A CAS can only be used once; a new CAS is required for each application. A CAS is valid for up to 6 months and can only be used within this time. A CAS will not be accepted by the Home Office if it is used more than 3 months before the course start date. If the CAS statement lists previous qualifications that were relied upon to offer a place on your course you should include the originals (and certified translation if necessary) in your application. If you need a CAS to continue studies on your current course and your CAS statement confirms it has been issued on the basis of satisfactory progress to date then you should not need to include additional evidence of previous studies. When a CAS is issued the University may have to enter the course start date as a date in the future. Therefore if you have already started your course the start date according to your CAS statement may be wrong, it may be given as the day after your current immigration permission expires. The actual course start date should be confirmed in the ‘evidence provided’ section of your CAS statement. A CAS will normally be issued to a student studying on a full-time degree course, this can include resit and writing up periods provided the University is able to monitor your continued participation. Some students are unlikely to be issued a CAS, for example those just taking re-sits without attendance, people on leave of absence; if this applies a CAS may be issued for when you are due to resume attending your studies and return to the UK. Students on courses of less than 6 months are unlikely to be issued a CAS but may apply to enter the UK as a student visitor. If you have previously studied in the UK with Student or Tier 4 (General) permission a CAS cannot be issued for a new course of study unless it represents academic progress. You cannot be issued a CAS if the proposed studies would take you over the time limit allowed for degree level study under Tier 4 (usually 5 years, subject to the exceptions explained in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance). Resit students The University will normally agree to issue a CAS to a student taking resits with tuition. You are not likely to be issued a CAS if you are registered to resit without tuition, you would then be expected to return home and come to the UK as a student visitor to attend examination (the University can provide a student visitor letter to support your visa application). Writing–up students A CAS will normally be issued to cover time needed to submit your thesis, attend your viva examination and up to 3 months for thesis corrections.
When to apply You should make any application before your current permission expires. If you currently hold Tier 4 permission to study elsewhere obtained from an application made on or after 5 October 2009 you must apply to extend your permission to study at Loughborough University before starting studies here. If you apply by post, e.g. by ‘print and send’ the date of application is the date you send your application, you should use recorded or special delivery and keep proof of postage. If you apply in person using ‘print and send’ your application is made on the date of your appointment, you must ensure this is before your current permission expires. If you use 2