An Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate (ATAS Certificate) is required if:
Not all courses at the University require students to have an ATAS Certificate. To check the ATAS requirement for the course you have applied for click here to access the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. You will need to enter the CAH3 code(s) for your course which can be found on your University of Southampton offer letter.
If you do need ATAS clearance to study your chosen course then you must get an ATAS Certificate before you make your visa application. ATAS applies to all visa types including the short-term study visa.
UK immigration law does not allow Universities to register international students for a course requiring ATAS until the ATAS certificate has been issued.
An ATAS certificate shows details of the course and University you have an offer from. When you apply for your visa, you must only use an ATAS Certificate that is valid for that University and course, you cannot use a certificate for another University or course.
You will also need a new ATAS certificate if you change courses, or if you want to extend leave to remain as a student. For information about ATAS for current students, click here.
Full information about ATAS can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
To apply for ATAS you must complete the Foreign and Commonwealth Office online application form .
Before starting your application for ATAS, please ensure that you read the Foreign and Commonwealth Office online guidance fully. Failure to answer any of the questions will delay the processing of your ATAS application.
You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to nine months before the start date of your course. We recommend that you apply as early as possible to allow yourself enough time to apply for your visa after receiving your ATAS clearance. You need only hold a conditional offer when making an application for ATAS. You do not have to have accepted your offer. We recommend that you apply for your ATAS certificate at least six months before the start of your course or as soon as you receive your offer if it is less than six months before the start of your course. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes between four and six weeks to issue ATAS clearance, although it can sometimes take longer.
The online application form has ten sections, which must be completed in full, with as much detail as possible provided for each section. Everything that is typed into this form is used to assess your application.
You will need to provide the following information which can be found on your offer letter:
This information can be found in your offer letter. If you have not received this information, please contact your Faculty Admissions Team.
An ATAS certificate is valid for a period of six months from the date of issue. You must ensure that you have received ATAS clearance before making your visa application. Your visa application will be refused if you do not have an ATAS Certificate. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes between four and six weeks to issue ATAS clearance, although it can sometimes take longer.
Once ATAS clearance is granted, it will provide you with a certificate which you will need when making your visa application. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will also inform the University that it has issued you with clearance.
Should you have any further questions please contact the University of Southampton ATAS Team at atas@soton.ac.uk.