Essential visa information for Pre-sessional students
When do the Pre-sessional Courses start and what are the fees and entry criteria?
You can find details of the programmes by visiting the Entry Requirements, dates and fees page, or contacting: [email protected].
I have been accepted onto the Pre-sessional course, what must I do next?
Once you have been accepted onto the Pre-sessional English language course, you will need to pay the Pre-sessional course fees and a deposit of £4,000 to secure your place on the main course If you are a Study Abroad student, you may not be charged the deposit – please check with the Study Abroad team to learn more about the payment of fees.
Do I need a visa to study on a Pre-sessional English language course?
The Pre-sessional courses for students starting a degree in September and January will be available online or on campus.
If you choose to study the online course, you will not need a Student Visa, and a CAS will not be issued for the duration of the Pre-sessional course.
If you choose to study on campus, you will need a CAS and a Student Visa. The information below describes how to apply for a Student Visa.
What is CAS?
CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and is an electronic document issued by the University which enables you to apply for the Student Visa.
Your CAS will either cover both the Pre-sessional and the main degree course (this is known as a joint CAS) or in some cases CAS will only cover the Pre-sessional course and you will need a visa extension later (this is known as single CAS).
If you receive a joint CAS, your Student visa will be long enough to complete both courses. If you receive a single CAS, your Student visa will be shorter and you will need to request a new CAS and apply for a visa extension before starting your main degree course. We outline below the eligibility criteria for a joint CAS.
Apply for a CAS
You will need a CAS to apply for a Student Visa. Once you have paid your deposit, you will be invited via email to apply for a CAS.
Can I apply for a joint CAS to cover both my Pre-sessional course and my main degree course?
It is sometimes possible to receive a CAS that will cover both your Pre-sessional course and your main degree course, known as a joint CAS.
To qualify for a joint CAS you need:
- to be joining the 10-week or 6-week on-campus Pre-sessional course
- hold an Unconditional offer for a place on the main course
OR
- to be joining the 10-week or 6-week on-campus Pre-sessional course
- hold a Conditional offer for the main course, where the only condition relates to your English language level
- have an UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test with a minimum score of CEFR B1 (4.5) in all four components
- have completed your academic qualification and received the official certificate or final transcript (with translations if not in English)
Are there any exceptions to a Joint CAS?
You will not be eligible for a joint CAS if:
- You do not meet the criteria above
- Your main course of study requires English language scores of CEFR C1 (7.0) or above
- You have not received your official certificate or final transcript
If you do not meet the criteria for a joint CAS you will need to apply for two separate CAS documents: one for the Pre-sessional course and another for the main degree course. You will need to request your second CAS after completing your Pre-sessional course.
How much money must I have for my Student Visa application?
The amount of money you need depends on the length of your CAS and the value of your course fees. A joint CAS will be longer than a CAS for a Pre-sessional course and will require more funds in your account, so you must ensure you follow the correct guidance for your circumstances.
Financial requirements for a joint CAS
You will need evidence of funds in your bank account to show that you hold the money to pay the fees for the first year of your course (excluding the £4,000 deposit paid) as well as maintenance funds of £12,006.
Before receiving your CAS, you will usually need to provide compliant financial evidence to the Visa Compliance team. This evidence will need to be approved before a joint CAS will be issued.
If you are applying for a joint CAS, please refer to the Financial Requirements and the 28-day rule page, where we describe in detail how to meet the requirement.
Financial requirements for a CAS for the Pre-sessional course only
The section below is only relevant to you if you don’t receive a joint CAS and instead must first apply for a Student Visa for the Pre-sessional course, and then apply for a Student Visa extension in the UK for your main degree course. Please note that when applying for a visa extension in the UK, you will need a new bank statement with more funds than you needed for your initial Student Visa application.
The CAS for your Pre-sessional course will say that all your course fees have been paid and will not list your £4,000 deposit for your main degree course.
The Home Office rules state that you must have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs while you are in the UK. Since you will have paid the fees for your Pre-sessional course in full, you will only need to have the money in place for your living costs.
You are required to have £1,334 for each month or part of a month that you will be studying on your Pre-sessional course. This is the money for your living costs.
This money can be in your account or in your parents’ bank account. If you are using your parent’s bank account, you will also need to submit your original birth certificate and a consent letter from your parent, as well as official translations for any documents which are not in English. If you have not paid your course fees in full, please contact Student Advice for guidance on how much money you are required to have.
| ON CAMPUS Course duration | Number of months and part months | Amount of living costs per month | Total required for your living costs |
|---|---|---|---|
10-week Pre-sessional course | 3* | £1,334 | £4,002 |
6-week Pre-sessional course | 2* | £1,334 | £2,668 |
*We recommend that you show an additional month’s maintenance money.
The money for your living costs must be in your account for a consecutive period of 28 days and your financial evidence must meet the Home Office requirements.
Please note that in order to apply for your Student Visa for the main degree course upon completion of the Pre-sessional course, you will need to show a compliant bank statement again, this time with a minimum of £12,006 + any unpaid course fees for the first year of your main degree course. This is described in detail on our Financial Requirements and the 28-day rule page.
What documents will I need to submit in support of my Pre-sessional visa application?
You will need to submit the following documents in support of your Student Visa application:
| CAS | You must have been issued with a CAS before you can make your Student Visa application. |
|---|---|
| Evidence of your finances | Please see the Financial Requirements and the 28 days rule for full evidence that the Home Office will accept and for more information if you are relying on your parents' bank statements. If you are receiving or have received official financial sponsorship in the past 12 months, please read the Official Financial Sponsorship page. |
| Translations | If any of your documents are not in English you must provide a translation of the documents. |
| Original degree certificate or transcript | You must submit evidence of your qualifications as stated on your CAS. Your original certificate must include: your name, the title of the award, the date of the award, and the name of the awarding institution. Your original transcript must include: your name, the name of the academic institution, the course title, and confirmation of the award. |
| TB test certificate | If you are making a Student Visa application with a single CAS and the course you are applying to study will be less than six months long, you will not need a TB test certificate. If you have a joint CAS and you are applying to study on a course which lasts longer than six months, you may need a TB test certificate. Check Gov.uk on TB tests to see if you are a resident of a country that requires a TB test. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | You will only have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge if you have a joint CAS. You will have to pay for each year of your course. Check Gov.uk for more information about the IHS. Please note that you will not be required to pay the IHS if you are just applying for the visa for your Pre-sessional course. You will need private health insurance to cover the period of your Pre-sessional course up to the date that your next Student Visa is issued by the UKVI. We suggest your private health insurance should cover the length of your Pre-sessional course plus at least 3 months. You will not be asked for evidence of this for your Student Visa application. |