Apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate
Updated on: 29 May 2024
Understand who needs to apply for an ATAS certificate, how and when.
If you need an ATAS certificate, the University will contact you after you receive your offer to study and will give you the information you’ll need to apply for the certificate.
All international students and researchers who are coming to the UK to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects, must apply for an ATAS certificate. Some nationalities do not have to apply. Read the UK government’s website to understand the rules and exceptions that apply to the ATAS certificate.
The certificate is designed to ensure that those applying to study a sensitive subject do not obtain knowledge that could potentially be used to develop or deliver weapons of mass destruction.
You may need an ATAS certificate if you have applied to:
- study an undergraduate course that leads to an Integrated Masters degree
- study a postgraduate taught programme
- study a postgraduate research degree
- attend the University as a visiting researcher.
Before you apply, check if you need an ATAS certificate. When checking, you must use the CAH3 code that applies to your course or research. This code and your statement of research will be emailed to you. Email advint@st-andrews.ac.uk if you haven’t received them.
When and how to apply
You must apply for your ATAS certificate before you apply for your visa to study in the UK. You should apply as soon as you can as decisions on applications can take four to six weeks.
You will also need to make an ATAS application if:
- you are changing to an ATAS registered course
- you are returning from a leave of absence
- your original course end date is extended by more than three months.
For more information, read the UK government’s guidance on how to apply for an ATAS certificate.
Research students
If you are a research student, you must work with your supervisor to create your statement of research.
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