ATAS is applicable to all overseas academic researchers (with the exception of excluded nations) who are subject to UK immigration control and plan to learn or conduct research in specified sensitive disciplines at the PG level.
The themes and research fields are those in which expertise might be applied to initiatives to produce Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), or delivery systems for WMDs. Before they can study or conduct research in the UK, students and researchers in these sensitive fields must apply for an ATAS certificate.
Students and researchers from the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, or the United States of America are exempt from obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Other national researchers and students must apply for an ATAS certificate. If you are pursuing a PG degree or conducting research in some sensitive areas in the United Kingdom, you should apply. If you’re enrolling to a bachelor’s degree program that includes a master’s year, you may additionally require ATAS approval.
The entry clearance officer (ECO) will ask to see your ATAS certificate as part of your application for permission to enter the UK. A caseworker will also need to see your ATAS certificate as part of an application for permission to stay in the UK.
UK immigration law does not allow universities to permit international students or researchers to study or undertake research in an ATAS applicable course until the student or researcher has provided the university or research institute with the correct ATAS certificate.
Click on the following links to read more on the ATAS certificate
- Students
- Already in the UK on the student route (including Tier 4)
- Already in the UK on a non-student visa
- Students and researchers applying to several universities
- If you’re writing your thesis
- Student visitors
- Doctorate Extension Scheme
- If you are starting your course overseas
- Academic researchers
- If you are a researcher already in the UK
- Researchers also undertaking a course of study
- If your circumstances change after ATAS certificate is issued
- Conducting research at more than 1 HEI/research institutes
- How long applications take
- What you need to apply
- Guidance on how to apply for an ATAS certificate
Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme