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Published online 7 November 2007 | Nature | doi:10.1038/450140a
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Foreign students face extra UK security checks
Science graduates to be vetted before visa applications.
The British government has quietly introduced a programme of security checks on foreign students coming to the United Kingdom for graduate studies in the sciences and engineering.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) began on 1 November.
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“You can think of half a dozen countries where you don’t want this technology getting into the wrong hands,â€... Can you think of a country in which you DO want this technology getting into the wrong hands?
This is a policy based on ignorance and fear with no evidence that it worked in The United States. The reasons it is stupid are plenty and obvious. Academic research into Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics are mostly in the public domain so anybody, anywhere has access to it. The exclusion of EU students is ignoring the rise of the home grown cells. A comment that 'You can think of half a dozen countries where you don't want this technology getting into the wrong hands' according to an anonymous 'spokesman' for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office sounds like a policy without much thought. What is considered 'sensitive'. Politicians should not and can not be allowed to dictate who gets an education and who doesn't by virtue of your country of origin or your surname or your family connections. You can't have a monopoly on intellect. If we allow this, the UK will suffer the most intellectually as other countries with capable academic Institutions will recruit from under our noses. This has been so quiet the British media and student bodies have not made a sound. We should not stay too quiet.
A security check is conducted on all foreign nationals wishing to enter the United Kingdom when they apply for a visa. A person must, therefore, have security clearance when he/ she enters the U.K. What will this extra security check achieve and how is it different from the usual security checks? Also, fields such as nuclear technology include not just fundamental nuclear physics, but also encompass fields, such as,electrical and mechanical engineering. What will be the criteria of student selection?
I am a student at The University of Manchester.I finished a One-year MSc course in Materials School and got a scholarship from EPSRC,School of Materials and my supervisor to continue my studies at PhD level.After 2 month when I appliaed for Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) to extend my visa, I was rejected by Foreign and Commonwealth Office.It was a shocking news for me and my supervisor since none of us could say I was going to be rejected even for one percent.The head of the Materials School wrote a supportive letter to Foreign and Commonwealth Office, but they rejected my appeal without giving any reason.I feel very discriminated and sad about this problem. I have contacted the local MP, and some legal advice centers who are working on my case. My school is trying to solve my problem as well. But, up to know, we have not reached any results. In a letter, I have told to Foreign Office that I am ready to help them to become clearer about my case by any means, but during processing my case they have not even contacted the British academic references I had provided in my ATAS application. I need to reach my voice to high ranking officials to explain them how discriminating these schemes could be for a student like me who is here for his pure interest in science and research.