What is ATAS?

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to international students who are intending to study certain sensitive taught or research subjects at postgraduate level. The scheme is run by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The subjects and research areas are those where knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), or their means of delivery.

ATAS clearance is required for some of our taught and research courses.

Do I need an ATAS certificate?

Your offer letter will indicate if your taught or research course requires ATAS.

You will not need ATAS if you are a national of one of these countries which are exempt:

Australia Greece Norway
Austria Hungary Poland
Belgium Iceland Portugal
Bulgaria Ireland Romania
Canada Italy Singapore
Croatia Japan Slovakia
Republic of Cyprus Latvia Slovenia
Czech Republic Liechtenstein South Korea
Denmark Lithuania Spain
Estonia Luxembourg Sweden
Finland Malta Switzerland
France Netherlands USA
Germany New Zealand  

Otherwise, if you need a Student visa to study in the UK you must be granted ATAS before you apply for the visa. If you plan to study on another type of visa you will need ATAS to be granted before the course starts.

It is your responsibility to check if this scheme applies to you, but please contact Admissions if you need further advice.

What if I am a dual national?

If you are a dual national or dual citizen, and one of your nationalities is from an exempt country, you do not need an ATAS certificate. You must however hold a valid passport from the exempt country and ensure that your UK visa is linked to that passport.

How do I apply for ATAS?

You should apply for an ATAS certificate online via the ATAS website. It does not cost anything to make an application.

Please ensure that you have all the information and documentation to complete the application fully, if your application is incomplete a decision on your application will be delayed.

What is my CAH3 code?

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.

When should I apply for an ATAS certificate?

You should apply as soon as possible after you have received your formal offer letter from Cranfield. 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.

I will be getting a new passport soon, should I apply for ATAS now?

You should wait until you have your new passport. ATAS is linked to your passport number and this needs to be granted on the passport you intend to use when you apply for your Student visa.

When should I receive my ATAS?

It can take at least 30 working days for a decision, but this can take longer between April and August. The ATAS certificate will be sent to you directly by email from ATAS and Cranfield will be sent a copy at the same time.

ATAS may request additional information from you before they can process your application. If so, be sure to respond to them as quickly as possible to avoid any delays.

If your ATAS application decision is delayed, please check your junk or spam folder. If more than 30 days have passed since you applied, contact the ATAS team at the FDCO via ATAS@fcdo.gov.uk.

If you still do not receive a response and are worried about getting your ATAS certificate in time please contact us so we can advise you on meeting conditions of your offer before your CAS deadline.

How long is ATAS valid for?

ATAS certificates are valid for 6 months. You must have a valid ATAS certificate when you apply for your Student visa, or on the course start date if you intend to study on a different visa type.

Do I need ATAS to get a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number?

We are not able to issue a CAS number until you have received your ATAS certificate.

What should I do if I am refused ATAS?

If you have started your visa application, you should not proceed with it. You cannot continue with your postgraduate course application if are refused ATAS and it's unlikely we will be able to consider you for alternative courses. If however, you think your application has been treated unfairly you can ask the ATAS team for a review.

What information do I need to apply for an ATAS certificate?

Proposed study

This section is about the taught course or research degree you plan to study at Cranfield.

What subject will you be studying?

Taught courses
For this question you should enter the course title exactly as it appears in your offer letter without the award level. For example: “MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design (Aircraft Design option)” should be entered as “Aerospace Vehicle Design (Aircraft Design option)”.

Research courses
You should use your research topic title as it appears in your offer letter. The title is in bold text.

CAH3 code

Your CAH3 code can be found on your offer letter. Be sure to select carefully when making your ATAS application.

Supervisor name at UK University

Taught courses
You should enter the Course Director’s name here. You can find the Course Director on the course page.

Research courses
Check your offer letter for details of your supervisors. You only need to confirm the name of your first supervisor in the ATAS application. If your main supervisor changes you will need to make a new ATAS application before you can register and start your research.

What will you be studying?

Taught courses
You will need your course module information, which you can find on the course page.

Research courses
You will need to provide the full research topic description, as detailed in your offer letter.
Personal details

You will need to supply your name, passport, nationality, languages, military service, etc.

Please make sure your name matches with your passport exactly.
Spouse

You will need to confirm your marital status and, if applicable, provide the name and nationality details of your spouse / civil partner.
Contact details

Email, postal address, and contact telephone numbers are required here.
Undergraduate / Postgraduate studies

Dates and titles of any previous degree level courses you have undertaken, and where you studied them. You can add multiple qualifications.
Other studies

Dates and titles of any previous professional courses you have undertaken, and where you studied them. You can add multiple courses.
Published papers

If you have any previously published academic papers then you will need to provide the date and include details of the journal in which they were published.
Employment history

You will need to include dates of employment, job title and address of employer(s). This includes any long-term voluntary work. You can add multiple jobs.

If you have not undertaken any employment, you can select “No” in this section.
References

You need to provide details of two referees that you have known for at least 3 years. At least one of your referees should be an academic from your country of origin.

If you don’t have a referee that you have known for 3 years, you should add the referees that you have known longest and also provide further information about this in your application.
Sponsors

This section refers to your financial sponsor, not who is sponsoring your visa. If you are self-funding, enter your own name and address.


Can I update my ATAS application once submitted?

Once your ATAS application has been submitted you can only update the following information:

  • Your email address.
  • Your phone number.
  • Your marital status.

If your passport is lost or expires during the process you should email your new passport details to ATAS@fcdo.gov.uk.

What happens once I have my certificate?

You will receive your ATAS certificate by email from ATAS directly. Check your junk folders regularly to ensure the email has not been filtered out. When you receive your certificate, you should:

  • Check the details on the certificate carefully to make sure they are correct and match your offer letter.
  • If there are mistakes or inaccuracies contact ATAS immediately on ATAS@fcdo.gov.uk
  • If the details are correct you should upload your certificate to your Applicant Portal in EVE