ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)

ATAS and Student Route visas

If you are applying for a Student Route visa and you need an ATAS certificate, you should note that you will need to get your ATAS certificate first before the university can issue you with a CAS.  You will need your CAS and your ATAS certificate in place before you can complete your registration.

ATAS and other visas (non-Student Route)

If you will be studying on a non-Student Route visa and will be studying on a course that requires ATAS clearance, you will need to provide a copy of your ATAS certificate before your university registration can be completed.

How to check if you need an ATAS certificate

See below for more detail about which type of degree programmes require you to get an ATAS certificate.  Some people don't need an ATAS certificate, because they are a national of an exempt country. For general information about the ATAS scheme see the information on the gov.uk website.

New students

ATAS clearance is required by some postgraduate programmes. It does not apply to undergraduate programmes or foundation programmes. Programmes that require an ATAS are detailed below and you will also be notified in the CAS Shield system when you are getting your first CAS from the university.

The table below confirms the non-research based courses which necessitate ATAS clearance. You will need this CAH3 code when making your ATAS application.

If you are a research student, your contract will confirm if an ATAS is required and will include the CAH3 code. The contract (offer letter) will also confirm your research summary which you will need when completing your ATAS application.

Continuing (existing) students

ATAS clearance is required by some postgraduate programmes. It does not apply to undergraduate programmes or foundation programmes. When you start your studies, you will be able to check if your programme of study requires an ATAS certificate by following the instructions above. If you extend your visa to continue studying on the same programme, you will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate. Each time you apply for a new visa a new ATAS certificate is needed.

If you did not need an ATAS certificate at the start of your studies, you should be aware that if your programme or research changes, your new programme or research may require ATAS clearance. Seek guidance if you are unsure.

If your programme requires an ATAS certificate, and your course end date is extended for a period of more than 3 months, you must apply for a new Certificate within 28 days of being notified of the change of course end date.

Applying for an ATAS certificate

To apply for an ATAS certificate you need to complete and submit an online application form on the Gov.uk website. There is no charge for the application.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office have provided some helpful guidance on completing the ATAS application form on the main ATAS page, and on a separate guidance page. We strongly recommend that you read this information whilst preparing your application and completing the online form.

The ATAS team state that they aim to respond to all applications within 20 working days from submission, but this can take longer during peak periods. We strongly recommend that you apply for your ATAS clearance as early as possible as in some cases students may wait a few months for an outcome.

CAH3 codes

If you are studying on one of the taught Masters programmes below, please use the following CAH3 codes to apply for an ATAS. To avoid delays in your application, you must ensure the correct programme name is entered in full in the subject field on the application form.

If you are a research (MRes or PhD) student, your contract should show what the CAH3 code for your area of research is.