Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) Process

For international students, and EU students without pre-settled status, a visa is usually required to study in the UK. If you are unsure if you need a visa to study in the UK please contact the International Centre for clarification.

To apply for this visa, you will require a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS); this is a document issued by the University. To obtain a CAS from the University of Chester you will need to complete a separate application process.

You will be sent further details on the University of Chester’s CAS (visa sponsorship) process once confirmation of your deposit payment has been received, and all outstanding conditions on your offer letter have been met. You will need to read the email and all the attached documents you receive carefully, as these will provide you with detailed information on what you need to provide to be issued with your CAS and also your student visa.

Steps to obtain your CAS

Shortly after the University receives the deposit payment, students will receive a confirmation email including the University's CAS Policy. Shortly thereafter, students will receive an invitation to progress through the CAS request process through Enroly's CAS Shield system.

As part of the student visa process, you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover any outstanding tuition fees owed to the University and maintenance costs of £9,207. These funds must have been present in your account for a continuous 28-day period. In addition, the University of Chester requests that the bank statements you provide us, also show that you have maintained an additional £200 to cover any currency fluctuations which may occur.

We will need evidence that you meet this requirement before issuing you with a CAS. Guidance on the types of financial documents that are accepted can be found in our Student Visa Frequently Asked Questions document.

You may be required to complete a Genuine Intention Form or complete a Genuine Intention Interview before a CAS can be assigned.  Students are only required to complete the Form OR the Interview, not both, and this will be asked for as part of your CAS request process in CAS Shield.

If you are required to complete the Genuine Intention to Study Form, a link will be provided on CAS Shield. You will need to complete the form by answering the questions in as much detail as possible using the guidance notes to help you.

If you are required to complete the Genuine interview, you will be invited to do so on CAS Shield.  Guidance of the types of questions asked during the Genuine Intention Interview process can be found in our A Guide to Credibility Interviews for Students Applying from Overseas document.

If you are a non-EU/EEA (including Switzerland) national and are planning to take postgraduate study in the UK in certain, Technology, Engineering or Science subjects then you will now need to obtain an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate before applying for the visa, entry clearance or extension of stay as a student. Further details on the ATAS application procedure can be found at the following link: ATAS certificate.

A copy of your ATAS certificate must be provided before a CAS will be issued. Information on if you require an ATAS certificate will be outlined on your offer letter. If you are unsure if an ATAS certificate is required please contact us.

Please submit all CAS request documents through the Enroly CAS Shield system. If, after providing your documents we require further information to process your CAS we will contact you via CAS Shield outlining what is required.

Further information on money and maintenance requirements can be found online.

Deadlines

Please note, the deadlines can differ per course due to differences in course start dates. Please refer to our Important Dates for the most up-to-date deadlines.