CAS number applications

International students (those from outside the UK) coming to study in the UK must be sponsored by an institution, such as the University of Sheffield, which is registered with the UK government's UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as an 'approved education provider' (this is not the same as financial sponsorship).

To confirm their sponsorship, anyone who applies for a 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.

Arranging your CAS number

Arranging the CAS number is one of the tasks completed as part of your Pre-Registration at the University of Sheffield. You will be sent an email inviting you to begin Pre-Registration and giving you access to the Pre-Registration system when:

1. You have accepted an Unconditional offer of a study place at the University; and
2. It is less than four months before the start of your course.

The CAS Application task will appear in the Pre-Registration system when

1. It is less than four months before the start of your course;
2. You have accepted an Unconditional offer of a study place at the University; and
3. You have paid any fee deposit we have requested (postgraduate taught applicants only).

The following table describes the process. Sections in bold text indicate where you need to do something.

The deadline for you to confirm your CAS Application Information is 1 week before the latest possible start date for your course. Please visit our New Students webpages for more information on late registration and start dates.

Stage	What will happen	Estimated time
1	The CAS Application task will appear on your Pre-Registration menu	Within 5 working days of you accepting an Unconditional offer of a study place at the University of Sheffield (and paying any associated fee deposit) or Four months before the start of your course (whichever is later)
2	When you are ready to begin the process of arranging your CAS number, you should open the CAS Application task within the Pre-Registration system and follow the on-screen instructions to activate your CAS Application	N/A
3	We will prepare the CAS Application Information about you that UKVI needs before it can assign you a CAS number. When the CAS Application Information is ready for you to check, it will become visible within the CAS Application task.	Within 2 working days of you activating your CAS Application.
4	You should check that all the CAS Application Information is present and correct (as it appears on your passport and other documents). If any information is missing or incorrect, you will be able to enter the correct information. When all the information is present and correct, you should confirm this by clicking the 'Submit' button.	N/A
5	We will submit your CAS Application Information to UKVI.	Within 5 working days of you confirming your CAS Application Information.
6	UKVI will process your information and, if it is all correct, they will allocate you a CAS number. They will send this number to the University (not to you).	Within 1 working day of UKVI receiving your CAS Application Information.
7	We will email you confirming that your CAS number has been assigned. You will be able to view the CAS number, and the information we used in your application, by logging back in to your record in the Pre-Registration system.	Within 2 working days of UKVI sending your CAS number to the University.
8	After you have received your CAS number, you can find details of how to make your visa application on the UKVI website. You will be able to apply for your visa a maximum of three months before the date your course is due to start if you are applying from inside the UK, or six month if you are applying from outside the UK.	N/A

Please be aware that when students are issued with a CAS number, they become subject to UKVI rules on monitoring International students. This means that we will have to report you to UKVI if you do not register at the University, or if you do not attend your course.

Frequently asked questions

You can also read our answers to frequently asked questions about the process of arranging a CAS number:

CAS number frequently asked questions