ATAS Application Instructions

Applicants who are holding an offer for Chemical Engineering and require a Tier 4 visa to study in the
UK are required to obtain an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate in order to
make a valid application for a visa or extension of stay.
We believe that you fit the above conditions and therefore are required to apply for an ATAS
certificate. You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to 6 months in advance of the beginning of your
course and we strongly recommend that you submit your application at your earliest convenience.
Please note that if you require an ATAS certificate you will need to apply for this before applying for
your visa or extension of stay. The possession of an ATAS certificate does not guarantee you a visa or
extension of stay. However, applications will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS
certificate and cannot provide one.
You will require ATAS clearance and a Tier 4 visa before starting your course.
To apply online for an ATAS certificate, go to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme registration
page of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website. You will need the following
information:
Your offer letter from the College which should include your course (Chemical Engineering
via Engineering or Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences) and the correct JACS code
(H810 for Chemical Engineering via Engineering; H813 for Chemical Engineering via Natural
Sciences). You must ensure that the text you enter on your ATAS application is exactly the
same as the text on your offer letter. If the two documents do not match, it is likely that
you will have difficulties when applying for your visa or extension of stay
The research statement outlining the subjects you could cover on the course, which has
been provided with these instructions
Your contact details
Your passport details
Name and nationality of your spouse/partner (if applicable)
Full details of all previous studies
Full details of any previous and current employment
Previous ATAS applications
Full names and contact details of 2 referees (first name(s) and family name). You must have
known both of your referees for at least three years. At least one of these must be an
academic from your country of origin
How you will be funding your studies
The application for an ATAS certificate is free and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The
Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently aims to process all ATAS applications within 20 working
days. You will be sent an initial email acknowledging your application and a further email, within 4
weeks, with the result of your application, including an ATAS clearance certificate, if approved.
Please note that if you do not make a complete application, and the FCO request further details,
your application will take a further 20 working days.

If you have technical problems while submitting your ATAS application, please try a different
browser the FCO advises that the ATAS website works best in Internet Explorer. If difficulties
persist, or you require any additional assistance from the University, please contact
AtasHelp@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Further information regarding applying for an ATAS certificate can be found on the ATAS section of
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
Deferred Entry Applicants
If you applied in the 2013 admissions cycle, but deferred your entry to the University until 2014, you
will need to apply for an ATAS certificate this year, as outlined above. This is the case even if you
gained clearance last year, as the certificate is only valid for 6 months.
If you have applied in the 2014 admissions cycle, but have deferred your entry to the University until
2015, you do not need to apply for an ATAS clearance until this time next year, as the certificate is
only valid for 6 months.