Immigration Rules Appendix ATAS: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

ATAS seeks to prevent the transfer of information, knowledge or technology which could develop, advance or support an Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT) and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programme or their means of delivery.

The ATAS requirement means the applicant must obtain a valid ATAS certificate, issued by the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre, and to provide it with an application on Student, Skilled Worker, ICT, Global Business Mobility, Scale-up, Temporary Work – International Agreement and Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange routes to study or work as a researcher in any of the specified subjects listed in this Appendix.

The ATAS condition means that someone must obtain a valid ATAS certificate prior to commencing study or research in any of the specified subjects or fields of research.

A person is subject to the ATAS condition if they have been granted permission which allows study or work subject to the ATAS condition.

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

  1. ATAS 1.1. An applicant (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1.) requires a valid ATAS certificate if the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned is a subject set out at ATAS 4.1. which:
    1. (a) leads to a master’s degree; or
    2. (b) leads to a PhD; or
    3. (c) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
    4. (d) is a period of study or research which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification.
  1. ATAS 1.2. An applicant (who is not a national of a country listed at ATAS 3.1.) requires a valid ATAS certificate if they are applying in a work route which requires a Certificate of Sponsorship, that Certificate of Sponsorship is issued by a work sponsor that is also a licensed student sponsor, and the role set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship:
    1. (a) is in one of the following SOC 2020 occupation codes:
      1. • 2111 Chemical scientists
      2. • 2112 Biological scientists
      3. • 2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists
      4. • 2114 Physical scientists
      5. • 2115 Social and humanities scientists
      6. • 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
      7. • 2122 Mechanical engineers
      8. • 2123 Electrical engineers
      9. • 2124 Electronics engineers
      10. • 2125 Production and process engineers
      11. • 2126 Aerospace engineers
      12. • 2127 Engineering project managers and project engineers
      13. • 2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
      14. • 2161 Research and development (R&D) managers
      15. • 2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline
      16. • 2311 Higher education teaching professionals
      17. • 3111 Laboratory technicians
      18. • 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians
      19. • 3113 Engineering technicians
      20. • 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
      21. • 5234 Aircraft maintenance and related trades
    2. (b) includes an element of research at PhD level or above; and
    3. (c) that field of research is a subject set out at ATAS 4.1

ATAS 1.3. The applicant must provide a print-out of the valid ATAS certificate for the course of study or research role to show that the ATAS requirement is met.

ATAS condition

  1. 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 they are a student continuing a course of study and they have made, or intend to make within the required time period, an application required by ATAS 2.2) or research in a subject listed at ATAS 4.1 which:
    1. (a) leads to a UK postgraduate degree; or
    2. (b) leads to another postgraduate qualification; or
    3. (c) is a period of study which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification; or
    4. (d) is research as part of a course of postgraduate study, employment or academic activity at a licensed student sponsor.
  1. ATAS 2.2. A Student who intends to continue study on a course of study which is subject to the ATAS requirement must apply for a new ATAS certificate where:
    1. (a) the completion date of the course of study has changed and will be delayed by more than 3 months; or
    2. (b) the course contents or research proposal of the course of study change,
  2. and the application for a new certificate must be made within 28 days of the change in (a) or (b) above being known to the Student.

Nationals who are exempt from the ATAS requirement and condition

  1. 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:
    1. Australia
    2. Austria
    3. Belgium
    4. Bulgaria
    5. Canada
    6. Croatia
    7. Republic of Cyprus
    8. Czech Republic
    9. Denmark
    10. Estonia
    11. Finland
    12. France
    13. Germany
    14. Greece
    15. Hungary
    16. Iceland
    17. Ireland
    18. Italy
    19. Japan
    20. Latvia
    21. Liechtenstein
    22. Lithuania
    23. Luxembourg
    24. Malta
    25. Netherlands
    26. New Zealand
    27. Norway
    28. Poland
    29. Portugal
    30. Republic of Korea
    31. Romania
    32. Singapore
    33. Slovakia
    34. Slovenia
    35. Spain
    36. Sweden
    37. Switzerland
    38. United States of America

Academic Subjects relevant to ATAS

  1. ATAS 4.1. The ATAS requirement and ATAS condition apply to the following subjects:
  2. (a) research, or doctorates or master’s by research in:
    1. Subjects allied to Medicine:
    2. CAH codes:
    3. CAH02-02-01 - Pharmacology
    4. CAH02-02-02 - Toxicology
    5. CAH02-02-03 - Pharmacy
    6. CAH10-01-06 - Bioengineering, Medical and Biomedical Engineering
    7. Biological Sciences:
    8. CAH codes:
    9. CAH03-01-02 - Biology (non-specific)
    10. CAH03-01-03 - Ecology and Environmental Biology
    11. CAH03-01-06 - Zoology
    12. CAH03-01-04 - Microbiology and Cell Science
    13. CAH03-01-05 - Plant Sciences
    14. CAH10-03-05 - Biotechnology
    15. CAH03-01-07 - Genetics
    16. CAH02-05-03 - Biomedical Sciences (non-specific)
    17. CAH03-01-08 - Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry
    18. CAH03-01-01 - Biosciences (non-specific)
    19. CAH03-01-10 - Others in Biological Sciences
    20. Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects:
    21. CAH codes:
    22. CAH05-01-02 - Others in Veterinary Sciences
    23. CAH06-01-02 - Agricultural sciences
    24. Physical Sciences:
    25. CAH codes:
    26. CAH07-02-01 - Chemistry
    27. CAH10-03-07 - Materials Science
    28. CAH07-01-01 - Physics
    29. CAH07-01-02 - Astronomy
    30. CAH26-01-05 - Others in Geographical Studies
    31. CAH07-04-01 - Physical Sciences (non-specific)
    32. CAH07-04-03 - Sciences (non-specific)
    33. CAH07-04-04 - Natural Sciences (non-specific)
    34. Mathematical and Computer Sciences:
    35. CAH codes:
    36. CAH09-01-01 - Mathematics
    37. CAH09-01-02 - Operational Research
    38. CAH11-01-01 - Computer Science
    39. CAH11-01-02 - Information Technology
    40. CAH11-01-03 - Information Systems
    41. CAH11-01-04 - Software Engineering
    42. CAH11-01-05 - Artificial Intelligence
    43. Engineering:
    44. CAH codes:
    45. CAH10-01-01 - Engineering (non-specific)
    46. CAH10-01-07 - Civil Engineering
    47. CAH10-01-02 - Mechanical Engineering
    48. CAH10-01-04 - Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
    49. CAH10-01-05 - Naval Architecture
    50. CAH10-01-08 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
    51. CAH10-01-09 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
    52. Technologies:
    53. CAH codes:
    54. CAH10-03-03 - Polymers and Textiles
    55. CAH10-03-01 - Minerals Technology
    56. CAH10-03-02 - Materials Technology
    57. CAH10-03-04 - Maritime Technology
  3. (b) taught master’s in:
    1. CAH codes:
    2. CAH10-03-07 - Materials Science
    3. CAH07-01-01 - Physics (including Nuclear Physics)
    4. CAH10-01-02 - Mechanical Engineering
    5. CAH10-01-04 - Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
    6. CAH10-01-09 - Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
    7. CAH10-03-01 - Minerals Technology
    8. CAH10-03-02 - Materials Technology