What is an ATAS certificate?
ATAS is a UK government scheme for international students who plan to study certain subjects in the UK. The ATAS certificate must state the institution where you plan to study and any course units you might take.
Who should apply for an ATAS certificate
If you are an international student applying for certain undergraduate master's or postgraduate subjects, you may need to apply for an ATAS certificate.
Unless you are exempt, if your course is on one of the lists below, you will need to apply for an ATAS certificate where:
- you have a form of time limited immigration permission or visa for the UK
- you are applying for a Student visa
- you are applying for a Standard Visitor Visa or are planning on entering as a visitor at the UK border
- you are applying for asylum in the UK
You do not need an ATAS certificate if:
- you are a UK, EU, EEA or Swiss national, or a national of the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, United States of America
- you are applying for an undergraduate course that does not lead to a master's degree
- you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
Undergraduate Master's course that need ATAS clearance
You must apply for an ATAS certificate if you need a visa to study in the UK as an undergraduate student and have an offer to study:
- MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with Environmental Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with Environmental Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Integrated Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Integrated Mechanical & Electrical Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Integrated Design Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Integrated Design Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management with professional placement
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical with Automotive Engineering
- MEng (Hons) Mechanical with Automotive Engineering with professional placement
- MPhys (Hons) Physics
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with research placement
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with professional placement, research placement or study abroad
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with research placement
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with professional placement, research placement or study abroad
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with research placement
- MPhys (Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with professional placement, research placement or study abroad
- MSci (Hons) Mathematics and Physics
- MSci (Hons) Mathematics and Physics with professional placement or study abroad
Taught Postgraduate courses that need ATAS clearance
You must apply for an ATAS certificate if you need a visa to study in the UK as a postgraduate student and have an offer to study:
- MSc Environmental Engineering (full-time)
- MSc Environmental Engineering with 5 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
- MSc Environmental Engineering with 10 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
- MSc Engineering Business Management (full-time)
- MSc Engineering Business Management with 10 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
- MSc Engineering Business Management with 5 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
- MSc Engineering Business Management (online learning)
- MSc Innovation and Technology Management (full-time)
- MSc Innovation and Technology Management with 5 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
- MSc Innovation and Technology Management with 10 week pre-sessional English (full-time)
Doctoral courses that need ATAS clearance
You must apply for an ATAS certificate if you require a visa to study in the UK and have an offer for a doctoral course in one of the following faculties:
- Faculty of Science (excluding Statistics)
- Faculty of Engineering and Design (excluding Architecture)
Students on a Standard Visitor Visa
You must apply for an ATAS certificate if you require a Standard Visitor visa to study in the UK or if you are a non visa national asking for permission to enter the UK, and will be studying in one of the following faculties:
- Faculty of Science (excluding Statistics)
- Faculty of Engineering and Design (excluding Architecture)
Please note, you will need a new ATAS certificate every time you make a Standard Visitor visa application.
When to apply for an ATAS certificate
Student visa applicants
If we offer you a place to study and you need an ATAS certificate, we will contact you through Bath Application Tracker and give you the information you need to complete the application process.
You should apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as we contact you because you will need it to apply for your visa. It usually takes at least 30 working days for applications to be processed, but it may take longer in the summer. You can use your ATAS certificate to apply for your visa for six months from the date it is issued.
If you are already studying in the UK and need to make a new visa application, you will need a new ATAS certificate.
Standard Visitor visa applicants
If we offer you a place to study and you need an ATAS certificate, the Doctoral College will contact you and give you the information you need to complete the application process.
You should apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as we contact you because you will need it to apply for your visa. It usually takes at least 30 working days for applications to be processed, but it may take longer in the summer. An ATAS certificate is valid for six months from the date it is issued.
How to apply for an ATAS certificate
If we confirm that you need an ATAS certificate, you can apply for it through the UK government website.
You will need to provide details of two referees who you have known for three years or more. These should be academic contacts from your studies at home. Consult an adviser if you do not think you have any referees based overseas - it may be possible to use one based in the UK.
Full details of the scheme can be found on the UK government website.
Undergraduate master's and taught postgraduate students
If you are studying an undergraduate master's or a taught postgraduate course, we will send you a list of units applicable to your course. You must include the full list of units in your ATAS application.
Doctoral students
If you are a doctoral student, you must include your research abstract or the list of your modules if your first year comprises of taught modules, when you apply for your ATAS certificate.
If you are a visiting research scholar, you must include your research abstract when you apply for your ATAS certificate.
This information must be accurate, so please contact the Doctoral College if you do not have your official research abstract or list of taught modules.
When you need to reapply for an ATAS certificate
An ATAS certificate, once granted remains valid for the duration of your course or period of research. You will be required to re-apply for a new ATAS certificate if, at any point during your studies, any of the following apply to you:
- you change course and the new programme also requires ATAS clearance
- you are required to apply for a new Student visa or Standard visitor visa and you are studying an ATAS course
- you wish to study or undertake research at another University / Higher Education Institution / Research Institution which is not already listed on your ATAS certificate
- your course or research is extended by more than 3 months
- your Director of Studies or Primary Supervisor changes
- there are any substantial changes to the course content (or research proposal)
- your financial sponsor or the conditions of your financial sponsorship change
- you are studying a research PhD course and there are major changes to the areas of research or the use of any new research technique