Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Students studying subjects where the knowledge gained may have application in the development or delivery of weapons of mass destruction may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate.

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ATAS explained

ATAS is a certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) giving you the security clearance to study subject areas where the knowledge gained may have application in the development or delivery of weapons of mass destruction (eg certain science subjects, mathematics, engineering, technology or medicine).

ATAS clearance is required:

  • As part of the Student visa application
  • To register on your course where you have limited leave to remain/immigration status (this applies to almost all visa categories)
  • If your course details change
  • If your course end date is being extended by more than three months (for example, because you have a study or time limit extension)
     

Eligibility

  • Whether your course requires ATAS depends on the CAH3 code that applies to your course.
  • Your CAS and University offer letter will outline whether your programme requires an ATAS certificate.

If your course does require ATAS clearance and if you have a UK visa or permission in a category that requires ATAS clearance (nearly all visa categories require ATAS clearance), you will need to get an ATAS clearance in order to study that course, or apply for a new ATAS clearance if your course details change during study, except where stated below.

If you are a national of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA, refer to the following information:

  • If you applied for your visa after 5 October 2020, you are no longer subject to any conditions that require you to apply for ATAS;
  • If you applied for your visa before 5 October 2020, you will not need to apply for an ATAS clearance in order to apply for a new Student visa to complete your course, or to apply for a visa for any new course that requires ATAS. However, please be aware, you will need to apply for ATAS clearance if your course details change, or if you wish to change your programme of study to a course that requires ATAS. This is because ATAS is still a condition of the visa or permission that you have been granted. You will still be able to choose the 'Sign In' option and submit an ATAS application despite this.

How to apply

1. Complete the online form to apply for an ATAS certificate.

The application has ten sections that should be completed in full.

Use the ATAS application guide (PDF, 1.48MB) to help you.

Visit the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website for guidance on the online application.

It is vital that you check to ensure that you have not made any mistakes before you submit your ATAS application. You should ensure that you have entered the information given to you by the University exactly as it appears on your offer letter. The FCDO have advised that they will not correct errors they are told about after the ATAS certificate is issued, and that a new application must be submitted instead. This means that submitting an application with mistakes could lead to delays in getting your certificate and you not being able to register on your course on time.

Do not submit duplicate applications as this adds to processing pressure, which may cause delays in getting your certificate.

Do not submit your ATAS application before you receive the ATAS information sheet from the Admissions team if you are a new student.

2. When you are on the 'Check if you need an ATAS certificate' and the 'Apply for an ATAS certificate' screens, if you are a student, confirm that you are a 'Taught/Research Student' and not a 'Researcher'.

When you choose this, you will also be asked a further question and will need to choose whether you are a taught or research student.

3. During the application, you must complete the “proposed course of study” section.

  • Where you are an MPhil/PhD student, use the paragraph describing your research that was provided on your University acceptance letter.
  • Where you are an Undergraduate/Postgraduate Taught student, list the core and elective modules of your programme. The module information is available at the Programme Regulation Finder. Where you are a new student applying before you start your course, note that module information is not finalised until mid-May. You must not apply for ATAS before modules are finalised. If you apply too early before this, your certificate may contain incorrect module information which could stop you from registering on your course. Admissions will email you when the module list has been finalised and confirm when you are ready to apply
  • Where you are a continuing student applying for a new ATAS to complete your existing course, it's important to make this clear under the section 'Why do you want to study this?'. You should provide your actual course start date in the free text box and state that the application is being made to complete your studies.
  • You will need to ensure to remove any special characters in your answer under this section, such as brackets, as it may prevent you from submitting the application.

Your ATAS certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue for the purpose of applying for a Student Visa.

Apply for an ATAS certificateFCDO ATAS application guidance

Changes to your study

You must apply for a new ATAS certificate within 28 days if:

  • Your course content changes
  • Your research proposal changes
  • Your course end date is postponed for more than three months

To continue studying, you must provide evidence of your application. 

Student Visa extensions and ATAS

If you are a continuing student, you will need to apply for a new ATAS clearance if:

  • Your course end date is moved back by more than three months
  • You are applying to extend your Student visa more than six months after your existing ATAS certificate was issued.

If you are a continuing postgraduate research student applying to extend your visa before your viva, your ATAS clearance must cover your predicted viva date.

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