The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate
Information for Research Supervisors
Students who wish to study a postgraduate course in the United Kingdom may need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
ATAS is only required for certain courses and prospective students will need this document before they apply for their visa. Broadly, students researching in the areas of subjects allied to medicine; biological sciences; veterinary sciences, agriculture and related subjects; physical sciences, mathematical and computer sciences; engineering; and technologies will need an ATAS certificate. To find further information as to whether your research students will require an ATAS certificate please go to http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/atas/who-atas/phd-or-other . This website lists the JACS[1] codes that require a certificate.
ATAS certificates apply to postgraduate students who need a visa to study in the UK, or who wish to extend their current leave to remain as a student. Please click on the following link for full details of the scheme: http://www.fco.gov.uk/atas
ATAS approval is included on the Research Degree Application Decision Sheet which is contained within the Anglia Ruskin University Senate Code of Practice on Postgraduate Research Programmes 2008/2009 – See Appendix 2 (page 38/39).
http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/academic/public/research_degrees_proc_doc.pdf
If you need any further advice on ATAS, please contact Admissions () or the International Office ().
Jill Smit and Caroline Strange
30 July 2010
[1] JACS is the Joint Academic Coding System - the full list of JACS may be found at http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/view/1805/296/