The answer in 60 seconds
- A CAS is a reference number issued by your licensed university confirming your place; you cannot apply for a Student visa without it.
- The IHS is a healthcare charge paid upfront for the whole length of your visa, which gives you access to the NHS on the same basis as a UK resident.
- Errors on a CAS are the applicant's problem at the visa stage — check every field the day you receive it.
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Key figures
IHS — student rate
£776 per year
IHS — most other routes
£1,035 per year
CAS validity
Typically 6 months from issue
Figures last checked 22 August 2026. Fees and thresholds change — confirm on GOV.UK before you pay anything.
Check these fields on your CAS the same day
Any mismatch between your CAS and your visa form or documents is a refusal risk. Ask the university to reissue immediately if anything is wrong.
- Name spelling and order exactly as in your passport.
- Passport number and date of birth.
- Course title, level, start and end dates.
- Tuition fee, deposit paid and any accommodation payment.
- English language assessment method recorded.
How the IHS is calculated
The charge covers the length of your visa, not the length of your course, and includes the extra months granted after your course ends. Part-years are rounded under published rules.
You pay it during the online application and receive an IHS reference number that must be included with your application.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a CAS with a misspelled name because 'it is close enough'.
- Paying IHS for the wrong number of months and delaying the decision.
- Letting the CAS expire before submitting the visa application.
FAQs
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