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Educational institutions interested in getting a Student Sponsor Licence, or ones that already hold a licence, should know all about how to sponsor students. Also, overseas students themselves should try to get some understanding of the process, as they will need their sponsor to provide them with some information as part of their Student Visa application.
A key part of sponsoring students to study in the UK is the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This is something that is issued by a Student Sponsor Licence holder, to any students or child students that want to come to the UK, and study at their educational institution.
Keep reading to learn about the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, how sponsors can issue one, and why a student will need one.
What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies?
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is a document confirming that a student has been given a place at an educational institution. This could be from a university, a college, an academy, or another type of institution.
There are two visas that require the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies; these are the Student Visa, and a Child Student Visa. The Student Visa is for those above the age of 18, whilst a Child Student Visa is for under-18s. Additionally, the Child Student Visa will require travel consent from a parent or guardian as part of the visa application process.
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies itself is not physical, it is instead a virtual document that proves that a student has been offered and accepted a place on a course. There will be a unique number, known as a CAS number, which anyone applying for either of the aforementioned visas will need to include as part of their application.
Its counterpart for those applying to work in the UK on a worker visa is known as a Certificate of Sponsorship.
What courses need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies?
The courses that accept the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies are essentially the same as the courses that allow you to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
The following categories cover what you can study in the UK on a Student Visa, and so, will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies:
- Full-time course below degree level with 15 hours of study a week in the daytime
- Course degree level or above that is full-time
- Full-time course degree level or above that is part of a longer course overseas
- Part-time course for a qualification at degree level or above
- Foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists
- English course at B2-level or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Courses and qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are ranked by levels. The lowest are entry level, whilst the highest are level 9.
The lowest level course you can undertake studies for on a Student Visa is a level 3 qualification. For example, GCSEs.
Do I need to pay any fees?
For your Student Visa itself, you will need to pay an application fee, which is currently £490 for applications both inside and outside the UK. You will also need to show proof of funds to prove that you can support yourself whilst in the UK.
For the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies itself, you are not required by any British Government body to pay any fee. However, some universities and other educational institutions may ask you to pay a small fee, such as a deposit, before they can issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
For example, the University of Westminster states that unless you fall into certain categories, such as having a scholarship to cover all of your fees, you will have to pay a deposit before they carry out their checks and issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This type of fee will vary based on who you plan on studying with.
The fee that universities must pay is £25 per Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, so your deposit will reduce this fee.
Finally, we should also mention your course fees themselves. You will have to pay for each year you study, which can be costly. Ensure that you have enough money to cover any costs before you apply to study in the UK.
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Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate
Some postgraduate subjects related to the development of military weaponry will require that you submit an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate before you can study them in the UK. It also applies to those carrying out research.
Students will need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate before they apply for their Student Visa, but after they have been offered a place at a university and issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. You will need to include information about your sponsor in your application for the certificate, such as your conditional study letter.
People from the following countries are exempt from the requirement of having an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate:
- EU and European Economic Area countries
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- USA
How do I use a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and how long does it last?
From the date you receive your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, you will have six months to use it to apply for your Student Visa or Child Student Visa.
However, depending on where you are currently located, you may not be able to apply as soon as you are offered a place on a course.
If you are outside of the UK, you must apply for your visa within six months of the course’s start date, which aligns with the timescale of the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
Meanwhile, if you are already in the UK when you apply for your visa, then you will have to apply within three months of your start date. Depending on when you are issued with your place on a course, you may have to wait before using your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
When you do eventually apply for your visa, you will just need to enter a number that is included on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies letter. It will have a specific field in the application process that you will have to fill.
How we can help
The Student Visa application process can be stressful, especially when you consider all the other preparations you have to make for when you move to the UK to study. Luckily, our law team is here to help.
Contact us by phone, email, our website chatbot, or by booking a free 10-minute assessment where you can discuss your issue with our team. To see how they have helped people in the past, please visit our client success stories page.
After this, you can book a longer paid consultation that lasts 30 minutes or an hour, during which you will be given actual advice from our Principal Solicitor, Nathan Woodcock. This consultation allows us to help you and plan what to do going forwards.
You can read our Client Success Stories to see how we have effectively helped people in the fast, and view our fees to learn about what you might have to pay. For more information on the consultation process, you can visit our webpage on what to expect during your consultation.
Get in touch with us today to see what we can do for you.
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
