Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

If you need to apply for Student immigration permission to study with us, you will be required to provide the university with a copy of your ATAS certificate to obtain a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) to start or continue your course and, will also provide it to UK Visas and Immigration when you make your application for Student immigration permission.

An ATAS certificate is valid for 6 months to make an application for Student immigration permission. If your course details or dates change or, your ATAS certificate will have expired before you submit your application online, you will need to obtain a new one before you can apply.

If we issue you with a CAS to study with us, we will be your Student Sponsor and you will have additional responsibilities to us and to the Home Office. Please read our student directory for more information about your responsibilities as a sponsored student (immigration).

The FCDO recommend you apply for ATAS 6 months before your new course is due to start.

To register and start your Essex course, you must provide our Admissions team with a copy of your ATAS certificate, before your course start date.

If you need to apply for Student immigration permission, the university will only issue you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) when we have received evidence of your ATAS clearance and all other checks have been completed.

If you are unable to obtain a new ATAS in time to start your course or have any other questions, please contact Admissions for advice.

After you have registered and started your course, if there are any changes to your subject area or you need more time to complete your course, you must check if you require a new ATAS certificate and obtain clearance where applicable, otherwise you may not be able to continue your course. If you make an official request to change your course and it is agreed, you should be made aware if ATAS clearance will be required.

If you are a national of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA and you applied for your current visa or immigration status before the 5th of October 2020, you will still need to apply for ATAS clearance if your course details change but not if you are applying for a new immigration permission as you will be exempt, please note that the government website will tell you that you do not require ATAS, this is incorrect, you should still sign in and apply.

A new ATAS clearance certificate may be required, in the following circumstances, if you are not exempt:

• The course or research subject is one that requires ATAS clearance and;
• You need to apply for Student immigration permission to complete your course or:
  • You will need to send us your new ATAS certificate before we can complete all our checks to issue you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). The FCDO recommend you apply for ATAS clearance 4 months before your immigration permission is due to expire.
• You change your course, area of research or modules or your course end date is postponed by more than 3 calendar months but you do not need to apply for Student immigration permission.
  • You must apply for your new ATAS certificate within 28 days of the date the change is confirmed to you by the university in writing. This includes whilst completing your thesis, waiting for your viva or completing corrections inside the UK.

Before you apply for your new ATAS clearance certificate, you will require confirmation of your CAH3 code from the University, to obtain this you will need to do the following:

• Firstly, contact your supervisor/department and agree a research statement that reflects the status of your current research, then when you have received the statement:
• Email the International Services team to request the CAH3 code, you will need to include all the following information in your email:
  • Type “Request for a CAH3 code to apply for a new ATAS” in the subject heading or body of email
  • The full research statement that has been agreed with your supervisor/department
  • Your full name
  • Your Essex PRID and registration number

As soon as you have obtained your new ATAS certificate you must send a copy to our International Services team.

If you are inside the UK and are not able to obtain your ATAS certificate in time to apply for permission to stay longer under the Student route, you are likely to have to leave the UK but may be able to apply overseas.

If you are unable to obtain a new ATAS in time to continue your course, apply for permission to stay or have any other questions, please contact our International Services team for advice by completing our online enquiry form for current students.