Student Visa

Student visa eligibility

The Student visa route is a points-based system for all international students who want to study in the UK on a course lasting longer than six months.

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Student visa eligibility

The Student visa route is a points-based system for all international students who want to study in the UK on a course lasting longer than six months.

Student Visa

What is a Student visa?

The Student visa route is a points-based visa system for all international students, including EU, EEA and Swiss students, who want to study in the UK on a course lasting longer than six months. If you are unsure whether you need a Student visa, you can check if you need a UK visa on the UK Government website.

The UK points-based immigration system requires that you score 70 points to be issued a Student visa. You need to score points in the following areas:

 

Relevant requirements to be met 

Number of points 

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

50 

Financial 

10 

English Language

10 

 

What is a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic record sent to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) by the university to confirm your personal details and details of your course at the University of East London.  

Please do not submit your Student visa application without a CAS number, as it cannot be added to your application at a later date. 

You will be issued with a CAS by email once you have met your academic conditions, paid the required tuition fee deposit and passed the necessary Pre-CAS checks (if applicable to you). 

Length of Visa

The Student visa will be granted to you as per the dates in your CAS letter; however, you will also be granted a period of permission dependent on the type and length of the course you will be studying from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), as outlined in paragraph 25 of Appendix ST of the Immigration Rules that we have highlighted below:

Type of Course

Period granted before course start date

Period granted after course end date

A course of 12 months or longer

1 Month

4 Months

A course of six months or longer but shorter than 12 months

1 Month

2 Months

A pre-sessional course of less than six months

1 Month

1 Month

A course as a postgraduate doctor or dentist

1 Month

1 Month

A course of less than six months in length which is not a pre-sessional course

7 days

7 days

 

Eligible programmes of study

The Student visa route is mainly for full-time recognised UK degree-level courses which lead to an approved qualification at Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 or above, though some part-time courses may be allowed.

Part-time Student visa

The university will only sponsor a part-time Student visa for the Prof Doc Data Science course and part-time PhD programmes with academic approval.

When applying for a part-time Student visa, students are required to complete the process in the same way as if they were applying for a full-time Student visa and are required to provide the same additional documentation. This includes the same financial evidence that shows the applicant has sufficient funds to cover their living costs and any unpaid tuition fees, as stated on the CAS.

Students must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the duration of the part-time Student visa.

Further information on the Student visa requirements, including financial requirements and other required documentation, is available on our Applying for your Student visa outside the UK page.


Part-Time Student visa restrictions

It is very important to be aware that there are additional restrictions attached to the part-time Student visa.

Part-time Student visa holders:

  • Cannot undertake any work in the UK, including placements or voluntary work.
  • Cannot bring family members as Student visa dependents.
  • Cannot switch to a full-time student visa inside the UK if the mode of study changes.

You will be expected to meet the on-campus attendance requirements in line with UEL and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.

Time limits for study

There are time limits on how long you can study on a Student visa.


Below-degree-level courses

If you are 18 or over, you cannot spend more than two years in the UK on a Student visa studying any course that leads to a qualification below bachelor’s level, which is RQF level 6.


Undergraduate level courses

In general, there is a five-year time limit to stay in the UK studying at degree level (RQF Level 6). If your Student visa extension would lead to you having spent more than five years in the UK, your Student visa application will be refused. There are certain exceptions to this rule, such as if you are planning to study Architecture, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Science, Music and certain law conversion courses.

This does not apply to students studying an MEng, which is an integrated Master’s degree, as the exit qualification is RQF level 7.

More information can be found under the 'Time limits’ section on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.


Postgraduate level courses (Master’s and above level courses)

There is no study time limit cap on courses above the undergraduate level. However, academic progression requirements need to be met.

Academic progression

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have made it a requirement for sponsors to include a statement on a student's CAS confirming that the course of study for which the CAS has been assigned represents academic progression for any study previously undertaken in the UK on a Student visa. This is a requirement whether you are applying for your visa from inside or outside the UK.

If your previous study is at a lower level and you have completed and passed that qualification, academic progression is justified automatically as you are progressing from a lower RQF level.

It is possible to study a course at the same RQF level. If your previous study is at the same RQF level, for example, wanting to study a second Master's level qualification, academic progression needs to be assessed. A justification statement will be required to prove the following:

  • The two courses are either (connected, part of the same subject group or the new course involves a deeper specialisation) or,
  • Both courses combined support your genuine career aspirations. 

Progression statements are not always accepted, so take time to work on a good statement that meets the above criteria when you are asked to provide one.

If you want to apply for your Student visa from inside the UK, as well as the above, you will also need to have completed your previous course, unless you are exempt from academic progression. 

You are exempt if either of the below applies:

  • You are extending your student visa to repeat modules
  • Completing a PhD,
  • Adding a work placement or study abroad year to your course, or,
  • To take a Student Union Sabbatical post

Credibility interviews

When UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are deciding your visa application, the caseworker needs to be sure you are a genuine student and are coming to the UK to study. As part of your visa application, they may invite you to attend a 'credibility' interview via Skype, Microsoft Teams or at a visa application centre.

You need to prepare for the interview because if you do not pass the interview, your visa application could be refused.

You may be asked about the following topics: 

  • Your previous studies.
  • Your reasons for choosing to study at the University of East London.
  • Your reasons for choosing to study your course.
  • Your reasons for wanting to study in the UK.
  • What have you been doing since you last studied?
  • Your future and how your course will help you achieve your plans. 

Not everyone will be asked to attend an interview as part of the visa application process. If you qualify for different documentary requirements (please refer to our section 'Differentiation arrangements' on our Applying for a visa page for more information), you are unlikely to be interviewed.

Pre-CAS checks

Once you have received either a conditional or unconditional offer, you will be required to pay for your tuition fee deposit as outlined in your offer letter. If you are from the USA in receipt of Federal Aid, or you are sponsored by an official scholarship agency or government, you may be able to use this evidence to meet the deposit requirement.

After the university has received your tuition fee deposit amount, you will be invited to CAS Shield, where the university will undertake a range of pre-CAS checks based on your individual circumstances.

These checks are designed to ensure that you meet the genuine student rule and that your financial and other documentation meet UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.

The university’s pre-CAS checks vary depending on students’ unique circumstances, including but not limited to the following:

You are required to pass your pre-CAS checks by each intake’s prescribed deadline for a CAS to be issued. We reserve the right to refuse to issue a CAS where we believe your risk of Student visa refusal is deemed too high based on the outcome of our pre-CAS checks. Please note you will be supported by the university throughout these checks and will be informed if the university is unable to issue you a CAS.

  • Completing all information on your CAS Shield portal
  • Declaring and providing evidence, where necessary, of all previous UK immigration history and any visa refusal(s) from the UK and/or other countries for assessment
  • Pre-CAS interview check (if applicable)
  • Financial circumstances and documentation check
  • Other documentation checks, depending on individual circumstances, including but not limited to:
    • Previous qualifications
    • ATAS certificate (if applicable)
    • Under 18 declarations (if applicable)
    • UKVI-approved TB test certificate (if applicable)
    • Previous study in the UK completion evidence (if applicable)

You are required to pass your pre-CAS checks by each intake’s prescribed deadline for a CAS to be issued. We reserve the right to refuse to issue a CAS where we believe your risk of Student visa refusal is deemed too high based on the outcome of our pre-CAS checks.

If you already have a pending visa application, we will not consider issuing your CAS until the outcome of the application has been received. Then you will be required to pass all the relevant pre-CAS checks by the required deadlines for each intake.

Please note you will be supported by the university throughout these checks and will be informed if the university is unable to issue you a CAS.

CAS and Visa Process FAQs

How do I apply for my visa?

You must have a CAS for the University of East London before you make your student visa application.

Where is my CAS?

You will need to complete all sections in CAS Shield and may be required to pass our pre-CAS checks to receive a CAS. This includes passing a pre-CAS interview and providing documents to demonstrate that you meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) student visa maintenance requirements. You would also need to demonstrate you have the available funds for your student visa application in the form of either a bank statement, a financial sponsorship letter or a loan letter.

When will I receive my CAS letter?

The CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Letter) is issued to students when all stages of the application journey are completed and passed. 

  1. You will be required to hold and confirm an unconditional offer as well as pay your CAS deposit as outlined in your offer letter.
  2. You will need to complete all sections in CAS Shield.
  3. You may be required to pass our pre-CAS checks for a CAS to be issued. This includes passing a pre-CAS interview and providing documents to demonstrate that you meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) student visa maintenance requirements. 

Do I need to pay a deposit before I receive my CAS?

Yes. You must pay a tuition fee deposit before the University of East London can issue your CAS. 

The exact deposit amount is shown in your offer letter or offer email. Deposit amounts vary by course and level of study.

Where can I find my deposit amount?

Your deposit amount is stated in your: 

  • Offer letter, or
  • Offer email from UEL. 

If you cannot find this information, contact the admissions team before making a payment.

Does the deposit count towards my tuition fees?

Yes. The deposit counts towards your total tuition fee. It is not an extra charge.

Can I pay my tuition fees in instalments?

Yes. After paying your deposit, you can choose to pay the remaining tuition fees using an instalment payment plan.

How does the instalment plan work?

  • Tuition fees are paid in five monthly instalments.
  • The first payment is at least 20 per cent of the total tuition fee.
  • This first payment is made online by debit or credit card.
  • The remaining balance is paid in four equal monthly instalments.
  • Payments are taken through a recurring card payment schedule (not Direct Debit). 

You must set up the instalment plan by the enrolment deadline.

Does choosing instalments affect my CAS?

No. The instalment plan does not delay or change the CAS process, as long as you have paid the required deposit and met all other CAS conditions.

Can I pay my full tuition fees before my CAS is issued?

Yes. You can choose to pay more than the required deposit, including your full tuition fee, before your CAS is issued. Tuition fee payments can be made in multiple transactions, as long as the total amount paid equals the required fee amount.

UEL requires confirmed receipt of payment on its payment system. Simply uploading proof of transfer is not sufficient if the payment has not yet been received and cleared.

When will I receive access to CAS Shield?

CAS Shield is a website used for students to submit all documentation that is required before they can receive the CAS Letter. Access to CAS Shield is granted once you make a payment towards your deposit. The minimal deposit amount for you to receive the CAS Shield link is £1500. Once we have received your deposit and this has been allocated to your account, you will receive the link with instructions on how to log in to CAS Shield. To make a payment towards your studies, please visit your Applicant Portal account.

I paid a deposit but still do not have the CAS Shield link

You can track your payment on Flywire. If the status is 'Delivered', this means we have received your funds. Please allow up to seven working days after making your deposit payment. If you still have not received your CAS Shield link, please contact us using the regional email that corresponds to you, and the team will look into your request. 

Can I bring dependants over to the UK?

Only if you are studying a full-time PhD (or other doctoral/research-based degree) OR if you are Government sponsored for a course of at least six months.

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