International
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
Information about the Academic Technology Approval Scheme.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is run by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It provides security clearance for non-UK nationals who are studying subject areas where the knowledge gained could potentially be used in the development or delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
The FCDO administers the scheme and issues ATAS certificates.
The scheme applies to:
- Study at masters (including undergraduate masters) level or above
- Relevant subject areas as defined by the FCDO, covering certain science subjects, mathematics, engineering, technology and medicine
- All non-UK nationals except those from countries on the exempt list
If you are required to have ATAS clearance, you must obtain an ATAS certificate before applying for your UK Student visa. ATAS applications are made directly to the FCDO. York St John University will let you know if you need ATAS clearance and will provide you with the information needed for your application.
How will I know if I need ATAS clearance?
Undergraduate courses
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you need ATAS clearance. The email will include all the details you will need to include in your ATAS application.
Postgraduate taught courses
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you require ATAS clearance. The email will include an ATAS information sheet containing some of the information you will need to include in your ATAS application. We will also email you separately with a list of modules that must be included in your ATAS application.
Postgraduate research degrees
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you require ATAS clearance. The email will include an ATAS information sheet containing some of the information you will need to include in your ATAS application. We will also email you separately with a list of modules that must be included in your ATAS application, if applicable.
More information about ATAS, including information about how to apply can be found here.
ATAS guide for new students
Discover more information about ATAS and how it may apply to you.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a security clearance issued by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
An ATAS certificate is required for some students studying subject areas where the knowledge gained could potentially be used in the development or delivery of weapons of mass destruction. This includes certain subjects within science, mathematics, engineering, technology and medicine.
Whether ATAS clearance is required for your course depends on the Common Aggregate Hierarchy (CAH3) code assigned to your programme.
Your offer letter outlines whether your programme requires an ATAS certificate.
If your course requires ATAS clearance and you hold a UK visa or immigration permission in a category that requires ATAS (this applies to most visa categories), you must obtain ATAS clearance before you can study the course. You will also need to apply for a new ATAS certificate if your course details change during your studies.
You do not need ATAS clearance if you are a national of a country on the exempt list.
You do not need an ATAS certificate if you are a dual national or dual citizen and one of your nationalities/citizenships is for an exempt country listed above.
However, you must have a valid passport from an exempt country listed above and a valid UK visa linked to it. This may show directly in your passport or online if you have an eVisa. We may check this before the start of your taught course, research programme or employment.
There is more information on the ATAS website.
How to apply
Check if you need an ATAS certificate
The application has ten sections that should be completed in full.
Visit the FCDO website for guidance on completing the application.
It is vital to check that you do not make any mistakes before you submit your ATAS application. The FCDO do not correct any errors after the ATAS certificate is issued, and 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 enrol on your course on time.
New students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught)
If ATAS clearance is required for your course, the Admissions team will contact you by email.
The email will include all the information you need to complete your ATAS application. You must ensure that you enter the CAH3 code and course information exactly as shown on your offer letter and/or ATAS information sheet, and follow the instructions provided on where to find the correct module list.
New students (Postgraduate research)
If ATAS clearance is required, the Admissions team will confirm this in your offer letter. An ATAS information sheet will be attached.
You must include the details from the ATAS information sheet in your ATAS application, copying the research statement exactly into the “What will you be studying?” section of the application form.
Continuing students
The Visa and Compliance team will provide you with the relevant information if changes to your studies will result in a new ATAS certificate and visa application.
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 then be asked a further question and will need to choose whether you are a taught or research student. Courses which are categorised as research are:
During the application, you must complete the “proposed course of study” section.
- MPhil/PhD students - use the paragraph describing your research that was provided on the ‘ATAS sheet’ with your university offer letter.
- New Undergraduate/Postgraduate Taught students - use the information in the offer letter sent by the Admissions team. The information will be emailed to you as an ATAS information sheet.
- DO NOT apply before you receive module information from the Admissions team. If you apply too early, your certificate may contain incorrect module information which could stop you from registering on your course.
Student visa application and ATAS
An ATAS certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue for the purpose of applying for a Student visa. If you submit your Student visa application more than six months after your ATAS certificate was issued, you will need to obtain a new ATAS certificate and include it with your visa application.
If you are a continuing postgraduate research student, you will receive an email reminder from the Postgraduate Research Office before your visa expires. You must use the course end date provided in this email when applying for your new ATAS certificate and allow sufficient time for the ATAS clearance to be granted before submitting your Student visa extension application.
FCDO guidance on ATAS - Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) - GOV.UK
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The requirement for an ATAS certificate applies to all non-UK nationals regardless of where you are living when you apply. Students of the following nationalities are exempt:
Australia; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Republic of Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United States of America.
Undergraduate courses
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you need ATAS clearance. The email will include all the details you will need to include in your ATAS application.
Postgraduate taught courses
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you require ATAS clearance. The email will include an ATAS information sheet containing some of the information you will need to include in your ATAS application. We will also email you separately with a list of modules that must be included in your ATAS application.
Postgraduate research degrees
We will inform you by email and in your offer letter if you require ATAS clearance. The email will include an ATAS information sheet containing some of the information you will need to include in your ATAS application. We will also email you separately with a list of modules that must be included in your ATAS application.
More information about ATAS, including information about how to apply can be found here.
You can also use the online checker to see if you may require ATAS.
You need to create an online account and submit an application form on the ATAS website. You do not need to pay for the ATAS application. The ATAS IT system does not accept duplicate applications.
Please refer to your ATAS information sheet.
The Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) describes a grouping of subject areas relevant to your course. Your CAH3 code can be found on your offer letter. Be sure to carefully select the right CAH3 code when making your ATAS application.
As soon as possible after you have received your formal offer letter and ATAS module information. You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to 6 months before the start date of your course; early applications are strongly advised as any delay may affect your ability to apply for a visa or to register for your chosen course.
You must apply at least 6 weeks before applying for your Student visa.
ATAS applications take at least 30 working days (6 weeks) to process, and some complex ones can take longer.
When you submit your ATAS application you will be given an estimated decision date by which you should receive a decision on your ATAS application. There is no fast-track service available.
Most students apply from April to August, so processing times may be longer during this period.
The ATAS team will tell you the outcome of your ATAS application by email. They will also inform us. Check your spam or junk folders regularly in case the email has been filtered out.
No, if your course requires ATAS clearance you will need your ATAS certificate to apply for your visa.
You will need to provide details of two referees who have known you for a minimum of three years.
If you have studied at degree level, at least one of the referees should be from the university where you studied previously. If you have not previously studied at degree level, you should provide at least one referee from the institution where you completed your most recent studies.
If you have work experience, a referee from your employment would also be acceptable.
A referee from your home country is preferable but is not essential if you have studied and/or worked in another country.
Family members are not acceptable as referees.
Who is my Sponsor?
You must provide details of who is going to fund your study at York St John. If you are funding your study yourself, please put your own name and address in the relevant boxes. If a family member is funding your study, put down their details.
Successful applications
The ATAS certificate will be emailed to you.
When you receive the certificate, you should:
- Check the details on it are correct and match with your offer or research area
- Upload your ATAS certificate as part of your visa application documents.
- Upload your ATAS certificate to Enroly CAS Shield or email york.intl@yorksj.ac.uk (undergraduate and postgraduate taught students only)
- Contact the ATAS Team at ATAS@fcdo.gov.uk if any of the details on the ATAS certificate are not correct.
If your application is unsuccessful
You cannot study or conduct research in the UK without an ATAS certificate if it is a condition or requirement of your visa.
You must wait 90 days before reapplying for an ATAS certificate for the same course or research at the same institution with the same CAH3 code.
You can apply again for an ATAS certificate for a different course or research area at York St John, or you can apply to a different HEI.
Applications for visas to study on other courses that do not require ATAS clearance will be considered on a case-by-case basis by our Admissions team.
We cannot issue a CAS number until you have received your ATAS certificate.
After your application has been submitted, you can only change your:
- email address
- phone number
- marital status
If your passport expires or is lost whilst your application is being processed, you must email the ATAS team the details of your new passport.
Contact the ATAS team by email: ATAS@fcdo.gov.uk
Yes, if you have been informed that the study or research you are undertaking requires ATAS clearance, you will require an ATAS certificate to enrol at the York St John University, even if you are travelling on a Visitor visa.
If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, which does not have an end date, you do not need ATAS clearance to study.
Yes you will require ATAS clearance if the course you are applying to requires an ATAS certificate. Unless you hold indefinite leave to remain (ILR), you must apply for ATAS clearance.
