If you need a visa to study in the UK

The information below has now been updated 2024 entry.

Which students require a visa for the UK?

1. All nationals except those with UK or Irish Citizenship (or Channel Island/Isle of man) require a student visa to study in the UK, unless they have (and provide evidence of) an existing immigration status in the UK that permits study. Please have a look at the following page for further important information about this:  Immigration | International Students (cam.ac.uk)
2. If you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland, please also have a look at this page: EEA nationals | International Students (cam.ac.uk)
3. To check if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, please visit GOV.UK.
4. You may already have a UK immigration status which permits study on your chosen course. If so, you will be asked to provide evidence of this prior to starting a course. 

Information for offer holders who need a Student Visa to study in the UK

1. For offer holders who need a Student Visa, there is information and documents which we will ask you to send to the College. An email with further information will be sent in due course, and by 22 March 2024. You may also wish to familiarise yourself with the timeline on the following page: Immigration/ Student Visa Entry Clearance (cam.ac.uk)
2. Offer holders for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology who need a Student Visa will be sent information about applying for ATAS clearance by the International Student Office in April in the year you are due to start your course (no other undergraduate courses at Cambridge require ATAS clearance).
3. If you are under 18, the International Student Office will provide further guidance and instructions on applying for your Student Visa, in relation to parental consent and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) collection.
4. ​Please address all enquiries relating to visas directly to the International Student Office, as Colleges do not provide any advice on Student Visa applications. The International Student Office also provides a visa advice service on a range of UK student-related immigration matters. The service is available to those with an offer to study at Cambridge, current students and their family members. 
5. ISO provides guidance on the visa application process, including webinars aimed at undergraduate applicants. We will circulate this information to offer holders in early summer. ISO also maintains the International Students webpages at International Students | (cam.ac.uk).

What happens when you have met all the conditions of your offer

1. ​Your offer letter will outline all the conditions of your offer (for example: academic grades, an English Language qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL, if applicable, and a satisfactory financial guarantee). Only once you have met all your offer conditions, will the International Student Office email you your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). You must enter the CAS reference number in the relevant section of the Student Visa application. A CAS cannot be issued until you have met all offer your offer conditions. The International Student Office will begin to issue the CAS statements from June/July. Please note that this will take some time, so please bear with the office. You will get your CAS from them by email as quickly as possible.
2. The Your CAS Explained document (accessed via the CAS Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies tab on the page) outlines the information that is included in the CAS Statement. When you receive your CAS, check it against this document. You should make sure that all of the details in your CAS Statement are correct and let the office who sent the CAS know if you identify any errors. These will need to be corrected prior to you making your visa application. A CAS can only be used for one visa application. If your visa application is refused, you must request a new CAS. This will only be issued upon receipt of your full refusal notice and if the University is satisfied you will be able to meet the requirements for a new visa application.
3. If you are being sponsored to study at Cambridge on a Student Visa, it is important you read the University's guide: Your Student Visa Responsibilities
4. ​The table below provides a summary for you about that you need to do if you require a visa to study at Cambridge: