Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a security clearance scheme for postgraduate qualifications run by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Postgraduate students applying for certain science, engineering or technology courses may need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before applying for a Visa, Entry Clearance or for an extension of stay in the UK. For more information, please see the guidance on ATAS certificates on the UKVI website.

Students applying to study on these types of programmes will need to obtain an ATAS clearance certificate before applying for their Student Visa.

It can take at least four weeks for an application for ATAS clearance to be processed. Please note that ATAS certificates expire after six months. You are therefore advised to apply four to six months before you make your visa application for your ATAS clearance certificate.

You should make a note of when your permission to enter into the UK is due to expire, to allow sufficient time to complete your ATAS and permission to stay applications before your current permission expires, should you need to extend your current visa. We recommend applying at least 4 months before your current permission expires.

If you are unsure if you require an ATAS certificate please contact iss@northampton.ac.uk for further advice.