You Got Your Offer Letter. Now What?

April 2, 2026

A step-by-step guide for Nepali students on what to do after receiving a university offer

Getting your offer letter is a huge milestone — and it deserves a moment of celebration. But once the excitement settles, a very practical question arises: what exactly do you do next? Many students assume the hard part is over. In reality, the offer letter is just the beginning of the process. Miss a deadline or skip a step, and your offer can lapse — or your visa can be refused. This guide walks you through exactly what comes after the offer letter, clearly and in order — for the UK, Canada, and Sweden specifically, since the steps differ by destination.

First: Read Your Offer Letter Very Carefully

Before anything else, read every line of your offer letter. Offers come in two types and the difference matters enormously:

Offer Type	What It Means	What You Must Do
Conditional Offer	You have been accepted — but only if you meet specific conditions, such as achieving a certain IELTS score, submitting final transcripts, or completing a foundation year	Meet every condition stated. The university will not move forward until each one is satisfied.
Unconditional Offer	You have been fully accepted with no further academic or language requirements	You can move straight to accepting your offer and paying your deposit.

Check These Details in Your Offer Letter

Your full name — must match your passport exactly
Course name, level, and start date — confirm these are correct
Conditions listed — note every single one and their deadlines
Deposit amount and payment deadline — missing this date can result in your offer being withdrawn
Offer expiry date — most offers are only valid for a few weeks

Step 1 — Accept Your Offer and Pay the Deposit

Once you have read your offer and confirmed the details are correct, the next step is to formally accept it — and in most cases, pay a tuition deposit to secure your place.

For UK Universities

Undergraduate offers through UCAS: accept via your UCAS account (Firm Acceptance = your first choice, Insurance = your backup)
Postgraduate offers: accept directly through the university’s online portal or by replying to their admissions email
Pay your Deposit. Which is then deducted from your total tuition fee and is usually non-refundable if you withdraw
Paying your deposit also triggers the university to begin preparing your CAS number — required for your visa

For Canadian Universities and Colleges

Accept your offer through your institution’s student portal (each college has its own system)
Pay your deposit — amounts vary widely , depending on the institution
After accepting, your institution will begin the process of issuing your Letter of Enrolment and, where required, requesting your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

For Swedish Universities

Accept your offer through universityadmissions.se — the national admissions portal
Pay your first tuition instalment directly to your university — this is mandatory before they notify the Swedish Migration Agency
Without tuition payment confirmation, Migrationsverket will not process your residence permit application

Do Not Accept Multiple Offers Casually

Accepting an offer and paying a deposit is a commitment. Deposits are often non-refundable. If you are genuinely deciding between two institutions, contact both admissions offices to ask about their deposit refund policies before paying. For UK undergraduates using UCAS — you can hold one Firm and one Insurance choice simultaneously, but must pay deposits to both if required.

Step 2 — Meet Any Conditions on Your Offer

If you received a conditional offer, meeting those conditions is your next priority. Nothing else in the visa process can fully progress until your offer becomes unconditional.

Common Condition	What to Do
IELTS or PTE score requirement	Book your test immediately if you haven’t already. Allow time for a retake. Send your official results to the university as soon as you receive them.
Final school or university transcripts	Request official transcripts from your institution — not photocopies. Some Nepali schools require advance notice of several weeks to process official documents.
Academic qualification verification	Some UK universities require your qualifications to be verified through a recognised body. Your admissions contact will guide you if this applies.
Personal statement or interview	A small number of programs ask for a supplementary personal statement or a short interview after the initial offer. Respond promptly and professionally.
Health or criminal record check	Rare for most programs but required for healthcare, teaching, and childcare-related courses. Begin these checks early as they take time.

Once all conditions are met, your university will update your offer to unconditional and confirm this in writing. Keep that confirmation — you will need it as part of your visa documentation.

Step 3 — Confirm Your English Language Requirement Is Met

Check the minimum overall band AND the minimum per-section requirement for your specific course — not just the general university minimum
For UK Student Visa applications, you must use an approved SELT (Secure English Language Test) — IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic for UKVI. A standard IELTS Academic result is not sufficient for UK visa purposes
For Canada, standard IELTS Academic or PTE Academic is accepted for both study permits and university admission
For Sweden, IELTS Academic is the most universally accepted — confirm whether your specific Swedish university also accepts PTE before booking

Already Have a Score? Still Check This.

Confirm your score meets the visa requirement, not just the admission requirement — these can differ. For the UK: your IELTS for UKVI result must not be older than 2 years at the time of your visa application. If your score is borderline, retake now. It is far better to delay your visa application by a few weeks than to have it refused.

Step 4 — Prepare Your Financial Documents

This is the step that takes the most preparation time — and the one most likely to cause problems if left too late. Every destination has specific financial requirements and specific rules about how funds must be demonstrated.

United Kingdom — The 28-Day Rule

Funds covering remaining tuition fees plus living costs (£1,529/month in London or £1,171/month outside London for up to 9 months)
Funds must be in your account — or a parent’s account — for 28 consecutive days before your visa application date
Start the 28-day clock only after your CAS has been issued and your amounts are confirmed — do not start it too early
Funds must be in a personal bank account, not a fixed deposit or investment account

Canada — Demonstrating Settlement Funds

Show living expenses of CAD 22,895 per year (outside Quebec) alongside your first year tuition and return travel costs
3 to 6 months of stable, consistent bank statements — sudden large deposits are a red flag for IRCC officers
Funds can come from personal savings, family savings, or a combination — source must be clearly documented

Sweden — Migrationsverket Financial Proof

Minimum SEK 10,656 per month for the full duration of your permit period
Pay your first tuition instalment to your university first — they notify Migrationsverket, which unlocks your permit application
Accepted sources include personal savings, scholarships, student loans, parental support, or employment income — a combination is accepted

Start Preparing Finances the Moment You Receive Your Offer

Many Nepali families need time to consolidate funds, move money between accounts, or arrange parental sponsorship declarations. Starting this process early gives your bank statements time to show stable, consistent balances — which is exactly what visa officers want to see. Do not wait for your CAS or residence permit application to begin organising your financial documents.

Step 5 — Apply for Your Visa or Residence Permit

Once your offer is unconditional, your financial documents are ready, and you have your language scores confirmed — you are ready to apply for your visa or residence permit. The process differs by destination.

Destination	Visa / Permit Type	Where to Apply	Key Requirement Before Applying
United Kingdom	Student Route Visa	Online at gov.uk/student-visa, then biometrics at VFS Global Kathmandu	Must have CAS number from your university
Canada	Study Permit	Online through IRCC portal at ircc.canada.ca	Must have Letter of Acceptance and PAL (for most applicants)
Sweden	Residence Permit for Studies	Online at migrationsverket.se, then biometrics at Swedish Embassy New Delhi	Tuition instalment must be paid and confirmed by university

Do Not Rush the Visa Application

A visa application submitted too quickly — before all documents are in order — is one of the leading causes of refusals. Take the time to review your full application package before submitting. Once submitted, most visa systems do not allow you to add missing documents easily. If you are unsure about any part of your application, speak with your consultancy before submitting.

Step 6 — After Your Visa Is Approved

Receiving your visa approval is not the final step. There are several important things to organise before you travel.

Check Your Visa Details Immediately

Verify your name, date of birth, passport number, course start date, and visa validity period
For the UK: your visa will show a vignette sticker in your passport — your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) will be ready to collect in the UK within 10 days of arrival
For Canada: you will receive a Letter of Introduction — your study permit is issued at the Canadian port of entry, not before you travel
For Sweden: collect your Residence Permit Card from the Embassy in New Delhi or from the Swedish consulate in Nepal if you opted for courier delivery

Organise Accommodation

Apply for university-managed accommodation as early as possible — on-campus housing fills quickly, especially at UK universities
If arranging private accommodation, use verified platforms and avoid sending any payment without a signed contract
Many universities have a specific deadline for accommodation applications — check this on your student portal

Arrange Travel and Health Insurance

Book flights well in advance — prices rise sharply close to popular intake dates (September and January)
For UK: your Immigration Health Surcharge already covers your NHS access — check what it includes and what it does not
For Canada and Sweden: arrange comprehensive health insurance before departure — provincial coverage in Canada often does not begin immediately on arrival

Complete Pre-Departure Requirements

Attend any pre-departure briefing offered by your university or consultancy
Carry physical copies of all key documents in your hand luggage — offer letter, visa, financial proof, admission letter, and passport
Download your university’s app or student portal and complete any pre-arrival online registration before your flight

Need Help With Your Next Steps?

Whether you have just received your offer or are somewhere in the middle of this process, our team can review your situation and make sure nothing is missed.