Information on Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
Please note that the following undergraduate and postgraduate programmes require ATAS.
If you are a postgraduate research student, you will be informed in your offer letter whether you will require ATAS. The CAH3 code for a PhD or research masters is linked to the research topic (not the programme) so we can only inform you of ATAS requirements once your proposed research has been assigned a CAH3 code by your supervisor.
If yours is not one of the exempt nationalities, then you will need to apply for an ATAS certificate before commencing your programme of study and applying for your visa or extension of stay. You can find a list of all subjects that require a valid ATAS certificate and the associated CAH codes on the Home Office webpages.
Please apply as early as possible as the process can take a number of months to complete.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) was introduced on 1 November 2007. It is used to help stop the spread of knowledge and skills that could be used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery. This is in common with other governments around the world. The ATAS is designed to ensure that people who are applying to study certain sensitive subjects in the UK do not have links to WMD programmes. You can find out more information about the scheme and ATAS certificate by visiting the UK Government website.
Please see the table below showing the CAH3 codes required to apply for an ATAS.
| Programmes requiring ATAS | New CAH3 Code |
|---|---|
| Advanced Functional Materials MSc | CAH07-01-01 |
| Aeronautical Engineering MEng | CAH10-01-04 |
| Aerospace Engineering MSc | CAH10-01-04 |
| Aerospace Engineering & Management MSc | CAH10-01-04 |
| Aerospace Systems MEng | CAH10-01-04 |
| Astronomy and Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Chemical Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Chemical Physics with work placement MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Computing Science and Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Industrial Heterogeneous Catalysis MRes | CAH-07-02-01 |
| Mathematics and Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Mechanical Design Engineering MEng | CAH10-01-02 |
| Mechanical Engineering MEng | CAH10-01-02 |
| Mechanical Engineering MSc | CAH10-01-02 |
| Mechanical Engineering & Management MSc | CAH10-01-02 |
| Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics MEng | CAH10-01-02 / CAH10-01-04 |
| Medical Physics MSc | CAH07-01-01 |
| Nuclear and Environmental Physics MSc | CAH07-01-01 |
| Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Physics with Astrophysics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Product Design Engineering MEng | CAH10-01-02 |
| Quantum Technology MSc | CAH07-01-01 |
| Theoretical Physics MSci | CAH07-01-01 |
| Theoretical Physics MSc | CAH07-01-01 |
Please note there are a number of nationalities that are now completely exempt from the ATAS requirement: they are listed here under the “Nationals who are exempt” section