Additional information for specific types of ethics applications

For certain projects, a customised process which facilitates ethical review for specific types of applications has been developed. Please read the following guidance.

Module ethics application

ERAMS ethics applications can be submitted by staff, for UG and PGT modules where students complete low-risk projects (Annex b) and using the same broad methods and procedures. Applications can only be made for a single module.

To apply for module ethical approval, staff/module co-ordinators should send a completed ERAMS form to their Ethics Officer, detailing: the module code, the arrangements for the supervision of students while undertaking the projects, the arrangements for recording individual student projects falling within the module approval, approximately how many students will be completing activities covered by the approval, what research the students will be required to do, what methods they will be using, what paperwork will be used (for example, versions of the template documents tailored for the specific module), how participant consent will be obtained.

The REO Research Governance Team can offer early support and advise on how to complete a module ethics application.

Overarching ethics application

Researchers at the University of Essex who have secured funding and whose projects require ethical review may submit an outline overarching application if they are not yet in a position to fully detail the methodology, experimental design, or risk assessment. This option is intended for cases where a full application and supporting documentation cannot be completed at the point of award.

Following review of the outline application, researchers may be granted a favourable ethical opinion in principle, subject to specified conditions. Once the full documentation is ready, amendments can be submitted to the original application. It is important that researchers clearly indicate in the project description that this approach is being taken and that amendments will follow in due course. Researchers must not start recruiting participants until they have sought and obtained ethical approval for the full project.

This process enables the early release of the financial cost code, allowing project activities to begin ahead of full ethical approval. In exceptional circumstances—such as tight timelines or specific requirements related to recruitment or travel—funds may be authorised for release prior to the completion of the ethics review process.