Before you apply for your Student visa you will need to obtain a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which you will need to request from the University. The process for requesting a CAS will be different depending on if you are a new student (starting a new course) or are continuing on the same course of study.
Starting a new course at Solent University
If you are new to the University or starting a new course of study the Admissions and Enrolment Team will issue you with your CAS. In order to request a CAS, you will need to meet the conditions as detailed below:
- Hold an unconditional offer
- Have accepted your unconditional offer
- Have met UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) English Language Requirements for Student Route students.
- Paid a deposit of 50% of your tuition fee. If you are a government-sponsored student or are in receipt of a government-sponsored student loan, then a deposit is not be required. Details of how to pay for the CAS deposit can be found here.
Once you have met the above conditions notify the Admissions and Enrolment Team by emailing admissions.international@solent.ac.uk with the subject title 'CAS request', along with your name and student ID/UCAS Personal ID number; include evidence you have paid your deposit and where relevant, the below documents:
- Evidence of your finance – If you are a national of one of the following countries evidence of your finance does not need to be submitted with your visa application or to us: Any European country (EU/EEA), Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, The Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, UAE, USA.
If you are not a national of one of the above listed countries, you need to provide us with evidence, which you will use for your visa application, to show that you have sufficient funds to cover your full tuition fee and your living costs. Please see this document for information about acceptable documents and how much money is required. - ATAS certificate - If you are studying one of the courses listed on the Solent ATAS Clearance page you need to be issued with an ATAS certificate before we will issue a CAS.
- Additional documents for students aged 16 or 17 - If you are aged 16 or 17 years old and are applying for a Student Route visa then you must include a letter of consent from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to confirm that they consent to you studying, traveling and living independently in the UK. A copy of your birth certificate (translated where required) to confirm your relationship is also required.
- Tuberculosis screening – If you are resident in one of the countries on this list and wish to come to the UK for more than 6 months then you are required to submit a medical certificate confirming that you are free from Tuberculosis. The certificate must still be valid on the date you submit your visa application and be issued by a medical practitioner from a medical clinic on the list provided by UKVI.
Further information regarding making a Student Route visa application is available on our visas and immigration page.
Extending your existing visa
Students who are already studying at Solent and are seeking a CAS number for the purpose of extending their Student visa should use this form. This includes students who need to extend their visa due to resits, are adding an additional year to their course (eg, a work placement) or have temporarily interrupted their studies and need a new visa to re-join their course. Students who have completed the University’s pre-sessional English course or Foundation Year (including IFP) and need to extend their visa to apply for their main course of study should also use this form. Note, students who have completed a undergraduate degree and are applying for a Masters course should apply as a new student and follow the process above.
Before a CAS is issued you will need to have:
- Paid a deposit of 50% of your tuition fee. If you are a government-sponsored student or are in receipt of a government-sponsored student loan, then this would not be required. Details of how to pay for the CAS deposit can be found here.
- Provide evidence of your finance (if applicable) – If you are a national of one of the following countries evidence of your finance does not need to be submitted with your visa application or to us: Any European country (EU), Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, The Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, UAE, USA.
If you are not a national of one of the above listed countries, you need to provide us with evidence, which you will use for your visa application, to show that you have sufficient funds to cover your full tuition fee and your living costs. Please see this document for information about acceptable documents. Please send evidence of your finance to internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk once you have completed the form.
