Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
ATAS
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.
Students who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.
New Students
If you require an ATAS certificate and you do not include it with your application, your visa will be refused. There is no charge for the certificate, which you must apply for online.
The Admissions Office will send you a letter to tell you if you need an ATAS certificate. This will normally be included, together with your CAH3 code, in your offer letter or sent as a separate attachment from the Admissions Office.
If you are required to obtain an ATAS certificate and you do not do so, your entry clearance application will be refused.
Existing Students
If you are a current student studying at Queen's and you have to extend your leave to remain to continue your studies in the UK, you may also need an ATAS certificate.
If you require an ATAS certificate for your course you will need to apply for a new one each time you extend your student visa. The ATAS application process takes around 20-30 working days (or sometimes longer). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommend that you apply at least 4 months in advance of your current visa expiring.
Further Information
Full details about ATAS are available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. There is no charge for the certificate.
When you apply for an ATAS certificate, you will need Queen's to provide you with a description of your intended research. This will normally be included, together with your CAH3 code, in your offer letter or sent as a separate attachment to that letter from the Postgraduate Research Office.
If you are applying to extend your visa, you must contact your School to get this letter.