Information for School Research Ethics Review Applicants

Application Process

Lead project investigators, postgraduate student supervisors and undergraduate course tutors are responsible for deciding whether a project requires ethical review and which process should apply (i.e the NHS route or the School route). They should consult the University Research Ethics Policy and seek advice from the Ethics Advisors, the Ethics Administrator or any of the Ethics Review Panel members to make an informed decision.

Staff and PGR students who decide that their project requires ethical review via the School process should complete the School Research Ethics Review Application Form for Staff and PGR students.

Undergradaute Students and Postgraduate Taught students' supervisors should decide whether the project is low or high risk. If the project is low risk the form for School Research Ethics Review Application Form for Undergraduates and PGT students should be completed and the student and supervisor signs Annex 1 of the form.

If the supervisor classes the project as potentially high risk the same form should be completed with Annex 2 being signed by the supervisor and sent to the Research Ethics Administrator to send out for review.

This should be accompanied as appropriate by:

• a completed participant information sheet
• covering letter
• pre-written script
• a completed participant consent form
• any other documents used in the study

Further information on completing the form and supporting documents is available from The University Research & Innovation Services Research Ethics webpages.

Completed forms should be sent to the School Research Ethics Administrator who will administer the process.

Staff and postgraduate researcher projects will receive three reviews and undergraduate student and taught postgraduate research projects will receive two, one of which can be from the supervisor.

Feedback

Applicants should expect to receive feedback from the reviewers within ten working days. In holiday periods this may be longer.

Applicants may receive the following feedback:

• Application is approved.
• Application is approved with suggested amendments (which are optional).
• Application is not approved and is subject to certain requirements (which are compulsory).
• Face to face meeting between reviewers and applicant requested.
• Application is not approved (applicant can appeal or s/he can choose to change the project).
• Application is referred to the School Research Ethics Review Panel, can be approved or not approved.

In the event of a contentious decision applicants may appeal to the School Research Ethics Review Panel. If a decision made by this panel is contested the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) can be consulted.

Record Keeping and Monitoring

The School Research Ethics Administrator will keep records of all the correspondence associated with an application. Final approved documents will be given a reference number and retained by the School Research Ethics Administrator and returned to the applicant. These are the documents that must be used in the study.

Principal Investigators should keep their own copies of the final approved referenced documents. If any amendments are made to the documents the School's Research Ethics Administrator should be informed of any proposed changes to these documents.

The University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) will monitor these arrangements from time to time.