What is CAS?
CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is the main document confirming your student status. The CAS is a unique reference number that confirms that the University has agreed to be your Student Visa Sponsor. Its purpose is to provide UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) with your personal details, information about Durham University and your course of study. It also includes details of fees and payments.
When will I get my CAS?
We usually start working on CAS in May, and we produce them on a first-come, first-served basis, so applicants who are ready for CAS first will be processed first, taking into consideration the start date of the course. Both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants must be unconditional to get their CAS. The CAS statement will be sent to you by email and is issued by Durham’s Central Admissions Team.
What is pre-CAS?
Before the official CAS statement is sent to you, we will send you a pre-CAS to your application portal (postgraduate) or via email (undergraduate). In the pre-CAS, we will ask you to confirm all of your personal details, the qualifications you have been considered on, and information about the programme you are coming to study. This is based on the information you provided in your application. You will need to check this information carefully for any errors or omissions and inform us of any changes or updates required as soon as possible.
What is a Combined CAS?
A Combined CAS is given to some of the people who do our on-campus pre-sessional English courses. The Combined CAS then covers both the pre-sessional course and the degree programme.
Am I eligible for a Combined CAS?
You will be eligible for a Combined CAS if the only condition on your offer is an English Language condition. If you have any other conditions, then we will need to issue you a separate CAS for your pre-sessional and your degree programme. Please note that the CAS might be withdrawn if the attendance and progress on the pre-sessional course are not satisfactory.
I’ve got a CAS from another University, can I use this to come to Durham?
No, you can't. A CAS is always issued for a specific place and a course. This means that if you have a Durham University CAS, your visa will only be valid for the particular Durham course stated on the CAS. Similarly, if you have received a CAS from another university, it will only be valid for entry to that specific course and university. This means that if you apply for a new course or choose to study at a different university, you will need a new CAS and a new visa application.