Request ethical approval
If you're a member of University staff or a student, you can apply for ethical approval through the University's Ethical Review Manager.
Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body
Request approval for research that involves animals in any way.
Submission process and deadlines for AWERB
The AWERB panel meets regularly throughout the year to consider ethical approval applications. See their schedule of upcoming meetings below.
Applications are reviewed weekly, we aim to have an outcome within 10 working days. Please submit your application through ERM.
| Meeting date | Time |
|---|---|
| 11 Dec 2020 | 10:00 - 12:00 |
| 12 March 2021 | 10:00 - 12:00 |
| 11 June 2021 | 10:00 - 12:00 |
| 17 Sept 2021 | 10:00 - 12:00 |
| 10 Dec 2021 | 10:00 - 12:00 |
Contact awerb@stir.ac.uk
Related links for AWERB
- ASPA Guidelines
- European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1991)
- European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (Revised) (2006)
- Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997
- ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments)
- Prepare Guidelines checklist (Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence)
- Norecopa Prepare guidlines and information about the checklist
NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research
For health/patient research and other research involving physically invasive procedures or intrusive interventions on human participants.
Submission process and deadlines for NICR
Additional Approval
Approval through NICR should proceed as outlined below.
Staff applying to IRAS
Staff applying through IRAS for ethical approval of their study should complete and submit an IRAS application form. Staff do not require NICR approval before they submit through IRAS.
Once submitted staff should also lodge details of their IRAS application through the Ethics Review Manager (ERM) where they will be asked to upload a PDF copy of their IRAS application.
Students
Students should complete an IRAS application form, but not submit it. Instead, they should save a copy of the IRAS PDF form and submit it through ERM for review by the NICR Panel. Only once NICR have granted approval for submission through IRAS should the application be submitted.
You must discuss with the appropriate NHD R&D Office as to whether NHS R&D approval ONLY is required, or whether NHS R&D and NHS REC approval is required, and seek guidance from them as to the subsequent application process.
The NICR panel meets regularly throughout the year to consider ethical approval applications. See their schedule of upcoming meetings and submission deadlines below.
|
Applications due (5pm) |
Meeting date |
| 11 Jan 2021 | 26 Jan 2021 |
| 08 Feb 2021 | 23 Feb 2021 |
| 08 Mar 2021 | 23 Mar 2021 |
| 05 Apr 2021 | 20 Apr 2021 |
| 03 May 2021 | 18 May 2021 |
| 31 May 2021 | 15 June 2021 |
| 02 Aug 2021 | 17 Aug 2021 |
| 30 Aug 2021 | 14 Sept 2021 |
| 27 Sept 2021 | 12 Oct 2021 |
| 25 Oct 2021 | 09 Nov 2021 |
| 29 Nov 2021 | 14 Dec 2021 |
Related links for NICR
- HRA Learning and Development
- IRAS Guidance
- NHS Health Research Authority
- HRA Guidance on the General Data Protection Regulation
- Public Patient Involvement (PPI) Guidance (INVOLVE)
- Human Tissue Authority Codes of Practice
- Relevant material under the Human Tissue Act 2004
- Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health research resources
- UK Policy framework for health and social care (2018)
- HRA Amending an approval
- Applying a proportionate approach to the process of seeking consent (HRA Guidance)
General University Ethics Panel
For all other research which has ethical considerations, for example social, digital, environmental.
Submission deadlines
The GUEP panel meets regularly throughout the year to consider ethical approval applications. See their schedule of upcoming meetings and submission deadlines below.
| Applications due (5pm) | Meeting date |
|---|---|
| 27 Nov 2020 | 15 Dec 2020 |
| 05 Jan 2021 | 19 Jan 2021 |
| 29 Jan 2021 | 16 Feb 2021 |
| 26 Feb 2021 | 16 Mar 2021 |
| 26 Mar 2021 | 13 Apr 2021 |
| 23 Apr 2021 | 11 May 2021 |
| 21 May 2021 | 08 Jun 2021 |
| 18 Jun 2021 | 06 Jul 2021 |
| 23 Jul 2021 | 10 Aug 2021 |
| 20 Aug 2021 | 07 Sept 2021 |
| 17 Sept 2021 | 05 Oct 2021 |
| 15 Oct 2021 | 02 Nov 2021 |
| 19 Nov 2021 | 07 Dec 2021 |
Contact guep@stir.ac.uk
Related links
- Concordat to Support Research Integrity
- European Charter for Researchers
- European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2011)
- UKRI Research Integrity Guidance
- Singapore Statement on Research Integrity
- Flesch Reading Ease Readability Formula
- Gunning Fog Index
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
- Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
- BERA Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research
- British Psychological Society Ethics and Standards
- ESRC Framework for Research Ethics
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- SERA Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research
- University Emergency Procedures
- University Safety Policy and Procedures
- Social Media Research: A guide to Ethics
Right of appeal
Researchers wishing to appeal against the decision of one of the Research Ethics Panels (REP) should, in the first instance, appeal the decision with the Chair of the REP. The Chair will review the reasoning for the decision and allow the applicant to present further arguments in favour of the proposal. With agreement from the Deputy Chair the initial decision may be altered. If the issue cannot be satisfactorily resolved at the REP level, the appellant should appeal in writing to the Committee Manager of the University Research Ethics Committee (ethics@stir.ac.uk) within 10 working days of receiving the REP decision.
Details of the UREC appeals process are described in the Research Ethics Review Appeals Procedure.
Principles, guidance and forms
The University of Stirling is committed to ensuring that all research conducted under our auspices is in accordance with the appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards. The University’s ethical review process exists to ensure that our research activities continue to fulfil high ethical standards as well as legal obligations and safety standards.
As part of our commitment to ensuring all research carried out at, or through, the University of Stirling meets our ethical standards, all student dissertations - both undergraduate and postgraduate taught - are considered for ethical implications.
The University’s guidelines for research ethics committees draw on the requirements of a number of institutions including; the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Framework for Research Ethics, the provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), the British Psychological Society, the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) and other institutions to which the University is accountable. Due cognisance of both University and discipline-specific ethical standards and norms for practice-based research should be taken.
Ethics guidance documents
Research Ethics: Definitions, Principles and Responsibilities
Research Ethics: Definition of Key Terms
Ethical Considerations for internet-mediated research
Ethical Considerations for Action Research
Ethical Considerations for Practitioner Research
Ethical Considerations for Visual Research Methods
Collaborative Research Guidance
Guidance for external researchers
Ethics forms
Ethics template documents
These are template documents and should be adapted to suit your research and intended research participants.
Participant information sheet (Staff and PGRs)
Participant Information Sheet (UG and PGTs)
Participant Recruitment Guidelines
Participant Information Sheet Online Survey (Staff and PGRs)
Participant Information Sheet Online Survey (UG and PGTs)
Participant Debriefing Sheet (Staff and PGRs)
Participant Debriefing Sheet (UG and PGTs)
Information Sheet for 6-10 year olds
Information Sheet for 11-15 year olds
Approved protocols
If using one of the below approved protocols please apply to GUEP (General University Ethics Panel) - unless the research involves NHS patients or other invasive procedures, in which case apply to NICR. Please make reference to the approved protocol that you will be using within your application for approval.
Protocol-EEG-Complete Guidance
Protocol-Use of Research Tokens for Undergraduate Students
Protocol-BioPAC/Physiological recordings for psychological research
If you will be undertaking research within the University's Kindergarten please refer to their established and approved procedures - these are for internal staff and students only.
If using one of the below approved protocols please apply to the University's NICR (NHS, Invasive and Clinical Research) review panel making reference to the approved protocol in your application.
Protocol-Alcohol consumption in Adults Volunteers
Protocol Adipose Tissue Biopsy
Please note that the University's ethics panels welcome the use of protocols where appropriate. Please put forward protocols for approval to the relevant panel.
Contact us
If you have a general question about our ethics policies and procedures, please get in touch.