Imperial has adopted a risk-based application process ensuring that research is submitted to a suitable level of review based on the level of risk posed. The research ethics risk checklist [Word] can help determine whether your research is considered low or high risk.
Step 1 - Prepare Worktribe application
You will need to follow the application steps by accessing Worktribe and creating an ethics application which will need to be approved by your Supervisor (if you are a student) and the Head of Department. Please note, this system has an inbuilt application form, the documents listed below must completed and attached to the “documents” tab.
Staff and students will need to be set up on the Worktribe system to create ethics applications. Please email the Worktribe Admin mailbox to request the ability to create ethics applications. If you are funded by a research grant, please ask your supervisor for the research grant P number, and provide the P number in your email.
If your application concerns pedagogic research study please follow the Educational Ethics Review Process (EERP).
Please refer to the guidance documents: Worktribe Guidance Applicant [Word] and the Applicant Worktribe Quick Guide [Word].
Worktribe Guidance HoD [Word] also applicable to Supervisors of student ethics application.
Step 2 - Prepare appropriate documents
Prepare the appropriate documents for your application according to your research type:
- Health-related studies need to complete the ICREC documentation
- Non-health-related studies need to complete the SETREC documentation
To ensure you are submitting the correct documents, you can consult the Research Ethics application checklist [Word].
ICREC applications | SETREC applications |
---|---|
For primary data collection | |
ICREC Primary Data Protocol Template [Word] | SETREC Primary Data Research Methods-Protocol Template [Word] |
ICREC Participant Information Sheet (word) | SETREC Participant Information Sheet (word) |
Consent Form ICREC (word) | Consent Form SETREC (word) |
For secondary data collection | |
ICREC Secondary Data Protocol Template [Word] | SETREC Secondary Data Protocol Template [Word] |
Please also submit any other participant facing documentation. This includes surveys, semi-structure interview guides and focus group topic guides. In addition, any recruitment materials (e.g. posters, invitation e-mails, social media adverts) need to be submitted. All documents need a version/date added.
The Committee guidance is useful to refer to for completing an ethical application.
Additional steps
- Step 3 - Head of Department approval
- Step 4 - Research Governance and Integrity Team (RGIT) approval
- Step 5 - Committee approval
- Tips for making a successful application
Please note: after being approved, there are a number of responsibilities that you will need to maintain - find out more about these on the post-approval responsibilities page.