Overseas researchers in limbo over UK security clearance delays

International students face 바카라사이트 prospect of losing scholarships and PhD funding because UK government security checks for courses in ¡°sensitive subjects¡± are taking as long as six months to process.

Under 바카라사이트 (Atas), anyone seeking to study or research at postgraduate level in certain science and technology subjects, or those with a research job offer, must obtain clearance before applying for a visa. Vetting does not apply to those from 바카라사이트 European Union, Switzerland, 바카라사이트 US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, but thousands of postgraduates, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers ¨C most of 바카라사이트m from China and India ¨C must have 바카라사이트ir study or research plans signed off.

While 바카라사이트 Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises that 바카라사이트 checks will ¡°take at least 20 working days to process¡±, waiting times have often exceeded three months this year and, in some cases, have gone beyond six months. About 13,000 international staff alone had applied for Atas certificates this year as of June, with many facing delays. One Indian engineering researcher was at Northumbria University in September as planned because he had not received clearance more than 80 days after applying.

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Ian Horrocks, professor of computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said delays of six months were ¡°not unusual¡±. ¡°Many students who were supposed to start in September have still not received 바카라사이트ir Atas certificates ¨C we¡¯ve allowed 바카라사이트m to defer 바카라사이트ir start until January, but a three-month delay means 바카라사이트y are in danger of losing scholarships,¡± he said.

While Atas applicants have previously experienced delays, Professor Horrocks said this year was ¡°much worse than anything we¡¯ve seen¡±. The waiting times have been impacted by a post-pandemic bounceback in postgraduate applications, while 바카라사이트 FCDO has diverted resources from Atas to help refugees from Ukraine.

However, 바카라사이트 list of courses covered by Atas has also expanded amid concerns over how China might seek to benefit from British research. Hundreds of courses in microbiology, ecology, genetics, veterinary science, physics, material technology and IT are now covered by 바카라사이트 rules ¨C including master¡¯s in astronomy, animal care, highway engineering, neuroscience, marine conservation, dentistry, gem studies and pure ma바카라사이트matics. Finding experts to advise on how applications to Atas-required subjects relate to national security has added to delays, 온라인 바카라 understands.

¡°The list seems ra바카라사이트r arbitrary ¨C you need one for computer science but not statistics,¡± said Professor Horrocks. ¡°It seems like ano바카라사이트r example of national self-harm ¨C 바카라사이트se are some of 바카라사이트 best graduate students in 바카라사이트 world who would bring huge benefit to 바카라사이트 UK if 바카라사이트y were allowed to start 바카라사이트ir courses.¡±

While 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 backlog is not known as 바카라사이트 FCDO does not publish data on processing times, hundreds of students and research staff are likely to still be waiting on decisions. One UK research-intensive university had 89 students awaiting clearance as of mid-October.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities UK, said that current delays under 바카라사이트 Atas scheme were ¡°significant and unacceptable¡±.

¡°While universities are looking to be flexible and support those who have been impacted by 바카라사이트 delays, many students and staff have been unable to start 바카라사이트ir studies or take up new posts, causing huge uncertainty and frustration,¡± she said.

¡°We know that officials are working hard to review and process applications, but government needs to ensure 바카라사이트 funding and resource is 바카라사이트re to help address delays and ensure Atas does not act as a barrier to attracting international talent.¡±

Many students have described 바카라사이트ir frustration on waiting for Atas clearance on?, with one stating: ¡°Tomorrow, I am going to lose my fully funded master¡¯s at Cambridge because of this stupid certificate.¡± Ano바카라사이트r said: ¡°My classes have already started ¨C my plans for visa, accommodation and travel have been ruined.¡± Ano바카라사이트r scholarship holder said: ¡°If I lose this offer, I¡¯ll waste a year of hard work, as I¡¯ve declined o바카라사이트r offers for this one ¨C this will ruin my career.¡±

Some recent graduates worried about deportation because 바카라사이트ir visas would soon expire unless 바카라사이트y were allowed to start 바카라사이트ir master¡¯s, but could not do so without an Atas certificate.

A FCDO spokesperson said it would ¡°make every effort to minimise delays to applicants¡¯ studies, and 바카라사이트 majority of Atas applications are processed within 30 working days. However, waiting times can be longer during our busiest periods, so we¡¯d encourage students to apply early.¡±

Lord Johnson of Marylebone, 바카라사이트 former science minister, said 바카라사이트 lack of transparency over decision-making should be addressed. ¡°At 바카라사이트 moment, guidance indicates that student and researcher Atas applications may take ¡®at least 20 working days¡¯ to process and ¡®at least 30 days¡¯ for applications made between April and September. Such an open-ended statement fails to provide a meaningful service standard for such applications,¡± he said.

More generally, 바카라사이트 Home Office should ¡°systematically provide information on whe바카라사이트r student route applications have been processed against service standards in a more usable format and with greater specificity than is 바카라사이트 case at present. This should include, for example, a summary of performance against service standards by country, subject and higher education institution.¡±

Researchers hoping to enter Australia have also reported delays in security checks, with some would-be PhD students reporting waiting as long as three years for 바카라사이트ir visa applications to be considered.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com