ATAS: Visas for UK Science PhDs

UK Requirements for International Postgraduate Science Students

© Alistair McCulloch

Oct 10, 2007

ATAS, the Academic Technology Application Scheme, is the new post-9/11 visa requirement for international postgraduate students seeking to study science in the UK

Following increasing concern over the perceived post-9/11 security threat posed to the UK by overseas or international students seeking to study in the area of science, the UK government has revised the visa requirements for such students wishing to study a number of subjects at postgraduate level. The ATAS, the Academic Technology Application Scheme, will be compulsory from 1 November 2007 and will apply to all non-EU/EEA nationals applying for visas to study (or seeking to extend their existing visas) in certain, well-defined areas (the areas are defined by their JACs code – the UK classification of subjects).

For Taught Masters Programmes

These areas are (the JACs follows each area):

For Doctoral programmes and other research degrees (PhD and MPhil with the possibility of transfer to PhD), ATAS covers many more areas.

Subjects Allied to Medicine

Biological Sciences

Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and Related Subjects

Physical Sciences

Mathematical and Computer Sciences

Engineering

Technologies

In order to apply, potential research students will need to provide a ‘meaningful but brief description of the research to be undertaken’ which should be developed in conjunction with the proposed supervisory team.

These descriptions are likely to be rejected if they are either too short or contain too much detail (80-100 words should be sufficient), or they contain insufficient information on methodology or use of the research (paying particular attention to potential military uses).

Distance-learning students who have to visit the UK for short periods of time only will not have to obtain an ATAS certificate. They will be required to apply for a Student Visitor’s Visa and universities will have to satisfy themselves that any outputs from the research or programme of study is not going to be used outside the UK in a Weapons of Mass Destruction programme. (This requirement stems from the Export Control Act 2002.)

The on-line application system is free and the process is expected to add an additional 10-14 days to the existing six-week period it takes to obtain a student visa.

A crucial piece of advice for students NOT studying in one of the areas identified above is to quote their JACs code on their application for a visa. As long as it's not one of those listed, it should not be necessary to go through ATAS and the application should be expedited. (The JACs codes can be found at the HESA website.)

International students considering applying to the UK for postgraduate study in these areas should do so in good time and after making contact with their ‘applicant university’ for answers to any queries that might have.


The copyright of the article ATAS: Visas for UK Science PhDs in Graduate Schools is owned by Alistair McCulloch. Permission to republish ATAS: Visas for UK Science PhDs must be granted by the author in writing.




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