week pre-sessional courses or 4 week Academic Literacy and University Culture programme in Term 4, submit the required evidence and pay your academic course tuition fee deposit before a set deadline

For further information on the requirements please visit the University's Combined CAS for pre-sessional English language and degree study webpage.

Please note: if we have already sent you a single CAS for the ELTC course, it is highly likely that you are not eligible for a Combined CAS. Please go ahead and use the single CAS as this will save time in applying for your Student Visa.

Receiving a Combined CAS

If you have requested a Combined CAS that covers both your English Language and Academic course, the CAS request will be handled and processed by the University's main Admissions Service from mid-April onwards.

They will email you when your Combined CAS is ready.

Combined CAS for pre-sessional English language and degree study

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Additional Information

Receiving your ELTC CAS statement

We deal with large volumes of CAS requests so it may take time for you to receive your CAS. However, please note we always aim to issue your CAS within good time for you to apply for a visa.

Due to the number of CAS statements we issue we cannot inform you exactly when you will receive your CAS, however approximate timings for each Summer Pre-sessional course are below:

10 week Pre-sessional course:

If we confirmed confirmation that we received your acceptance form in January or BEFORE, you can expect to receive your CAS during the last week of February / throughout March. If we confirmed confirmation that we received your acceptance form in February or AFTER, you can expect to receive your CAS within 1 month of us confirming your acceptance form.

6 and 4 week combined CAS:

If you have requested a Combined CAS that covers both your English Language and Academic course, the CAS request will be handled and processed by the University's main Admissions Service from the end of April onwards.

6 week Pre-sessional course:

You can expect to receive your CAS approximately around mid / late April. This could be later depending on when we confirmed that we received your acceptance form.

4 week Academic Literacy and University Culture programme:

You can expect to receive your CAS approximately around early / mid May. This could be later depending on when we confirmed that we received your acceptance form.

Viewing your CAS

Please log into your Pre-registration emails to access your CAS. If you are having problems please email preregistration@sheffield.ac.uk with your full name and ELTC applicant number and they will resend the email to get access to the Pre-Registration System.

If you have trouble viewing your CAS after you have logged into the Pre-Registration system, please wait a couple of days and try again-please try a different computer.

If the problem continues, please let us know.

IELTS level queries

When processing your request we use the lowest component score achieved in IELTS to determine the CEFR level stated on your CAS.

For example, if your overall IELTS score is 5.5 (equivalent to CEFR level B2), but one of the individual components is 5.0 (equivalent to CEFR level B1), the overall level shown on your CAS will be CEFR level B1.

Application number queries

The application number on your CAS is a separate distinct ELTC application number. It is not the same as the applicant number for your academic course and the number shown on your ELTC course CAS will not negatively affect your visa application.

Accommodation fee queries

Unfortunately fees paid for University Accommodation cannot be updated on CAS Statements issued to applicants for Pre-sessional English courses for technical reasons.

Please use the receipts from the University Accommodation booking as supporting evidence when applying for your Student Visa.

Tuition fee queries

If you have paid the tuition fees for your ELTC course this will be updated on your CAS approximately two working days after your CAS is first issued. After two working days have passed please log back in to the Pre-Registration system to view the updated CAS.

Please note, if you pay the ELTC tuition fee AFTER you have used your CAS, the CAS cannot be updated with your payment.

Please always quote your ELTC applicant number (which is different from your academic course applicant number) when paying ELTC tuition fees.

If you have any further questions regarding your ELTC CAS statement, please email eltc.cas@sheffield.ac.uk