Immigration Rules Appendix ATAS: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
The ATAS requirement is a requirement to obtain a valid ATAS certificate, issued by the Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre, and to provide it with an application to study any of the specified subjects listed in this Appendix.
ATAS seeks to prevent the transfer of information, knowledge or technology which could develop, advance or support an Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT) and Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) programme or their means of delivery.
The ATAS condition is a requirement to obtain a valid ATAS certificate prior to commencing study in any of the specified subjects.
A person must meet the ATAS requirement if they are aged 16 or over and are applying to study under the Student or Short-term Study route in relation to postgraduate study in one of the specified subjects.
A person is subject to the ATAS condition if they have been granted permission under any immigration route that imposes this condition on study.
A person is exempt from the ATAS requirement and ATAS condition if they are a national of one of the countries listed in this Appendix.
ATAS requirement
- ATAS 1.1. An applicant (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1.) requires a valid ATAS certificate for the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned if the course is for a subject set out at ATAS 4.1. which:
- (a) leads to a master’s degree; or
- (b) leads to a PhD; or
- (c) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
- (d) is a period of study or research which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification.
- ATAS 1.2. The applicant must provide a print-out of the valid ATAS certificate for the course of study to show that the ATAS requirement is met.
ATAS condition
- ATAS 2.1. The ATAS condition means the person (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1), must have a valid ATAS certificate before commencing study (unless ATAS applies) in a subject listed at ATAS 4.1. which:
- (a) leads to a master’s degree; or
- (b) leads to a PhD; or
- (c) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
- (d) is a period of study or research which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification.
- ATAS 2.2. If a Student intends to continue study on a course of study subject to the ATAS requirement, they must apply for a new ATAS certificate where:
- (a) the completion date of the course of study has changed and will be delayed by more than 3 months; or
- (b) the course content or research proposal of the course of study change, and the application for a new certificate must be made within 28 days of the change in (a) or (b) being known to the Student.
Nationals who are exempt from the ATAS requirement and condition
- ATAS 3.1. A person does not need to meet the ATAS requirement, and will not be subject to the ATAS condition, if they are a national of any of the following countries:
- 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
Academic Subjects relevant to ATAS
- ATAS 4.1. The ATAS requirement and ATAS condition apply to the following subjects:
- (a) doctorates or master’s by research in:
-
Subjects allied to Medicine:
- CAH codes:
- CAH02-02-01 - Pharmacology
- CAH02-02-02 - Toxicology
- CAH02-02-03 - Pharmacy
- CAH10-01-06 - Bioengineering, Medical and Biomedical Engineering
- CAH02-03-12 - Others in subjects allied to Medicine
-
Biological Sciences:
- CAH codes:
- CAH03-01-02 - Biology (non-specific)
- CAH03-01-03 - Ecology and Environmental Biology
- CAH03-01-06 – Zoology
- CAH03-01-04 - Microbiology and Cell Science
- CAH03-01-05 - Plant Sciences
- CAH10-02-05 - Biotechnology
- CAH03-01-07 – Genetics
- CAH02-03-10 - Biomedical Sciences (non-specific)
- CAH03-01-08 - Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry
- CAH03-01-01 - Biosciences (non-specific)
- CAH03-01-10 - Others in Biological Sciences
-
Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects:
- CAH codes:
- CAH05-01-02 - Others in Veterinary Sciences
- CAH06-01-02 - Agricultural sciences
-
Physical Sciences:
- CAH codes:
- CAH-07-02-01 – Chemistry
- CAH-07-03-03 - Materials Science
- CAH07-01-01 – Physics
- CAH07-01-02 – Astronomy
- CAH12/01/05 - Others in Geographical Studies
- CAH07/03/01 - Physical Sciences (non-specific)
- CAH08-01-01 - Sciences (non-specific)
- CAH08-01-02 - Natural Sciences (non-specific)
-
Mathematical and Computer Sciences:
- CAH codes:
- CAH09-01-01 – Mathematics
- CAH09-01-02 - Operational Research
- CAH11-01-01 - Computer Science
- CAH11-01-02 - Information Technology
- CAH11-01-03 - Information Systems
- CAH11-01-04 - Software Engineering
- CAH11-01-05 - Artificial Intelligence
-
Engineering:
- CAH codes:
- CAH10-01-01 - Engineering (non-specific)
- CAH10-01-07 - Civil Engineering
- CAH10-01-02 - Mechanical Engineering
- CAH10-01-04 - Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- CAH10-01-05 - Naval Architecture
- CAH10-01-08 - Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- CAH10-01-09 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
-
Technologies:
- CAH codes:
- CAH10-02-03 - Polymers and Textiles
- CAH10-02-01 - Minerals Technology
- CAH10-02-02 - Materials Technology
- CAH10-02-04 - Maritime Technology
-
Subjects allied to Medicine:
- (b) taught master’s in:
- CAH codes:
- CAH07-03-03 - Materials Science
- CAH07-01-01 - Physics (including Nuclear Physics)
- CAH10-01-02 - Mechanical Engineering
- CAH10-01-04 - Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- CAH10-01-09 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
- CAH10-02-01 - Minerals Technology
- CAH10-02-02 - Materials Technology.
- (a) doctorates or master’s by research in: