Visas and immigration

Some postgraduate research students bring their families with them to Manchester for the duration of their study. Unfortunately, there are very limited opportunities for taught students to bring their families as a result of UKVI policy changes.  

If you’re thinking of bringing your family, make sure you understand all of the immigration rules and find out exactly what is required before you and your family travel to the UK. You may find it helpful to consult the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website for further information, depending on when you plan to arrive in the UK. If you have any questions about bringing your family to the UK, please contact visa@manchester.ac.uk.  

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) is designed to provide additional security checks on students who study certain science and engineering courses. The scheme is managed by the ATAS Team based at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 

Your offer letter will tell you if your programme requires an ATAS certificate. You’ll need to apply if you: 

• aren't an EU/EEA national or other exempt nationality, and;
• you have limited leave to remain in the UK as a dependant, as a student or work visa holder, or you are an asylum seeker or refugee, and;
• you're studying certain science and technology subjects at a postgraduate level (including most integrated master's courses such as MEng, MPhys and MSci).  

 If you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you don't require ATAS clearance. You also don't need an ATAS certificate if you are a dual national and one of your nationalities is for an exempt country.

The average time for the FCDO to process ATAS clearance applications is at least six weeks. It is not possible to expedite applications for ATAS clearance.

The ATAS team will sometimes email applicants for additional information. Remember to check your email account regularly and respond promptly with the requested details.  

Further information regarding ATAS certificates can be found on our Student Support pages.

Volunteering or getting a part-time job is one of the best ways of making a successful transition to a new country and community. You can make money, achieve something and expand your circle of friends.

In the UK, certain roles that include working regularly with children or vulnerable adults require you to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. This allows organisations to check the criminal records of employees and volunteers, in order to ascertain whether or not they are suitable to work with children or adults at risk. If you're coming to the UK from another country, it won't be possible to complete a DBS check because the UK police forces won't be able to access your records.

Instead, you can prove your suitability for these kind of roles by obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct. Each country gives a different name to this process, with common names including ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’, ‘Certificate of No Criminal Conviction’ and ‘National Police Check’. The process for applying for one of these checks is different in every country. For some countries you can obtain the certificate from abroad or through your Embassy but there are many places where the application needs to be made in person. This means if you're interested in volunteering or working part-time in these kinds of settings – schools, youth groups, hospitals, care homes – you should check whether you need to get the document before you leave.

International students who have successfully completed a bachelor's or master’s degree are able to apply for the Graduate Visa to remain in the UK for 18 months to work after graduation if they are eligible.

PhD students who successfully complete their PhD course will be able to stay for up to three years. The work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship.