u/MarketSoggy5126

Hi everyone,

I’m an international student currently living in the UK and I’m due to start a PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS at the University of East London (UEL) this September.

I’ve completed all the CAS Shield/pre-CAS checks and paid my required deposit. UEL has now told me that they submitted my details to UKVI for an Immigration History Check (IHC) before they can issue my CAS.

My university contacted me last week and said they’re currently waiting for UKVI to respond. They also mentioned that there are 100+ cases currently pending with UKVI, so unfortunately it’s outside their control.

I’m getting a little worried because my course starts on 14 September, and I still need to receive my CAS and then apply for my Student visa. I’m currently in the UK, so I’ll be making an in-country Student visa application.

For anyone who has been through something similar:

● How long did your UKVI Immigration History Check take?
● How long after the IHC was completed did your university issue your CAS?
● Has anyone had an IHC done recently?
● If you were an international student already living in the UK, did your university also require an IHC before issuing your CAS?

Any recent experiences/timelines would be really appreciated, especially from people who went through this with UEL or another UK university. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m an international student currently living in the UK and I’m due to start a PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS at the University of East London (UEL) this September.

I’ve completed all the CAS Shield/pre-CAS checks and paid my required deposit. UEL has now told me that they submitted my details to UKVI for an Immigration History Check (IHC) before they can issue my CAS.

My university contacted me last week and said they’re currently waiting for UKVI to respond. They also mentioned that there are 100+ cases currently pending with UKVI, so unfortunately it’s outside their control.

I’m getting a little worried because my course starts on 14 September, and I still need to receive my CAS and then apply for my Student visa. I’m currently in the UK, so I’ll be making an in-country Student visa application.

For anyone who has been through something similar:

● How long did your UKVI Immigration History Check take?
● How long after the IHC was completed did your university issue your CAS?
● Has anyone had an IHC done recently?
● If you were an international student already living in the UK, did your university also require an IHC before issuing your CAS?

Any recent experiences/timelines would be really appreciated, especially from people who went through this with UEL or another UK university. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m an international student currently living in the UK and I’m due to start a PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS at the University of East London (UEL) this September.

I’ve completed all the CAS Shield/pre-CAS checks and paid my required deposit. UEL has now told me that they submitted my details to UKVI for an Immigration History Check (IHC) before they can issue my CAS.

My university contacted me last week and said they’re currently waiting for UKVI to respond. They also mentioned that there are 100+ cases currently pending with UKVI, so unfortunately it’s outside their control.

I’m getting a little worried because my course starts on 14 September, and I still need to receive my CAS and then apply for my Student visa. I’m currently in the UK, so I’ll be making an in-country Student visa application.

For anyone who has been through something similar:

1:- How long did your UKVI Immigration History Check take?
2:- How long after the IHC was completed did your university issue your CAS?
3:- Has anyone had an IHC done recently in August 2026?
If you were an international student already living in the UK, did your university also require an IHC before issuing your CAS?

Any recent experiences/timelines would be really appreciated, especially from people who went through this with UEL or another UK university. Thanks!

Hi all, i am just enrolling into PGCE secondary course in UEL in stratford campus in September intake, is it good or bad in terms of student support?

Hi all, i am just enrolling into PGCE secondary course in UEL in stratford campus in September intake, is it good or bad in terms of student support?

Hi everyone,

I’m an international applicant currently living in the UK. I applied for PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS at the University of East London (UEL) for the September 2026 intake.

I received my conditional offer in May 2026 and have been completing all the conditions and documents requested by UEL.

Over the past month, I’ve repeatedly contacted UEL asking about the progress of my application and when I could expect my unconditional offer. There were significant delays in getting responses, sometimes up to two weeks.
I also contacted UEL’s International Helpline several times to ask about the relevant deadlines. I was told that the deadlines were in August, that I shouldn’t worry, and that my application was still being processed. Based on that information, I continued submitting everything UEL requested from me without delay.

Recently, UEL asked me for an additional reference, which I provided. I was then told today that the PGCE deposit deadline was 15 July 2026 and that the PGCE intake is now closed, so they cannot progress my application or issue my CAS.

Just to clarify, I understand that 15 July was the PGCE deposit/CAS deadline, not the application deadline. I had already applied and received my conditional offer before this.

What I’m struggling to understand is why my application was still being processed and why UEL was still requesting additional documents/references from me after the 15 July deposit deadline, while I was also being told by their helpline that the relevant deadlines were in August.
I’m not saying that the deadline didn’t exist. My concern is that I was actively communicating with UEL, following their instructions, and relying on the information they gave me. I was never told that my application had become impossible to progress because I had supposedly missed the deposit deadline.

I’m honestly quite stressed about the situation because I was expecting to start my PGCE in September.

Has anyone dealt with UEL admissions or a similar situation where the university continued processing an application after a deadline had passed? What would you recommend I do now?

Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,
I’m an international applicant currently living in the UK. I applied for PGCE Secondary Geography with QTS at the University of East London (UEL) for the September 2026 intake.
I received my conditional offer in May 2026 and have been completing all the conditions and documents requested by UEL.
Over the past month, I’ve repeatedly contacted UEL asking about the progress of my application and when I could expect my unconditional offer. There were significant delays in getting responses, sometimes up to two weeks.
I also contacted UEL’s International Helpline several times to ask about the relevant deadlines. I was told that the deadlines were in August, that I shouldn’t worry, and that my application was still being processed. Based on that information, I continued submitting everything UEL requested from me without delay.
Recently, UEL asked me for an additional reference, which I provided. I was then told today that the PGCE deposit deadline was 15 July 2026 and that the PGCE intake is now closed, so they cannot progress my application or issue my CAS.
Just to clarify, I understand that 15 July was the PGCE deposit/CAS deadline, not the application deadline. I had already applied and received my conditional offer before this.
What I’m struggling to understand is why my application was still being processed and why UEL was still requesting additional documents/references from me after the 15 July deposit deadline, while I was also being told by their helpline that the relevant deadlines were in August.
I’m not saying that the deadline didn’t exist. My concern is that I was actively communicating with UEL, following their instructions, and relying on the information they gave me. I was never told that my application had become impossible to progress because I had supposedly missed the deposit deadline.
I’m honestly quite stressed about the situation because I was expecting to start my PGCE in September.

Has anyone dealt with UEL admissions or a similar situation where the university continued processing an application after a deadline had passed? What would you recommend I do now?

Thanks in advance.

My e-bike was unfortunately stolen recently in London. I reported it to the police and also reported it to the security team at the place where it was stolen, but the police have now closed the investigation.

The annoying part is that I still have the original battery with me because I had removed it from the bike before it was stolen.

I’ve currently listed the battery on Facebook Marketplace, but I’m wondering if that’s actually the best thing to do.
What would you guys do in this situation? Is it worth keeping the battery in case the bike is ever recovered? Is there another way I could make use of it, or should I just sell it?

It’s a battery from a URLIFE E20 e-bike.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

My e-bike was unfortunately stolen recently in London. I reported it to the police and also reported it to the security team at the place where it was stolen, but the police have now closed the investigation.

The annoying part is that I still have the original battery with me because I had removed it from the bike before it was stolen.

I’ve currently listed the battery on Facebook Marketplace, but I’m wondering if that’s actually the best thing to do.
What would you guys do in this situation? Is it worth keeping the battery in case the bike is ever recovered? Is there another way I could make use of it, or should I just sell it?
It’s a battery from a URLIFE E20 e-bike.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

As an international resident who has lived in London for the past four years, my desire to leave the country is growing day by day. This decision has absolutely nothing to do with my career or finances; it is entirely about personal safety.
It feels like crime in this country is spiralling out of control.

First, my sister’s phone was snatched last month and was never recovered. Then today, my e-bike was stolen from the Westfield shopping centre. I only just bought the bike last month, and I am still pending my last Klarna payment for it. It was parked in a designated bike spot and secured with two completely different types of locks. I honestly don't understand how they managed it, but the thieves took it anyway. The only silver lining is that I had the battery with me, though now I have no idea what to do with a spare battery and no bike.

When you add the constant news of everyday crime and stabbings, I am starting to feel really uneasy here.

I need some perspective. Is my decision to leave the country valid, or am I just overreacting because of the raw frustration from what happened today? Would love to hear your thoughts, especially from other expats or Londoners.

For the academic criteria, I understand that I need GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics (or equivalent). I have already passed a GCSE English equivalency test (A* grade).

However, my university (University of East London) is telling me that I also need to pass a GCSE Mathematics equivalency test in order to be admitted. From my own research, I understood that for some international applicants, GCSE Mathematics can be considered satisfied through high school qualifications/marksheets, and only English equivalency needs to be taken if required.

I’m a bit confused because my understanding is that my high school mathematics grades should already meet the requirement, but the university seems to be insisting on a separate GCSE Maths equivalency exam.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or can clarify whether GCSE Mathematics equivalency is always required for PGCE Secondary Geography applicants, or if it can sometimes be waived based on international qualifications?

Any guidance would be really appreciated.