University ethical review

For all Faculties apart from Medicine and Health, email your completed application form to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Senior Research Ethics Administrator.

For staff and students based in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, your application should be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Faculty of Medicine and Health Research Ethics and Governance Administrator .

Which application form to use?

Application form for University ethical review (staff and students)
Guidance to help you complete the application form
Applying for light touch ethical review
Application form for block approval (to be completed by the module leader - for a number of similar projects carried out by students within a taught module)
Applying for an amendment

Guidance

University Guidance on Identifying Ethical Issues
Applicant checklist
Further information on process and responsibilities for block approval

Creating your informed consent documents

If you are going to be using a participant information sheet and consent form, examples of the forms you will be using need to be included with your application for ethical review.
Guidance on preparing the participant information sheet
Example participant consent form
Example participant consent form for low risk research

Example applications

Example application from a PhD student
Example application – research involving elite interviews

Tips for speeding up the review process

You should allow 6 weeks for the ethical review process to take place, however the process can be quicker if you do the following:

• Answer all the questions on the application form.
• Sign the form. Electronic signatures are acceptable or alternatively you could email a scanned pdf of the signed form.
• If you are a student, one of your supervisors needs to check and sign the form before it is submitted.
• Include any relevant supporting material with your application (eg participant information sheet, consent form, recruitment poster etc).
• Complete the Applicant checklist

Externally funded research

For externally funded project ethical review should be performed once a grant is awarded but before a project starts. Ethical review can be arranged at the application stage if your funder requires this. COSTA should be updated accordingly.

Other areas you may be interested in:

• Example applications and comments from applicants
• Data protection and research
• Data backup and storage
• Ethical review FAQs