UCL Secures Additional CAS Numbers After Exceeding Allocation

First, identified linkable resources in order of appearance:
1. Student visas (policy) — first mention in first paragraph as “Student visas”
2. Student visa (policy) — mentioned in “Without a CAS, a Student visa application cannot be submitted.” (But per rules, only first mention to be linked.)
3. UK government portal (uscis_resource) — mentioned as “UK government portal.”
4. the UK government’s official Student visa guidance (policy) — mentioned near end with anchor text “official Student visa guidance”

Maximum 5 links; only .gov URLs. Per linking criteria, link only the first mention of each resource in article body text. Two of the detected items are duplicates (Student visas / Student visa / official guidance); will link the first occurrence of “Student visas” and the first occurrence of “UK government portal” and the first occurrence of “official Student visa guidance”. However, the article already contains an existing link for “official Student visa guidance” pointing to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. Preservation rule: preserve existing links and HTML structure. So we must NOT alter existing links; but linking criteria say only link first mention of each resource in article body text—skip headings, titles, existing links. The existing link is exactly the official guidance; it’s already present. We must not change it. We still may add links for “Student visas” first occurrence and “UK government portal” first occurrence.

Add government URLs:
– For Student visas (policy) — link to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas or directly https://www.gov.uk/student-visa (the latter is specific). But “Student visas” appears earlier; link first mention to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa using exact resource name “Student visas”. Format must use exact resource name as appears. So anchor text should be “Student visas” linking to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.

• For UK government portal — link to https://www.gov.uk/ (the portal). Use exact resource name “UK government portal” linking to https://www.gov.uk/.

Do not modify the existing “official Student visa guidance” link.

Now return the complete article with only those links added.

University College London has secured additional CAS numbers from the UK Home Office after exceeding its initial annual allocation, allowing hundreds of international students to proceed with Student visas and start their courses as planned.

The move follows an extraordinary surge in applications that exhausted UCL’s quota of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or CAS, a required document for UK student visa applications. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the quick intervention reduced a growing backlog and eased pressure on families who had already paid deposits for housing and flights.

A CAS is an official electronic record issued by a university that confirms an offer of study and includes course details. The Home Office sets a fixed number of CAS numbers for each university every year, based on past admissions and expected drop-off rates. This year, UCL’s planning did not match the volume of interest, and the quota ran out. The shortage left admitted students without the essential document they need to apply for a visa and led some to defer their studies.

The university said it had been in urgent talks with the Home Office, which agreed to release extra CAS numbers to cover the unexpected demand. UCL apologized for the disruption and said it is contacting affected students with next steps. The resolution means students who had waited for weeks can now receive their CAS and finish their visa process in time for the start of term.

Policy shift and university response

The decision to grant more CAS numbers underscores Home Office flexibility in exceptional cases. While the annual CAS allocation is designed to encourage careful admissions planning, the system also allows adjustments when the data used to set quotas does not reflect real-time spikes.

In UCL’s case, an unusual surge in international interest—far above historical averages—pushed the university beyond its cap. Key points confirmed by university communications and sector sources include:

• The CAS allocation is a fixed yearly quota tied to historical enrollment and expected attrition.
• UCL underestimated the scale of international demand, and the CAS stock was exhausted.
• The shortage triggered visa delays and forced some students to switch travel plans or defer.
• After emergency negotiations, the Home Office issued extra CAS numbers, clearing the bottleneck.
• UCL has apologized and is actively emailing updates and support options to affected students.

UCL officials emphasized that issuing additional CAS numbers came after clear evidence of genuine enrollment demand—students who had accepted offers and, in many cases, paid deposits. The university is now reviewing its forecasting methods to better align admissions with CAS allocations in upcoming cycles.

Impact on students and next steps

For students, the biggest risk of a CAS shortage is timing. Without a CAS, a Student visa application cannot be submitted. As a result, many students who had already booked housing or flights faced uncertainty, with some pausing travel and others seeking deferrals to the next intake.

With more CAS numbers now approved, the immediate barrier has been removed. UCL’s admissions and visa teams are prioritizing the most time-sensitive cases.

Students should:

1. Watch for official emails from UCL and follow instructions promptly.
2. Ensure their records are accurate:
   • Passport details
   • Course selection
   • Financial documents
3. Confirm CAS details are accurate before submission, including course codes, start dates, and tuition balance.
4. Keep records of payments for deposits, tuition, and housing in case they are asked to show financial readiness.

Once a CAS is issued, students can apply for the Student visa through the UK government portal. Official details of the Student visa, including eligibility, fees, and timelines, are set out in the UK government’s official Student visa guidance. Applicants should check current processing times and plan travel only after receiving the visa vignette or confirmation to avoid further costs.

Important: Incorrect information can delay CAS issuance even when numbers are available. Always confirm your details and retain proof of payments and correspondence.

The episode highlights how delicate the timing is for international students. Many rely on fixed move-in dates for university accommodation and strict refund policies for private rentals. A delay of even a few weeks can mean losing deposits or paying higher last-minute travel costs. Families also face visa appointment scheduling challenges in some countries, where demand spikes at the start of each academic year.

Sector lessons and future prevention

Sector-wide, the UCL case serves as a warning about forecasting under volatile conditions. Rapid changes in applicant behavior—such as shifts in currency exchange rates, post-pandemic recovery, and changing perceptions of study destinations—can quickly make last year’s admissions data less useful for setting this year’s quotas.

The Home Office process aims to keep the system stable and secure, but sudden spikes at large universities can overwhelm fixed allocations. The Home Office’s willingness to release extra CAS numbers suggests a pragmatic approach when a shortage would otherwise block legitimate students who have met all academic and financial requirements. At the same time, universities remain responsible for strong compliance, including confirming genuine students and monitoring enrollment after arrival.

Other universities will be watching closely. Preventative steps that could reduce the likelihood of last-minute requests include:

• Better alignment between admissions targets and CAS planning.
• Contingency buffers for late surges.
• Clearer communication with offer holders about the dependency of CAS issuance on fixed yearly allocations.

Practical advice for affected students

International student advisors recommend three practical actions now:

• Confirm CAS details are accurate before submission, including course codes, start dates, and tuition balance.
• Keep records of payments for deposits, tuition, and housing in case documentation of financial readiness is requested.
• Check visa application guidance frequently, as documentation rules and fee levels can change during peak periods.

For students starting at UCL, the practical message is straightforward: if you were waiting on a CAS, look for the new issuance email, review it carefully, and submit your visa application as soon as you’re ready. Keep travel flexible until you have your visa. If your start date is near and you still have questions, contact UCL’s admissions or international student support for case-specific guidance.

Conclusion

UCL’s quick move to secure additional CAS numbers ultimately prevented a larger disruption. The case demonstrates how the CAS allocation system works in practice: set numbers to encourage compliance and planning, paired with discretion to expand where genuine students would otherwise be blocked.

For a major institution like UCL, that balance proved decisive this year, ensuring hundreds of students can begin their studies on time.