Postgraduate taught programmes at University of Sheffield: After you Apply

You’ve done the hard part—you submitted your application for a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programme at the University of Sheffield. Now what? The process shifts from filling out forms to tracking your status, meeting any conditions, and preparing for your arrival.

Here is a simple breakdown of what to expect after you submit your application.

1. Application Acknowledgement and Tracking

Soon after submitting your application, you will receive two important communications:

Submission Confirmation: This email confirms your application was successfully received.
Applicant Record Email: Normally sent within two working days, this email contains your unique applicant number and choice number(s).

This is essential because your applicant number is your key to tracking progress. You can check the status of your application at any time by simply logging back into the Postgraduate Online Application Form you used to apply.

2. Waiting for a Decision

Once acknowledged, your application goes to the academic department for consideration.

How long does it take? For most taught master's courses, the University aims to make a decision within four weeks. However, this timeframe can be longer during peak application periods.
Interviews: Unlike some research degrees, it is uncommon for taught master's applicants to be interviewed. Decisions are usually based on the documents you provided.

When a decision is made, it will appear in your online application, and you will receive an email notification.

3. Understanding Your Offer: Conditional vs. Unconditional

Your decision will be one of three outcomes: rejected, conditional offer, or unconditional offer.

A. Conditional Offer

This means you have a place, but it is dependent on you fulfilling certain requirements. These conditions are clearly detailed in your official electronic offer letter and often include:

Achieving a specific final grade in your current degree.
Providing final degree transcripts and certificates.
Achieving a required score in an approved English language test (like IELTS or TOEFL).

What to do: You must accept your Conditional Offer and then work to meet the outstanding conditions. The deadline for meeting these is usually seven days before the course start date, but it's always best to meet them as early as possible. Once all conditions are met, your offer will be upgraded to Unconditional.

B. Unconditional Offer

This is a firm offer with no academic conditions attached (though you may still need to meet some administrative or financial requirements).

What to do: You must formally accept your Unconditional Offer to confirm your place on the course.

4. Next Steps for Offer Holders

Once you have accepted an offer, you transition from applicant to offer-holder, and a new set of steps begin:

Activate Your MUSE Account: You will receive an email inviting you to activate your MUSE (My University of Sheffield Environment) account. This portal is where you will access vital pre-registration information and university services.
Apply for Accommodation: Once you have accepted an offer (Conditional or Unconditional), you can apply online for University accommodation.
Pre-Registration: About four weeks before your course starts, you will receive an email with Pre-Registration information, including tasks you need to complete before you arrive.

5. International Students: The CAS Application

If you are an international student requiring a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4), the most crucial step after an Unconditional Offer is obtaining your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

A CAS is a unique electronic reference number needed for your visa application. The University will arrange your CAS only when all three of the following criteria are met:

It is less than four months before your course start date.
You have formally accepted an Unconditional Offer.
You have paid any required tuition fee deposit (this applies to PGT applicants only).

The CAS Application task will appear in your Pre-Registration system. You must check that all the personal and course information is correct and confirm it before the University can request the CAS number for you.