Conditional vs unconditional offers, deposits and CAS: what to do after you get an offer
What a conditional or unconditional offer means, how UCAS firm and insurance choices work, the US 1 May reply date, international student deposits and the UK CAS, from official pages.
The email arrives, the word “offer” is in the subject line, and for a moment everything feels settled. Then the questions start. Is it conditional? Do I have to pay something? What is a CAS, and why does everyone keep mentioning it?
The weeks after an offer are full of small decisions with real deadlines. This guide explains them, using UCAS, GOV.UK, NACAC and university pages, checked on October 31, 2026.
Conditional or unconditional?
According to UCAS:
- An unconditional offer means you have a place. There is nothing more to meet academically, although you may still have practical steps, such as proving your English or sending documents.
- A conditional offer means the place is yours if you meet certain conditions, usually exam results (UCAS).
For international students, conditions often include final grades, an English test score or original documents. Read the offer letter line by line and note every condition and its deadline.
UK: firm and insurance choices
Through UCAS, you can accept one firm choice and one insurance choice, and you must decline all other offers. Your insurance should have lower conditions than your firm choice, so it works as a backup (UCAS).
UCAS reply dates for 2027 entry depend on when you receive your last decision:
| If your last decision arrives by | Reply by |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2027 | 5 May 2027 |
| 12 May 2027 | 2 June 2027 |
| 14 July 2027 | 21 July 2027 |
Always check your own UCAS account for your personal deadline, and reply in time.
United States: the 1 May reply date
In the US, 1 May is the National Candidates Reply Date. NACAC’s Guide to Ethical Practice, updated in August 2026, says colleges should use 1 May as the earliest date they ask you to confirm your place. You should not have to decide before you have heard about all your financial aid offers. The main exceptions are binding early decision and athletic scholarships (NACAC).
So if you have several offers, you can usually wait until 1 May to compare aid packages before you commit.
Deposits for international students
Many universities ask international students to pay a deposit to secure their place. The amount and rules differ, so read them carefully. Two UK examples:
- University of Manchester (taught master’s): a minimum deposit of GBP 2,500, payable only once your offer is unconditional. You must pay it before the university issues your CAS. It counts towards your fees and can be refunded if your visa is refused, except in cases of fraud (University of Manchester). Applicants from some countries pay a higher deposit.
- University of Westminster: a GBP 5,500 deposit for international students, deducted from tuition. It is non-refundable except in listed cases, such as a visa refusal (not for fraud), the course being withdrawn, or a request within 14 days of payment (University of Westminster).
Before you pay any deposit, check:
- Is it refundable if your visa is refused?
- Is it deducted from your tuition fees?
- What is the deadline, and what happens if you miss it?
- Are you paying the university directly, through its official payment page? Never pay a deposit to an individual or an unofficial agent. See how to avoid scholarship scams.
The UK CAS
If you are going to study in the UK, your university will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), a reference number you need for your Student visa. Your university sends it once it has offered you a place, and you must apply for your visa within six months of receiving it (GOV.UK).
From outside the UK, you can apply for the visa up to six months before your course starts (GOV.UK). You will also need to show money for living costs: see student visa proof of funds by country.
If you have a scholarship
Many scholarships depend on you holding an offer, and some require an unconditional one. Chevening, for example, requires an unconditional offer from a UK university. Check your scholarship’s rules before you accept or decline offers, and ask the scholarship provider if anything is unclear.
Your checklist after an offer
- List every condition and deadline in the offer letter.
- Compare offers on total cost and funding, not only on rankings.
- Reply by your deadline: UCAS in the UK, by 1 May for most US colleges.
- Pay any deposit only after reading the refund rules.
- Send final documents and test results as soon as you have them.
- For the UK, wait for your CAS, then apply for your visa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I accept two offers?
In the UK, through UCAS, you accept one firm and one insurance choice and decline the rest. In the US, early decision is binding, and colleges set their own rules on confirming your place, so read each offer carefully and decide by the deadline.
Is an unconditional offer always better?
Not necessarily. It gives certainty, but compare the course, cost and funding. Take time to decide, within your deadline.
Next steps
Check the full year ahead in our study abroad application timeline, and look for funding in our Scholarships listings.