The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is a scheme of the British government for certifying foreign students from outside the
EU for entry into the United Kingdom to study or conduct research in certain sensitive technology-related fields. For these students, obtaining an ATAS certificate is a prerequisite for obtaining a visa. The ATAS was introduced on 1 November 2007 to prevent dissemination outside the UK of knowledge and skills that can be used to build and deliver
weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a Biological agent, biological, chemical weapon, chemical, Radiological weapon, radiological, nuclear weapon, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill or significantly harm many people or cause great dam ...
(WMD), by ensuring that applicants do not have links to Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), WMD programmes and their means of delivery.
Affected students undergo a screening system to validate their reasons for coming to the UK.
["Unis must ID students in suspicious subjects", Time Online website]
/ref>
According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom.
The office was created on 2 ...
, the checks will attempt to filter out those students whose intentions are adverse to national security. Areas of study at which the ATAS is directed are chemistry, engineering, physics, biophysics, metallurgy and microbiology.
In the earlier "Voluntary Vetting Scheme", some universities (such as Bristol University
The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had ...
) were voluntarily reporting suspicious students from certain countries (including Iran and Egypt) to the government.["Postgrad checks worry scientists", BBC News]
/ref> With the introduction of ATAS, Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
, which had refused to take part in the voluntary system, was required to cooperate with the authorities, too.[
ATAS was expanded on 1 October 2020 to include Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT).
In March 2021, the FCDO informed universities that all researchers would require ATAS from 21 May.
]
References
External links
ATAS website
{{Authority control
Border control
Counterterrorism in the United Kingdom
Higher education in the United Kingdom