Your CAS
After you have met all of RGU’s Admissions and Immigration requirements, the Immigration Team will issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Number. This is a unique 14-digit reference number. RGU will issue your CAS up to 6 months before the start date of your course.
The Admissions Immigration Team will send you an email with your CAS Statement. This contains details such as your name, nationality, CAS number, course start date, fees paid to date and evidence we have used to assess your application, along with other important information.
It is very important that you check your CAS Statement carefully and tell us about any errors or amendments immediately.
You should also let us know about any changes required, such as if you get a new passport or pay more money towards your tuition fees. This is so we can provide the UKVI with the most up to date information when you apply for your visa. After you have used the CAS for your visa application, the CAS can no longer be amended, meaning any significant changes may require you to withdraw your visa application and apply again with a new CAS.
Once we have issued your CAS, we will also send your Unconditional Offer letter.
You should then apply for your student visa.
The University take no part in the UKVI visa application process after issuing your CAS and cannot answer questions about your individual application. You should direct any questions that you might have to UKVI directly.
Your Student Visa Application
The sooner you submit your application, the quicker you will be able to get your visa. There are several benefits of early visa application:
- Your financial evidence will still be in date for your visa application
- Less risk of currency fluctuations
- More likely to receive a timely visa decision from the UKVI
- More time to book flights, with better prices and availability
- More time to arrange student life in Aberdeen – secure accommodation and arrange bank account
- You are on campus and ready to start studies when classes start
You should use the same financial evidence you submitted for your CAS when you make your visa application. This is because the Immigration Team have checked your evidence and believe it meets UKVI requirements. If you submit evidence the Immigration Team has not reviewed, your evidence may not be suitable, and you may receive a visa refusal.
You should apply for your student visa within one week of receiving your CAS Number, unless we have advised you to make your application sooner. We ask that you provide evidence of your visa application, or you may not be able to continue your education journey at RGU.
Once you have made your online student visa application, you should book and attend your biometrics appointment.
Do not delay applying for your student visa.
By delaying submitting your student visa application, your application is more likely to be processed during a peak period for the UKVI. Your application will take longer to be processed, likely beyond advertised timescales, even when you have applied using Priority or Super Priority services.
Please be aware that if your student visa is not granted in time for you to enrol at RGU you will be unable to join your course. There are no extensions to enrolment periods, so it is in your best interest to receive your CAS and apply for your visa as soon as possible.
Visa application costs
Student visa application fee
Current visa application fees are published by the UKVI.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
To access to the National Health Service (NHS), which provides general healthcare in the United Kingdom, you must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The exact amount you pay depends on the length of your visa.
The IHS payment covers all healthcare costs under the NHS once you are in the UK. You’ll still need to pay for certain types of services, such as dental treatment, eye tests and other specialised medical treatment. You can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts. Find out how much you will have to pay:
You must pay for your full Immigration Health Surcharge when you make your visa application, using a debit or credit card. You cannot submit your visa application or attend your biometrics appointment without paying for your IHS.
Additional student visa application services
You may wish to pay for Priority or Super Priority processing, to receive a faster decision on your visa application. Some Visa Application Centres will also offer other services, such as application checking or assisted scanning. The cost of any additional services is in addition to the student visa application fee.
Credibility interview
As part of your student visa application, the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) service may conduct a short Credibility Interview with you.
This interview is to help the UKVI confirm that students entering the UK are genuine students.
If you are selected for an interview, the UKVI will tell you when the interview will take place.
There is no set time limit for the interview, but it usually lasts 10 - 30 minutes. The interview is conducted in English, which gives the UKVI another opportunity to ensure that your English language ability meets the standard for a visa.
You have already told the University why you want to come to the UK to study and why you have chosen the course and RGU in your personal statement. The UKVI will likely ask you for further detail about this. More information can be found in our guidance document:
Visa/eVisa
You will receive an email from UKVI informing you of the outcome of your application.
When your passport is returned, UKVI will have placed an entry in your passport, known as a vignette, which authorises entry clearance to the UK. Your vignette will show a start date and an expiry date. You can only enter the UK between these dates. The vignette grants you initial entry to the UK only, it does not allow you to remain here after the period specified on the vignette.
The UKVI no longer issue Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) to prove your immigration status. Instead, you will be able to access your eVisa online and prove your Immigration Status with a Share Code. Instructions on how to access your eVisa will be provided by UKVI in your visa decision letter, or you can visit the UKVI website:
You can view and prove your Immigration Status by using the UKVI’s online service:
Visa refusals
Unfortunately, not all visa applications are successful. If your visa application is refused, you will be issued with a Visa Refusal Notice by the UKVI. The document will explain the reason or reasons for refusal. You must send a copy of your Visa Refusal Notice to us as soon as you receive it.
A deposit refund will not be issued to applicants whose visa is refused due to fraudulent study applications, fraudulent visa applications or failure to disclose information that may have impacted visa suitability. Further information regarding refund eligibility is available in our International Deposit and Refund Policy.
If you believe there has been a case-working error with your visa application, you can apply for an Administrative Review (AR). The UKVI will review your application again to ensure there were no case working errors that resulted in your refusal. Please be aware that ARs can take a long time to conclude, and you chosen intake may have passed by the time the decision has been upheld or overturned.
Fee Waivers
RGU does not allow any student currently residing in the UK under a Fee Waiver application to join or continue their studies. Please note that a fee waiver does not constitute a valid visa for remaining in the UK for educational purposes. Fee waivers are applicable only for specific human rights-based applications and are not available for the Student or Graduate route.
When submitting a fee waiver application, individuals must indicate their intention to apply for a human rights-based application and provide evidence demonstrating an inability to pay the visa application fee and/or the immigration health surcharge.
Consequently, if a fee waiver application is made based on an inability to afford the fee, followed by an application for Student or Graduate permission - which does require an application fee - the UKVI may view this as deceptive and consequently deny the application. Applications denied on such grounds, if not successfully contested, could result in a ban on entering the UK for a period of up to 10 years.
Further Information
UK Visas and Immigration have a useful Visa Fees Tool which you can use to check how much your Student Visa application will cost.
If you have any questions about your application please email admissions@rgu.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.