New University of Sheffield International College (USIC) students 2023

Key visa application dates and information for University of Sheffield International College students starting degree courses at the University of Sheffield in 2023.

On

When to put the required funds into your bank account 

To meet the financial requirements, you must put the required funds in your bank account no later than 28 days before you submit your visa application. 

For example, if you submit your visa application on 28 July 2023: 

1 July 2023 - the latest date when funds need to be available 

>= 28 days 

28 July 2023 (the date of visa application) - visa application submitted  online and fees paid 

5 August 2023  - The date of the biometric enrolment appointment


When to apply for your visa 

You should apply for your visa as soon as you’ve received your CAS, and no earlier than 28 days after putting the required funds into your bank account. 

If you’re applying in the UK 

You must apply for your visa on or before the start of the registration period as you will need evidence of your visa application to register at the University. The visa application also must be submitted before your current visa expires.

If you’re applying outside the UK 

You'll need the visa to travel to the UK on or before the start of the registration period. Visa processing times vary between countries and depend on the service you choose. To plan the date of your visa application, visit: 

Visa decision waiting times for applications outside the UK  (GOV.UK)

The registration period is likely to start from 18 September 2023. Any update to the date is confirmed on the page below: 

Current and future semester dates


When you'll receive your unconditional offer

April finishers 

If you meet the progression criteria after your exams, you’ll receive your offer around 24 May 2023. 

If you meet the progression criteria after your resits, you’ll receive your offer around 19 July 2023

August finishers 

If you meet the progression criteria after your exams, you’ll receive your offer around 22 August 2023

If you meet the progression criteria after your resits, you’ll receive your offer around 13 September 2023


Applying for and receiving your CAS 

You’ll receive an email from Admissions explaining how to complete the pre-registration process within 5 working days of accepting your unconditional offer. 

The CAS application is part of the pre-registration process. You cannot start this until you’ve received the email from Admissions. 

You will receive your CAS within 12 working days of you submitting your CAS application. 

For more information, visit:

CAS number applications


If your current visa expires before the end of your USIC course 

If you’re in the UK and your current visa expires before you can complete your USIC study, you must: 

  • obtain a CAS from the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) for the remainder of your course (if this applies to you, contact USICCompliance@studygroup.com); and
  • submit a visa application before your visa expires

Once you have a CAS for the University of Sheffield, contact the International Student Support, Advice and Compliance (ISSAC) team for assistance with your visa application. 

Contact ISSAC

You must submit another visa application with your University of Sheffield CAS. You should get a refund for the first visa application (with the International College CAS) once your second visa application (with the University of Sheffield CAS) has been granted, provided that your first visa application has not been processed yet.


Submitting financial evidence

You do not need to submit financial evidence with your visa application if:

If you don’t meet the above criteria, you must submit financial evidence with your visa application.


Academic and English language qualifications 

If you’re studying a degree course at the University of Sheffield, you do not need to provide any academic qualifications (e.g. your University of Sheffield International College statement of results) or evidence of English language with your application. 


Frequently Asked Questions

How can I request my final USIC results/transcript?

Please contact the college via usicprogression@studygroup.com.

When will I receive my unconditional offer? 

This will be sent to your University email account within 3 working days of you receiving your End of Programme Results from USIC. 

I don’t have a BRP for my USIC course, is this correct?

You should only be issued with a BRP if you have traveled to the UK and your USIC course is longer than 6 months. 

If you plan to apply in the UK, you must still submit a new visa application before your current visa expires even if you don't have a BRP or there are any issues with your BRP.

How do I access the pre-registration system?

The University Admissions team will send an email giving you access to the pre-registration system. They’ll send this to the email address you used in your application to study at the University. You’ll need to access the pre-registration system to apply for a new CAS. 

My visa for my USIC course has an error, what should I do?

You should contact the college so they can help you get it corrected wherever possible. If the correction is still pending by the time you receive your CAS from the University, contact the ISSAC team.

My visa expires soon but I haven’t received my CAS/I haven’t prepared all the required documents. What should I do?

If you plan to apply for a new visa in the UK, you must submit a new visa application (including paying both the visa and Immigration Health Surcharge fees) before your current visa expires, even if there are any issues with your supporting documents. Please ensure to prepare supporting documents as early as possible and contact the University if you have any particular concerns. 

My passport expires before the end date of my degree course at the University. Do I have to apply for a new passport before applying for the CAS and visa?

Your passport does not have to cover the duration of your new course. You must however ensure that your passport is valid at the time of your visa application and when you travel to the UK. 

It’s also essential for the visa application that all the relevant information on the CAS must be present and the same as on your passport and supporting documents. 

If you obtain a new passport after the CAS is issued but before your visa application, the information of your new passport will need to be updated on the CAS, but you don’t need to apply for a new CAS. Updating the information may delay your visa application process and therefore it’s advisable to renew the passport before you apply for a CAS and the visa. 

Do I have to pay a fee deposit before applying for the CAS?

This is not required for students progressing from USIC to the University of Sheffield. 

I paid my fees after I received my CAS. Do I need to apply for a new CAS or contact the University to update my CAS?

Any payment will be automatically updated on the CAS once the payment is processed by the University. You don’t need to contact the University or apply for a new CAS.

Where can I find information on how to register for my course?

Information on registration is available via:

Registration: Before you arrive 

Where can I collect my new BRP for your University study?

If you apply for a new visa in the UK, your BRP will be sent to the address you provide on your visa application form. You can use either your address in Sheffield or the University’s address (The University of Sheffield, Att: D.Barrott, SES, Level 6, Students' Union, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG).

If you apply for a new visa outside the UK, you can enter the ACL code ‘2HE237’ to have your BRP delivered to the University so you can collect it when you come to register.

How do I find the contact details for my department?

Visit our Academic departments contact page

Why can’t I access the Blackboard site? 

This might be because your registration with the University has not been completed. 


Further information

Visa application guide for applying in the UK

Visa application guide for applying outside the UK

Visa Preparation Handbook - Inside the UK (PDF, 232kB)Visa Preparation Handbook - Outside the UK (PDF, 232kB)

Still got questions?

Find what you're looking for on Student Answers, our FAQ knowledgebase.