Does my project need an ethical review?

All staff and postgraduate student projects require ethical review, with either a research project form or a full application form submitted for each project.

• If you and your supervisor have agreed that a full application for ethical approval is not required, please go to the Research Project Form section.
• If you and your supervisor have agreed that a full application for ethical approval is required, please go to the Full Application Form section.
• If you are a supervisor setting up a project under which future research (by other staff or postgraduate students) will be 'nested' under, please go to the Umbrella Application Form section.

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How do I submit my application?

• If you are submitting a research project form or 'nested' project, please email it to [email protected].
• If you are submitting a full application for ethical approval, please upload load it via the system on this site.
• If you are submitting a new 'umbrella' application, please upload it via the system on this site.

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Research Project Forms

If you and your supervisor have agreed that a full application for ethical approval is not required, please complete a Research Project Form and send it to [email protected]

• Please download the appropriate blank form and save a copy to your computer before starting to complete it.
• Please complete every field and question and do not reformat the form or save it as a PDF.
• Please note that the lastest version of the form you must use is 'v8 August 2025'.
  • Research Project Form - Student Version
  • Research Project Form - Staff Version
• If there are no ethical concerns identified during the forms review, it will be signed off and you may proceed with your project.

Group RPF

• The Group RPF can be used when several people are undertaking the same project, removing the need for multiple individual forms.
• This form will require you to outline each researcher’s specific role and contribution to ensure clarity of what is being undertaken and by whom within the project.
  • Research Project Form - Group Version 

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Full Application Forms

If you and your supervisor have agreed that a full application for ethical approval is required, please complete a Full Application Form and submit it on this system.

• Please download this form and save a copy to your computer before starting to complete it.
• Please do not reformat the form or save it as a PDF
• Please note that the version of the form you must use is 'v6 Sept 2023'.
  • Full Application Form - Staff and Student Version
• Ensure that all supporting documentation are separate documents and not added to the bottom of the application form. 
• Upload your form and any supporting documentation following the process described in the flowchart on the 'Home' page.

Supporting Documentation

• Please find below templates for supporting documentation: -
  • Sample Participant Information Sheet (PIS)
  • Sample Consent Form
• Ensure that all supporting documentation are seperate documents and not added to the bottom of the application form.
• For information relating to General Risk Assessments, Off-Campus Risk Assessments, COSHH and BIOCOSHH forms, please contact the Laboratory Manager for your specific subject area. 

Guidance and Example

• Before you start completing your form, please look at the following guidance documents: -
  • University of Chester Code of Practice for Research
  • University of Chester Ethical Approval for PGR Thesis Project policy
  • Guidance notes for applicants and supervisors on completing the application form
•  A 'best practice' example of a completed application form can be found below: -
  • Full Application Form - Example.

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Umbrella Application Forms (Initiated by staff only)

If you are setting up a project under which future research (by other staff or PG students) will be 'nested' under your research stream, please complete an Umbrella Application Form and submit it on this system.

• Please download this form and save a copy to your computer before starting to complete it.
• Please do not reformat the form or save it as a PDF
• Please note that the version of the form you must use is 'v1 Oct 2023'.
  • Umbrella Application Form
• Upload your form and any supporting documentation following the process described in the flowchart on the 'Home' page.
• If you are submitting a new 'nested' section of your project, please email it to [email protected].

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Suggested reading

• Engineering Council & RAE: Statement of Ethical Principles
• RAE: Engineering ethics in practice
• EPC Engineering Ethics toolkit
• Government Office for Science: Rigour Respect Responsibility
• UKRIO: Code of Practice for Research
• Internet Mediated Research and Publicly Available Data
• The Singapore Statement on Research Integrity
• British Computer Society Code of Conduct
• UOC Research Reproducibility and Transparency Policy

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Forms for committee members

• Lead Reviewer Checklist

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