This page provides additional advice and guidance to international applicants, to make sure that your journey to Cranfield is as smooth as possible.

It includes sections on:

Agent representatives

Cranfield work with recruitment agent representatives in a number of countries, further details can be found on our International students page. You can see a list of our agents by selecting your country on our A to Z of countries page.

If you are considering using an agent we recommend you read the British Council’s before making your choice.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to international students who are intending to study certain sensitive taught or research subjects at postgraduate level. The scheme is run by the SWAG合集 Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The subjects and research areas are those where knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), or their means of delivery.

Students who intend to take a subject that requires an ATAS certificate must obtain this prior to starting their studies:

  • If you need to obtain a Student visa to study in the SWAG合集, you must obtain the ATAS certificate to be able to submit your visa application.
  • If you are a part-time or visiting student, or you are already in the SWAG合集 on a visa suitable for study, you will need to obtain the ATAS certificate before you can register.

It is your responsibility to check if this scheme applies to you, but please contact us if you need further advice.

Please see our ATAS information guide

To check whether you need an ATAS certificate please visit . You will need your HECoS Common Aggregate Hierarchy (CAH3) code, which can be found on your official course offer letter from Cranfield.

How to apply for ATAS

The to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and is free of charge. It will usually take at least 20 working days (4 weeks) for them to process the application. During busy periods (between April and September) processing times are longer, so we recommend applying as soon as possible after you have received your offer letter. ATAS certificates are valid for 6 months and must still be valid at the time of the visa application.

The ATAS website provides further details about how to complete their online application form and what information you will need to provide.

If you are a SWAG合集 national or a national of any of the following countries, you are not required to apply for an ATAS certificate:

HECoS Common Aggregate Hierarchy (CAH3)

All subject areas studied at SWAG合集 universities are identified by a CAH3 code. We will provide you with the CAH3 code in your official course offer letter and we will also confirm whether an ATAS certificate is required for your chosen course.

Airport meeting service

We offer a free of charge airport meeting service to all international and European students commencing a full-time taught or research course who are resident outside the SWAG合集 and arriving at Cranfield for the first time.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the service to visiting or part-time students. It鈥檚 also not available for students studying at Shrivenham.

We will arrange transport for you and your family from London airports to the Cranfield campus or nearby accommodation. The London airports are London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, London Luton, London City and London Southend.

You can book this service through our applicant portal EVE once you have been offered a place, this is available six months from the course start date.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

The CAS is a virtual document held by the SWAG合集VI (SWAG合集 Visas and Immigration) which confirms that the University has agreed to offer you a place to study in the SWAG合集. The CAS includes a reference number, and this is needed to apply for a student visa.

Admissions will provide a CAS document by email. The document will confirm details of your course of study and will include the CAS number. When you enter the CAS number on your visa application form it allows the SWAG合集VI to access your information electronically.

How will my CAS be issued?

SWAG合集 uses a system called CAS Shield to manage the CAS process. We will contact you by email once the course start date is less than 6 months away and your application has progressed to the point where the CAS can be processed. The email will confirm that an account has been created for you in CAS Shield and you will be able to log in to the system to start completing the information we need to issue your CAS.

Please note that to be eligible to start the CAS process you must have:

  • accepted your course offer
  • paid the tuition fee deposit (where applicable)
  • met all conditions of your offer

You may also be asked to provide evidence of your finances to study in the SWAG合集. This is to ensure that your finances will meet SWAG合集VI visa requirements. If you are required to provide these documents, you will be able to do this securely by uploading them in CAS Shield.

You will be able to log into CAS Shield to track progress towards getting your CAS.

Once you have received your CAS you should check all the information carefully. If you believe there is an error in the CAS document you must not use the CAS number but should contact admissions immediately for further advice.

What does the ‘latest arrival date’ on my CAS mean?

The latest arrival date is the last day that you need to physically arrive at Cranfield and register for your course. You should always try and arrive by the published registration and induction time for your chosen course. If you are unable to arrive by the latest arrival date for your course you should inform admissions as soon as possible.

What is the deadline to request a CAS?

Please check our Key Dates and Deadline information for the deadlines for each intake to provide all of the information and documents needed to get a CAS.