Most UK universities conduct an interview with prospective students to understand their profile and also to ensure they are genuinely interested in pursuing higher studies at their university. This interview is commonly known as a ‘pre-CAS interview’ or simply a ‘CAS interview’. This interview is conducted by a university representative before issuing a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter.
Prior to issuing a UK student visa, the Entry Clearance Officer of the UK embassy may also conduct an interview called the ‘Credibility interview’ to ensure the student is genuinely interested to study at a UK university.
It is essential that every student wishing to study in the UK is aware of these interviews and gain an understanding of what to expect when called for one. This page sets out the key information so you are best prepared.
Credibility interviews are now part of the Student visa application process. Once you have submitted your visa application you will be called to an interview to answer questions from an Entry Clearance Officer about your prospective studies in the UK. The interview is conducted in English and will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
The purpose of the interview is to establish if you genuinely wish to study in the UK and if your declared circumstances are genuine. During the interview you will also be expected to demonstrate that your English Language ability is sufficient to follow your chosen course and level of study.
All applicants who are applying for a Student visa both overseas and inside the UK are likely to be interviewed.
Your interview is likely to take place immediately after you enrol your biometrics at the visa application centre. If you have applied within the UK you may be requested to attend an interview a number of days after enrolling your biometrics.
It is most likely that you will be interviewed via video-call, however you may also be interviewed in person or on the telephone.
The interview is fully recorded by the university compliance officer (CAS interview) or the UKVI interviewer (Visa application interview). If it’s a CAS interview, the university compliance officer will take a decision on whether to progress your application based on the answers you provided and you should hear a decision in 2-5 days.
If it’s a UKVI Visa application interviewer, the interviewer will send this record to the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO). The ECO will then make a decision on your visa application on the basis of your credibility interview and all the other supporting documents you submitted with your Student visa application.
You may be called for a second interview if the ECO needs further information and clarification on your situation. You need to be prepared to provide evidence if requested i.e. source of income.
We would recommend you request a transcript of your interview once completed and you also write down everything you can remember from the interview when you have finished. You should keep a record of your interview safe.
• You might want to talk about what you have learnt about the British education system.
• Why would you like to live and study in the UK?
• How this experience will benefit you.
• What attracts you to the UK?
• How would study in the UK differ from studying in your home country?
• Why have you chosen the UK over countries such as America and Australia?
• What research did you carry out?
• Did you use an agent?
• Did you meet the university member of staff in your home country when you were looking at your options?
• Is the course that you are going to study particularly well taught at the chosen university?
• Did you look at other options?
• Why did you choose this university over other universities?
• It may be useful to take a look at some British websites or google to know better about the campus location and surroundings; do you know where the University is?
• Have a look at your university website.
• What attracted you to the city university is located in and the University itself in particular?
• You may wish to consider the facilities, the location, the size of the University and the city, the cost of living.
• Most of the U.K universities have a number of different campus’ so you need to be aware of the campus you will be taught at, further information can be found on your university website.
Why did you choose to study this course and how does it relate to your previous study?
• What attracted you to study this course?
• What do you hope to achieve by studying it?
• How will it enhance the subjects that you have already studied?
• Make sure you are aware of your course details, check your offer letter, CAS statement or check the University website.
• Check your course link on the university website.
• Is it a necessity to have a qualification in order to follow your career path?
• If not, how will the qualification help you?
• Are you studying a Bachelors (BA or BSc), Masters (MA or MSc) or PhD?
• They could also be referring to the NQF level of your course.
• If you will be studying at Bachelors level this would be level 6.
• If you will be studying at Masters level this would be level 7.
• If you will be studying at PhD level this would be level 8.
• Make sure you are aware of your course details; check your offer letter, CAS statement or check the
• Check your university website.
• Did you consider studying any other course?
• It will be fine to say that you did, but you must then be able to justify what made you decide on your final choice.
• You will need to think about your plans for the future and what you hope to do once you have completed your studies.
• If completed your course will help you to obtain a better job, earn a higher salary or start your own
• business you will be asked to explain in exactly what way this course will help you to do so.
• If there have been periods of time in which you have been working? Why are you now looking to come back to study? Would this study benefit your current profession or enhance your future prospects?
• Also, if there has been a gap between your previous course of study, what were you doing in this time and why are you now ready to return to study?
• Take a look to the UKCISA website at the guidance that tells you more about protecting your Student visa status https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Protecting-your-Student-status
• Take a look at the UKCISA website, which will provide you with information about your future study in the UK. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Working/Student-work
• Will it be essential for you to work to be able to support yourself during your studies?
• If so your visa application will be harder to approve, remember here to talk about the support that you will be receiving from your parents and/or money that you have saved in order to fund your tuition fees and living costs during your course of study.
• You or your parents?
• You may be asked to discuss how they are able to do this. Is it affordable to you/them based on your/their annual income?
• Remember documents confirming their financial status will be included with your application. It may be that you have government sponsorship
• You may be asked what job the person who is sponsoring you has, to justify how they can continue to support you in this way.
• E.g. bank statements for the last 6 months, bonds, investments etc.
• These should have been submitted with your application. Are you able to verify the genuineness of these documents?
• If the Home Office contact the school, college or bank that produced the documentation submitted would the school, college or bank confirm that they are genuine?
• Do you foresee any issues in the Home Office contacting the institution? If so have a covering letter ready that provides contact details for the institution involved.
• You should already have documentation in the form of bank statements, or your parents’ bank statements (with proof of their relationship to you) ready to form a part of your application.
• Are these original documents?
• Will the Home Office be able to contact the bank to verify these statements?
• If not, what arrangements have you made to ensure that you can pay at the appropriate times?
• This may be asked and our refund policy can be found on the back of your offer letter.
• You can find out more about University accommodation on our website:
Contact Us
Kemp House, 160 City Road.
London, EC1V 2NX.
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UK Admission Enquiries: admissions@nirvanagroup.org
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UK Nurse Enquiries: nursing@nirvanagroup.org
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General Enquiries: contact@nirvanagroup.org
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Contact Us
Kemp House, 160 City Road.
London, EC1V 2NX.
UK Admission Enquiries: admissions@nirvanagroup.org
UK Nurse Enquiries: nursing@nirvanagroup.org
General Enquiries: contact@nirvanagroup.org
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