Late arrival and deferring the start of studies

This is part of our general information on academic changes and Student visas.

Any CAS will confirm the expected start of studies, it may also include a latest acceptable start date.  A deadline for arriving in person may also be set by Student Records & Operations/London Student Services (for taught students) or the Doctoral College Office (for doctoral researchers).  To allow registration it is important you arrive on time with visa permission in place giving you the right to study.

To help timely arrival it is generally advisable to make any Student visa permission application as early as possible, ensuring your application is correctly completed including any required supporting evidence (see our other Student visa guides linked above).

If you have been granted visa permission but are unable to start studies within the time allowed the University will most likely have to withdraw visa sponsorship.  After visa sponsorship is withdrawn UKVI may cancel your visa without refunding any fees paid.  It would be inadvisable to consider travelling to the UK in such circumstances.  A new CAS may be issued for deferred studies but any fresh visa application will entail having to pay further visa fees and IHS.

If you have submitted an overseas visa application and there is a risk that this may not be determined to allow arrival on time you may have to consider withdrawing the application.  This could avoid being issued a visa that you will not be able to use for study and for which UKVI would not refund any visa fees or IHS.  Withdrawing an application could also avoid a refusal on the grounds that you would be too late to start studies (this may also occur if the University has to withdraw the CAS for this reason).  If a visa application is withdrawn (or refused) you can at least be refunded any IHS paid.

If you have not yet used your CAS in a visa application and there is a risk you may not arrive on time you should consider deferring studies instead of using the CAS, incurring visa costs and risking visa refusal or cancellation.  You should contact the relevant Admissions Office or Doctoral College Office about deferring and the prospects of being issued a new CAS later.

Last updated: 9th June 2026