Getting started & your CAS
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.
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.
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.
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. |