Human Research Ethics

Research Degree Projects (MPhil/PhD) Procedure

Ethical review procedure

Broadly the same procedures as are specified for undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes should be followed in that the following Ethical Review form   should be completed.

• The Research Student completes the form and attaches appropriate supporting evidence, e.g. copies of the ‘Application for Registration’ form (RDC: R form), the consent form, any survey instrument, or statement of competence to undertake research, to ensure that the reviewer is able to assess the Human research ethics implications of the research project.
• There are the same four possible outcomes
  1. No ethical issues
  2. Minor ethical issues which have been addressed and concerns resolved
  3. Major ethical issues which have been addressed and concerns resolved
  4. Ethical issues that have not been resolved
• The Research Student’s first supervisor should sign the Ethical Review form for projects in the first two categories. A copy of the signed form should be submitted to the Chair of the Faculty Human Research Ethics Committee for approval. A copy of the approved Ethical Review form signed by the Chair should be submitted to the Faculty Assessor with the student’s ‘Application to Register for a Higher Degree’ form. (See procedure for Registration for a Higher Degree.)
• Projects with the third outcome should be signed by the Project supervisor and a copy of the review form submitted to the Faculty Human Research Ethics Committee for approval.
• Projects with the fourth outcome should be signed by the project supervisor and a copy of the review form submitted to the Faculty Human Research Ethics committee for resolution. These projects cannot commence until the matter is resolved.
• Copies of Ethical Review forms to be considered by the Faculty Human Research Ethics committee should be handed in to the CSE Faculty Office, Gateway House 4.11, marked for the attention of the Committee.