Offer Holder - Your Next Steps

Congratulations on your offer!

Welcome to your LSBU Offer Holder Hub, created especially for you. Securing the correct visa is a fundamental step before joining us in London. We’ve created this page to guide you step by step through UKVI requirements and the key actions you need to take.

The UK Student visa is points-based. You need 70 points to qualify.

Points	For what	How
50	CAS	Valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from LSBU
10	Money	Proof of funds for fees and living costs (see Financial Requirements section)
10	English	IELTS for UKVI or equivalent, at the level stated in your offer

Time limits on study

UKVI places limits on how long you can study in the UK in total across all institutions and visa types.

Course level	Maximum study time
Below degree (Foundation etc.)	2 years total
Undergraduate (BA, BSc)	5 years total
Postgraduate (MA, MSc, PhD)	No time limit

Time spent studying before you turned 18 does not count. However, any previous Student or Tier 4 visa time does count — even time spent at other universities.

ℹ Academic progression: If you have held a Student visa before, UKVI generally expects you to be progressing to a higher level of study. If your new course is at the same level as your previous one, LSBU will need to include a progression statement on your CAS. Contact the Immigration team if this applies to you.

CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is a unique digital reference number that LSBU emails to you; it is not a physical document. You cannot apply for a Student visa without it.

⚠ Important: Your CAS is valid for 6 months from the date LSBU issues it. Do not delay your visa application once you receive it.

Your CAS contains your personal details, course information, LSBU's sponsor licence number, and details of any fees you have already paid. All of this is shared with UKVI. Make sure every detail matches your passport exactly.

The LSBU CAS process

Step	What you do	Details
1	Accept your offer	Log into MyAccount and accept your unconditional offer
2	Pay 50% deposit	50% of first-year tuition fees. Mandatory for all self-funding students.
3	Receive CAS Shield invite	Once your deposit clears, you will receive an email invitation for CAS Shield (Enroly platform)
4	Upload your documents	Financial documents, passport, and TB certificate (if applicable) — all uploaded into CAS Shield
5	Pre-CAS checks	The Immigration team reviews everything. You may be invited to a short video interview.
6	CAS issued	If everything is in order, your CAS statement is sent by email. Check all details match your passport exactly.

Note: CAS statements are typically issued around 3 months before your course start date. If you have not received yours yet and your course start is more than 3 months away, this is normal.

Log into MyAccount Access CAS Shield

If you need to complete a pre-sessional English course before your degree, your visa situation depends on whether the course is online or face-to-face.

Online pre-sessional

No visa is needed — you study from your home country. Apply for your Student visa only after you have passed and received an unconditional offer for your degree course.

Face-to-face pre-sessional (on campus)

English level	CAS type	What happens
B2+ (IELTS 5.5 all bands)	Combined CAS: covers both the English course and your degree	One visa application covers your full stay. Straightforward.
B1 (IELTS 4.0 to 5.0)	Single CAS: English course only	UKVI does not allow a combined CAS at this level. You will need to extend your visa from inside the UK before your degree course begins.

ℹ Arrival: Students on a face-to-face pre-sessional course can arrive in the UK up to 1 month before the degree course start date.

View Pre-sessional English Courses

Applying from outside the UK

Detail	Info
When to apply	Up to 6 months before your course start date
Where	From the country where you are lawfully living
How	Apply online at GOV.UK, then attend a visa application centre for biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
Application fee	£490 (standard Student visa)
Processing time	Usually 3 weeks (15 working days) after biometrics
Priority option	Available in some countries for an extra fee

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: You follow the same process, but can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your phone instead of attending a visa centre.

Applying from inside the UK

Detail	Info
Who cannot switch	Visitors, short-term students, parent of child student, seasonal workers, domestic workers
Timing	Apply before your current visa expires. The date you pay the fee online is your official application date.
28-day gap rule	Your new LSBU course must start within 28 days of your old visa expiring
Application fee	£490 (standard)
Processing time	Standard: around 8 weeks \| Priority: 5 working days \| Super Priority: next working day
Previous course	If you had a Student visa before, you generally need to have completed that course successfully and show academic progression to a higher level.

⚠ Important: The date you pay the application fee online is your official application date for UKVI purposes. Your bank statements must be dated within 31 days of this date.

When can you arrive in the UK?

Course length	Earliest arrival
6 months or longer	Up to 1 month before course start date
Less than 6 months	Up to 1 week before course start date

How long does your visa last after your course ends?

Course duration	Extra time after course end
12 months or longer	4 months
6 to 12 months	2 months
Less than 6 months	7 days

⚠ Critical: Financial evidence is the number one reason Student visa applications get refused. Read this section carefully.

Because LSBU is based in Inner London, you must show the highest maintenance amount set by UKVI.

How much you need to show (2025/26 rates)

Component	Amount
Living costs	£1,483/month × up to 9 months = £13,347
Remaining tuition fees	Total first-year fee minus the 50% deposit you have already paid
Total	£13,347 + remaining fees

The 28-day rule

The total amount must sit in a bank account for 28 consecutive days without dropping below the required threshold — not even for one day. The bank statement must be dated within 31 days of your visa application date (i.e. the date you pay the application fee online)

What counts as acceptable evidence

Personal bank statements (in your name or a joint account)
Building society passbook or letter
Letter from a regulated financial institution
Government or academic loan letter confirming funds available to you

Using your parents' bank account

If the money is in a parent's account rather than your own, you need to provide additional documents:

Bank statements in your parent's name (still meeting the 28-day rule)
Your birth certificate or other legal proof of the relationship
A signed letter from your parent confirming they agree to fund your studies and living costs

Accommodation offset

If you have already paid LSBU directly for university accommodation, that amount can be deducted from the living costs requirement: up to a maximum of £1,483 (one month's living costs). You will need a receipt or confirmation from LSBU as evidence.

Low-risk nationals

Nationals from certain countries (the "differentiation arrangement" list) do not need to submit financial documents with their visa application. This includes countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most EU/EEA states. You must still have the evidence available in case UKVI requests it.

Non-English bank statements

If your bank statements are not in English, you must provide a certified translation from a professional translator, including the translator's credentials.

Note: The £1,483/month and £13,347 figures are set by UKVI annually and must be reviewed before every September intake.

If a government, international scholarship body, or similar official sponsor is covering your fees and/or living costs, you do not need personal bank statements. Instead, you provide a sponsorship letter.

What the letter must include

Written on the sponsor's official letterhead
Your name, the sponsor's name and contact details, and the date
The duration of the sponsorship
What is covered: fees, living costs, or both
An official stamp if the sponsor uses one

Who counts as an official sponsor

Government ministries and departments
International organisations (e.g. UN bodies)
The British Council
University scholarship bodies

⚠ Important: Private companies and family members do not count as official sponsors for UKVI purposes.

Previously sponsored students

If you received full official sponsorship in the 12 months before your previous course ended, you need written consent from that sponsor before LSBU can issue a new CAS.

Document	Who needs it	Notes
Passport	Everyone	Must be valid. If applying at a visa centre, needs at least one blank page.
CAS statement	Everyone	Check all details match your passport exactly.
Financial evidence	Self-funding students	Bank statements (28-day rule), sponsorship letter, or loan letter.
English language certificate	Most applicants	IELTS for UKVI or equivalent. Not needed if you are from a majority English-speaking country.
ATAS certificate	Some courses	Mainly certain postgraduate Engineering, Science, and Technology courses. Apply early — processing takes 30+ working days.
Parental consent letter	Under 18s	Signed letter from parent(s) or guardian.
TB certificate	Some countries	Required if you are from a country on the UKVI TB list. Valid for 6 months.
Qualifications	Varies	Required for courses below degree level.
Previous course evidence	Switching inside UK	Transcript, award letter, or similar.

Translations: Any document not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation from a professional translator.

Check if you need a TB test Check if you need ATAS

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

Detail	Info
Cost	£776 per year of visa duration
Payment	Paid upfront during the online application
Refunds	If your visa is refused, you can apply for a refund
EU/EEA nationals	May be able to claim a partial or full refund with a valid EHIC card

Credibility interviews

The Home Office may interview you — either randomly or based on your application history. The interview is conducted in English only — no interpreter is allowed.

Overseas applicants: Usually a short video call (5–10 minutes)
In-UK applicants: 20–30 minutes, in person or by phone

💡 Interview preparation tips

Why LSBU? Think about location, industry links, and specific modules
Your course structure and how it fits your career plans
Where you will live and how you will get to campus
How you are funding your studies
Your work hour restrictions (20 hours/week during term time)
What you did during your previous course (if applicable)

If your application is refused on credibility grounds

You can request an administrative review within:

28 days if applying from outside the UK
7 days if applying from inside the UK

There is a fee of around £80 for the review.

Your Student visa comes with conditions you must follow throughout your studies. Breaching these can result in LSBU reporting you to UKVI and your visa being curtailed.

Your key obligations

Condition	What it means
Study	You must study at LSBU — the institution named on your CAS. You cannot study at another institution unless specifically authorised.
Attendance	Attendance at all timetabled classes, lectures, and workshops is mandatory. LSBU monitors attendance and is legally required to report non-engagement to UKVI.
Public funds	You cannot claim public funds — this includes Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, and similar benefits.
Contact details	Keep your UK address, mobile number, and email address up to date with both LSBU and your UKVI account at all times.
Document checks	The university may ask to see your immigration documents at any point during your studies.

ℹ Police registration: The Police Registration Scheme has been abolished. You do not need to register with the police, regardless of your nationality.

How many hours can you work?

Course level	During term time	During vacation
Degree level (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD)	Up to 20 hours/week	Full time
Below degree (Foundation etc.)	Up to 10 hours/week	Full time

A "week" for UKVI purposes runs Monday to Sunday. Both paid and unpaid work count towards the limit.

You can also work full time: before your course start date, during official vacation periods, and after your course ends.

⚠ Watch out: "Term time" and "vacation" are defined by LSBU's official academic calendar — not by whether you personally have a lecture that day. PhD students should be especially careful about this distinction.

What you must not do

Be self-employed or run a business
Freelance or do gig-economy work (Deliveroo, Uber, etc.)
Work as a professional sportsperson, coach, or entertainer
Fill a permanent full-time vacancy
Work as a doctor or dentist in training

Work placements

If your course includes an assessed work placement that is an integral part of the programme, you can work full time on that placement and still do up to 20 hours per week of other work alongside it.

Proving your right to work

Employers will ask you to prove your right to work. You do this by generating a Share Code through your UKVI account. Physical BRP cards are being phased out — everything is now digital.

ℹ Info: There are no more physical BRP cards. Your visa is now a digital eVisa linked to your passport.

Setting up your UKVI account

To access your eVisa you need to create a UKVI account. Here is what you need:

A compatible smartphone
Your passport
A mobile number and email address

Go to GOV.UK, register for a UKVI account, then verify your identity using the UKVI ID Check app — scan your passport chip and take a selfie. Once set up, access your eVisa through the "View and prove immigration status" service.

Share Codes

To prove your immigration status to LSBU, an employer, or a landlord, generate a Share Code from your UKVI account. Each code is:

Time-limited
Specific to a purpose: right to study, right to work, or right to rent

Keep your account updated

If you change your passport, name, phone number, email address, or UK address — update your UKVI account. Keeping this information current is a visa condition.

Problems with your eVisa

If something looks wrong with your eVisa, report it through the GOV.UK error reporting tool. UKVI aims to respond within 10 working days.

Transferring to a different course within LSBU

You can change course within LSBU if all three of the following apply:

The new course is at the same level or higher
You can complete it within your current visa time
UKVI criteria are met

Transferring to another university

You cannot use your LSBU Student visa at another institution. You would need a new CAS from the other university and would typically need to return home and apply for a new visa.

Interrupting or suspending your studies

⚠ Important: If you interrupt your studies, your visa will be curtailed. You must leave the UK during the interruption and apply for a new visa before returning. Request a new CAS at least 3 months before you plan to resume.

Deferring assessments

If deferred assessments fall outside your visa period, you generally cannot extend your visa for this reason. You would need to leave the UK before your visa expires and complete the assessments remotely.

Deferring modules

If deferring a module creates a gap of 60 or more days without any timetabled classes during term time, LSBU will be required to withdraw your visa sponsorship.

Repeating modules

Scenario	What happens
Repeating with attendance	You may need a visa extension. A new CAS can be issued. Contact the Immigration team at least 3 months before your visa expires.
Repeating without attendance	You cannot extend your visa for this. You must leave the UK and complete assessments remotely, or return briefly on a Standard Visitor visa.

5-year limit reminder: Repeating modules adds to your total study time. Undergraduate students have a maximum of 5 years at degree level.

⚠ Warning: The consequences of withdrawing or being excluded are serious and immediate. Read this section carefully.

When LSBU must report you to the Home Office

LSBU is legally required to report your case to UKVI and withdraw your visa sponsorship if any of the following happen:

You formally withdraw from your course
You are excluded for academic or disciplinary reasons
You do not re-enrol at the start of the academic year
You have £1,000 or more in unpaid tuition fees
You consistently fail to attend and do not respond to warnings
You accept an intermediate award (e.g. a PG Diploma) instead of completing your Masters

What happens next

LSBU reports the withdrawal to UKVI within 10 working days. Your visa will be curtailed and you will typically have 60 days to either leave the UK or apply for a different visa.

Knock-on effects

You lose your right to work as soon as sponsorship is withdrawn
Your landlord's right-to-rent check will flag that your visa is no longer valid
You lose your student council tax exemption
Your NHS access may be affected
Any tuition fee liability depends on when in the academic year you withdraw

Pack these documents in your hand luggage — not checked baggage. If your bags are lost or delayed, you must still be able to enter the UK.

Document	Notes
Passport	Must include your entry vignette (visa sticker)
Original academic certificates	The qualifications listed on your CAS
CAS statement	Print it out or have it saved on your phone
Financial evidence	Bank statements or sponsorship letter
TB certificate	If applicable to your country
ATAS certificate	If required for your course

💡 Packing tip: Don't bring heavy household items like kettles, irons, or rice cookers — you can pick up cheap student starter packs in Elephant & Castle. Use your luggage allowance for weather-appropriate clothes (London means layers and a waterproof jacket) and any course-specific equipment.

Travelling during your studies

Once you have enrolled, do not travel outside the UK during term time. Your attendance is monitored and absences are reported to UKVI. Travel is permitted during weekends and official vacation periods.

If you have a genuine emergency and need to travel during term time, get a Student Status Letter from the Student Life Centre before you leave.

⚠ Watch out: If you are at the dissertation-only stage of your course, frequent travel outside the UK can jeopardise your eligibility for the Graduate Route.

When you arrive — your first steps

Step	What to do
1	At the border — Have your passport and CAS number ready. Border officers may ask about your course, accommodation, and how you are funding your studies.
2	Enrolment — Go to the Student Life Centre on Borough Road. Face-to-face enrolment must be completed within the dates stated in your offer pack.
3	UKVI account — Set up your digital immigration status if you have not already done so (see the eVisas section).
4	GP registration — Register with a local doctor (GP) as soon as possible.
5	Update your details — Make sure LSBU has your current UK address, phone number, and email address.

View Enrolment Information

LSBU + When In Culture

To support your move to the UK, LSBU has partnered with When In Culture to provide exclusive video guides for our students. These cover everything from opening a bank account to navigating London life.

Standard Visitor visa

If your course lasts less than 6 months, you may be able to study on a Standard Visitor visa. However, it comes with significant restrictions:

You cannot work — paid or unpaid
You cannot extend your stay from inside the UK
You cannot switch to a Student visa from inside the UK
You must have private health insurance — there is no IHS or NHS access

⚠ Important: If your course is 6 months or longer, you must apply for a full Student visa — a Standard Visitor visa will not be accepted.

Graduate Route

The Graduate Route lets you stay in the UK after finishing your degree to work or look for work. There is no job offer required.

Detail	Info
Duration	2 years (3 years for PhD). From January 2027, non-PhD graduates will receive 18 months instead of 2 years.
Job offer needed?	No
Self-employment	Allowed — unlike the Student visa
Application fee	£822
IHS	£1,035 per year of the visa
When to apply	After your degree is awarded, before your Student visa expires, from inside the UK
Can you extend it?	No — it is a one-time visa
Can you apply twice?	No — one Graduate Route visa per person, ever

⚠ Watch out: Graduate Route eligibility can be affected by interrupting your studies, deferring modules without timetabled attendance, or spending too much time outside the UK during your course.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

Since January 2021, EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals follow the same Student visa rules as everyone else for courses lasting 6 months or longer. You use the UK Immigration: ID Check app and receive a digital eVisa — there is no separate process.

Postgraduate students (Masters or PhD, on a course of 9 months or longer) may be able to bring a partner and/or children under 18 to the UK.

Requirement	Details
Eligible courses	Postgraduate only, 9 months or longer. Undergraduate students generally cannot bring dependants.
Extra funds required	£1,024/month for the first dependant, £680/month for each additional dependant (Inner London 2025/26 rates). The same 28-day rule applies.
Application	Dependants apply separately but at the same time as the main applicant.
Work rights	Dependants of postgraduate students can usually work full time in the UK.
IHS	Each dependant must also pay the IHS (£776/year).
Bringing children	Consider schooling, childcare costs, and whether your accommodation is suitable for a family.

Note: Dependant rules change regularly. Always check with the LSBU Immigration & Compliance team before you apply.

Contact the Immigration Team

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