Applying to a university in the United Kingdom can be a challenging and confusing process. The important stage is to receive an offer letter from the university of your choice when you have finished applying to them. Receiving an offer letter for UK university admission is always exciting. It indicates that you have been accepted to the program for which you applied and that you are one step ahead in the process when you receive an offer letter.

However, students should double-check their offer letters, as they may need to go through a few additional steps before being accepted into the UK university admission process. Generally, this means that the journey will come to a finish after completing a few more steps.

Normally What Happens

Barring the circumstances that your application is having trouble being processed and they either need more evidence/information about you or your application is being referred to, it is fairly anticlimactic when your application has been approved and you have been accepted into the university. Normally, you are sent a UK university offer letter, telling you details about the conditions under which you have been selected and how much you have to pay.

Types of Offers

Hopefully, you have held on to all the offers you have received from all of your chosen universities and waited till they have all made a decision in order to choose which offer you want to accept. Here are the types of university offers you might receive:

Conditional Offer

A conditional offer basically means that the university is ready to accept you if certain conditions are met. Moreover, the offer letter is one of the requirements for UK university admission. The conditions usually revolve around your upcoming A-Level result.

Some common conditions-usually if you have not provided all the required documents, then you will get a conditional offer. Specifically, if you are applying for a postgraduate study while in the final year of your undergraduate, you can get a conditional offer letter that shows that you need to get at least 70% in your last semester to secure your rank in the university. Some other conditions are-

• You have to submit your all-original copy of the document
• Show proof of your finance
• Language proficiency document

Things to do

What to do after getting a conditional offer?

You have to start going through the conditions laid out by the university if you can satisfy them as soon as possible. You can call or contact the education advisor in this situation to discuss and make a decision. If not, then start looking for other universities.

Unconditional Offer

An unconditional offer would mean that you have met the requirements and are accepted into the university without having to meet specific conditions.

In most cases, after you have received an unconditional offer or have met the requirements of a conditional offer, you are invited by the university for a tour/visit.

After UK university admission, it is recommended for prospective students to go for the tour so that they learn more about the university and their degree. Websites and prospectuses are not as in-depth as a visit to the university itself.

Remember, you are choosing the university as much as they are choosing you. You will be investing a lot of your time and resources into your degree so you need to make the decision wisely.

Things to do-

What to do after getting unconditional offer?

After receiving unconditional offer, you don’t need to worry you can get ready for next steps. It means that you are accepted by the university.

Rejection

The letter that says, ‘we regret to inform you that you have not been accepted,’ means that you have not met the eligibility requirements of the program you applied for, or that amongst the competition other applicants were chosen over you.

CAS Interview:

After a student has been selected for study at a UK university unconditionally, they are required to request a Confirmation for Acceptance of Studies– CAS interview to complete their admission. A student sends in a request for CAS, and a date is given for an interview. It is known as a “pre-CAS interview.”

If the student’s pre-CAS interview is successful, a CAS draft is sent to the university, then student will be granted a confirmation for acceptance of studies.

 Some common questions-

• What is your current occupation?
• Why did you choose this course rather than other courses?
• What is your future plan?
• How do you explain the gaps in your education?
• How long is your course?
• Are you clear about your course and university?

Receive CAS Letter

You will get a CAS number after receiving a CAS letter. A CAS number confirms that they have made you an unconditional offer of a place to study in the UK and you have accepted this. You will need a CAS number to apply for a visa to allow you to study in the UK.

You will get a CAS letter in your email. They will send you for UKVI. You should open the letter and follow all the instructions.

Prepare Students for Visa Interview

After getting the CAS letter and number, you will have to prepare for UKVI. As part of the interview, UKVI will consider three main areas, such as:

• Your reasons for studying in the UK, your future plans, your work plans, and also your student accommodation.
• Your educational history, your immigration history (if you have),
• Your personal details, if you are married, disabled, or if you have any issues.
• Your financial circumstances, who will provide your financial expenses.
• Re-read your personal statement that you wrote.

Process Visa Application and Help with IHS Payment

You will need to pay the immigration health surcharge as part of your immigration application. If you are making an application using post, you will need to pay the IHS online and get a reference number to enter the application form.

To pay for the IHS and receive a reference number, use the official payment service by UKVI. You can make the payment online using a debit or credit card.

Fees

The current immigration health surcharge fees are £624 per year of the visa, and the fees are reduced to £470 per year if the application is for a student visa or a youth mobility scheme visa.

Visa Interview and Receive a Visa

Once you complete the online application form and submit your all-important documents, you are required to pay a visa fee, which allows them to schedule an interview with the UK embassy. The visa interview is the final stage of the application process.

Some common questions for visa interview

• Why did you choose the UK for higher studies?
• Have you visited the UK before?
• Why did you choose this university?
• Who is going to cover your expenses in the UK?
• Are you travelling alone?

Things to do if Visa Get Rejected

While applying for a UK student visa, make sure that you have followed the guidelines properly. Because a huge number of students who get admitted to their dream university have to stay back because their visa application gets rejected.

What to do when your visa gets rejected?

• You can re-apply after the refusal of an entry clearance application.
• They have limited options for re-consideration and it is only possible for certain types of leave-to-remain applications.
• If there is a right of appeal, lodge an appeal.
• File an Administrative Review (AR), which is mostly available after Refusal.

Registration

The story does not end once you have received the offer. After you have received your offer, you will be required to pay the fees and register. You will have a deadline within which you have to register, and most of the details are outlined in your offer. During registration, you will have to pay your fees depending on your chosen degree and whether you are required to pay upfront or you can pay as you go.

Final Steps:

• The UK can be an expensive place to live, so it will be very helpful if you do some research about living costs before you arrive. You can make a budget for your life. Always remember that after UK university admission, you need to show evidence that you are able to study financially and that you have enough money to support yourself.

Though it is difficult to predict exactly how much money you need to live because everyone’s lifestyle and food habits are different. Expenses will be higher if you are accompanied by a depended family member, use a mobile phone extensively, socialize a lot, smoke or purchase a car.

• Make sure your passports are valid and are not expiring very soon. If needed, then apply for a passport as soon as possible, because, without a passport, you are nothing. As an international student, you always need a valid identity.
• After 2020, you will need a medical certificate to prove that you are healthy enough and vaccinated to travel. So, make sure you complete all the issues very carefully.
• After receiving the confirmation letter, check carefully that you are 100% confirmed on the right course at the right university. So, get in touch with the administrators or admissions office to get your place secured.
• Start looking for accommodation as soon as you have accepted an offer to study. If you find a place to stay before coming to the UK university, it will make your stay easier.
• You can find your accommodation on demand. There are two types of accommodation – university accommodation and private accommodation. Some universities arrange university halls for international students, and you have to pay for it differently. Some private agencies also provide private accommodation for international students, but it can be expensive. Depending on your budget and preference, book the place.
• Read very carefully all the orientation and registration dates, times, and venues before you arrive and book your flight tickets.
• Always check your luggage because airlines have strict guidelines on the amount of luggage, so pick all your important stuff and calculate space and weight.
• If you take any regular medication, then why do you take medicines and how much do you take you to have to mention in your letter.
• Contact your bank and speak to them. When you need to exchange money, then you can easily go through your baking section.
• Pack your appropriate clothes and important daily life things. Buy some winter clothes because the weather in the UK can be colder than in your home country.

As an international student, if you are planning to go to the UK to study as a full-time student, then you should know that leaving your home country and travelling abroad can be a stressful and life-changing experience. If you have your plan before leaving, then you can travel smoothly and start your studies easily without any hassle. To find out more about UK universities’ offer letters, please visit our office and talk to our UK graduate counsellors about UK universities’ offer letters.