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)
Visiting Students
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.
Apply for an ATAS certificate
If we offer you a place to study and you require an ATAS certificate, we will contact you via Bath Application Tracker or directly via email with the details to complete the application.
You should apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as possible, as you'll need it if you are applying for a Student visa or a Standard Visitor visa application. You will also need the ATAS certificate to be able to register for your course. Processing typically takes 30 working days, but may take longer in summer. Your ATAS certificate is valid for visa applications for six months from the issue date.
If we confirm that you need an ATAS certificate, you can apply for it through the UK government website.
Please consult our guide on how to complete the ATAS application.
You'll need to provide details of two referees you've known for three years or more, preferably academic contacts from your home studies. If you don't have overseas referees, consult an adviser as a UK-based referee may be acceptable.
Full details are available on the UK government website.
Undergraduate Master's and Taught Postgraduate students
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 and Visiting Research Scholars
You must include your research abstract or a list of modules if your first year includes taught modules.
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 is valid for the duration of your course or research. You must re-apply if any of the following occur:
- you change course to one requiring ATAS clearance
- you apply for a new Student or Standard Visitor visa for an ATAS course
- you wish to study or research at a different institution not listed on your ATAS certificate
- your course or research is extended by more than 3 months
- your Director of Studies or Supervisor changes
- there are significant changes to your course content or research proposal
- your financial sponsor or sponsorship conditions change