Within the University of Manchester there are multiple routes of ethical review and approval. The route you take may depend on whether you are staff or a student, your department, the level or risk involved and whether your project involves the NHS in some capacity.

You may also need to seek external approval from organisations such as the MOD, HMPPS, CAG or the MHRA. 

Internal routes of approval are:

1. Division/School Review: Low risk student projects from certain areas only

2. Proportionate University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) Review: Low risk staff or student projects (where the student is not from an area with a local route)

3. Full University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) Review: High risk staff or student projects

Some internally approved projects also require you to obtain Health Research Authority (HRA) approval. 

Please click on the submenus below for additional information on internal and external routes of approval. Guidance on all forms of HRA approval, including NHS REC, can be found in a separate section below.

A limited number of Divisions/Schools/Departments across the University have the ability to provide ethical review of low/medium risk student projects at Division/School/Department level, providing they adhere to a specified set of criteria. As this criteria varies between Divisions/Schools/Departments it is imperative that you take the time to read the guidance notes below if you wish to apply for ethical review from your Division/School.

If your project does not fit the criteria your Division/Schools/Department's route of review, please note that Proportionate UREC is unlikely to be suitable for student projects from Humanities or Psychology as the criteria are almost identical. In limited circumstances, students from Pharmacy, Civil Engineering & Computer Science may still be eligible for Proportionate UREC.

Please ensure you discuss this with your supervisor as mistakes can result in substantial delays to the ethical review process.

If you do not see your Division/School listed below then it does not currently have this avenue available and you will need to apply for ethical review via UREC. 

Please note this route of ethical approval is ONLY available to students. All UoM staff members must apply for either Proportionate or full UREC for their own projects.

Guidance Notes for Divisional/School Review

• Alliance Manchester Business School
  
• Arts, Languages and Cultures
• Computer Science
• Civil Engineering & Management 
• Environment, Education and Development
• Pharmacy
• Psychology Research (i.e. Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience and Division of Psychology & Mental Health)
• Social Sciences

If you have any queries as to whether the specifics of your project meet the criteria listed in the guidance notes above, please first discuss these with your supervisor. If after doing this you still require additional assistance, please see table below for a list of useful contacts:

To see a flowchart of the steps for applying for Division/School review, please click here.

Proportionate University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) Review

Proportionate UREC review is available to those researchers (staff and students) conducting low risk projects which are defined as adhering to the Proportionate UREC criteria outlined below.

**Denotes mandatory criteria that must be met in order to qualify for Proportionate UREC review. If your study does not meet these mandatory criteria you will need to apply for full UREC review, where appropriate.

If your research involves an activity falling within one of the conditional criteria beginning with “If” then it must meet the requirements of that criterion or criteria to be considered for Proportionate UREC Review.

Important notes:

• Studies involving EEGs may be submitted for Proportionate UREC review as they are NOT classed as physically invasive. 
• The following standard audiology techniques are NOT classed as physically invasive, however in order to qualify for Proportionate UREC review they must be performed only on healthy adult volunteers with the capacity to consent. If performed with other groups, e.g. children, full UREC review is required:
  • Collecting otoacoustic emissions (transient, distortion product and spontaneous). 
  • Measuring Acoustic reflex thresholds
  • Performing Otoscopy (looking in the ear to see if it is clear/occluded)
  • Tympanometry (checking the pressure of the outer ear)
  • Standard hearing tests
  • In addition to the above, wax removal on adult volunteers with the capacity to consent may also be performed prior to carrying out the above procedures if deemed necessary. Some groups of participants may be at higher risk of complications from wax removal; if you intend to perform wax removal on known diabetic or immunocompromised participants or those receiving head/neck radiotherapy, full UREC review is required. Wax removal must be performed by a clinically trained individual who has been assessed as competent on a formal training course. Unless wax removal is being performed by Research Audiologists within the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, confirmation of training must be included in the application
• Please note that studies involving medicines, drugs, placebos or foodstuffs containing common allergens (e.g. nuts) will require full UREC review.
• If your study involves confectionery or foodstuffs that are unlikely/unexpected to cause allergic reactions in participants then it may qualify for Proportionate UREC review. Similarly, studies involving the use of common substances purely to invoke a particular sensation of smell may qualify for Proportionate UREC review.

Secondary data analysis studies

Please ensure you use the ethics decision tool to verify if your secondary data study requires ethical approval. If it does, all studies limited to secondary data analysis (ie. they do not include any primary data collection) are automatically submitted for Proportionate UREC review. 

Social media studies

Please review the social media guidance to see if your study can be submitted for Prop UREC review or if it will require full UREC.

Human tissue studies (secondary use of previously collected samples only)

Please ensure you use the ethics decision tool to verify if your study requires UREC approval. If the tool indicates that ethical approval is required, Prop UREC should only be applied for where no donors will be recruited or new samples collected.

Anyone working with human tissue samples should ensure they are familiar with the Policy on Compliance with the Human Tissue Act and that samples are registered with the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity team.

Application process

All applications to the Proportionate UREC Committee require a pre-screen check from the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity (RGEIT) Support Officer, a process which may take up to 10 working days. 

Studies submitted to the Prop UREC must be low risk with clearly described elements and meet all the required criteria for Prop UREC.  If your study involves multiple work packages, complex data collection techniques and or non-standard consenting procedures, please note that additional time may be required to complete the review process and additional UREC colleagues may be asked to contribute to the review of the project to ensure all ethical considerations have been appropriately mitigated. As with any study submitted to the Prop UREC, the Chair also reserves the right to require that the application is submitted to the full UREC if they feel that any of the criteria are not adequately met or that the study requires the consideration of the full panel as opposed to selected members.

If your application proceeds to Proportionate UREC Review you will not be required to attend a Committee meeting as all reviews are conducted electronically via the ERM system. After the Support Officer has completed the screening of your application it will be sent out for review by the Proportionate Committee who will then communicate their decision to you within 16 working days. If revisions are required to your application or supporting documentation, these should be made within 5 working days of receiving them and resubmitted to the Committee for final approval.

If you have any queries regarding this process please contact the Support Officer. 

To see a flowchart of the steps in applying for Prop UREC review, please click here

Guidance on Applying for Full University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) Review

Who should apply?

You will need to apply for full UREC review if:

• You are a student and your project does not meet the criteria for Division/School review (if this route is available to you) or Proportionate UREC review
• You are a member of staff and your project does not meet the criteria for Proportionate UREC review

      This may be due to the fact that your research involves:

• Vulnerable or dependant groups
• Invasive procedures
• Psychological tests for clinical purposes
• Activities which pose a significant risk of having an adverse effect on the personal, social or economic well-being of participants
• Topics which may cause a significant level of embarrassment, distress, anxiety or fatigue
• Topics which are socially or personally sensitive
• Topics which are likely to uncover illegal or potentially harmful activities
• Data collection involves travel to or travel within an international setting that is on the list of countries/regions that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against 'all but essential' travel to.

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive and there may be other reasons why your research must be submitted for full UREC review. If you have any additional queries on the specifics of your project please contact the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity Support Officer for advice.

To see a flowchart of the steps for applying for full UREC review please click here.

If you have not attended a University Research Ethics Committee before, or it is some time since your last application, we recommend reading our guidance on attending UREC meetings.

It’s important to note that additional routes of ethical review exist outside the University if the project is involving the NHS, Chester Zoo, prisoners, young offenders or military data.  If a project will require approval from one of these or other external organisations not listed here, researchers should contact the Ethics Signatory for additional advice and support.

MODREC

If your research will involve Ministry of Defence personnel or data or is funded/sponsored by the MOD you should first verify if ethical approval from the MOD’s Ethics Committee (MODREC) will be required. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministry-of-defence-research-ethics-committees 

Please note if the study is sponsored by UoM a copy of the sponsors checklist and full application should be submitted to research.ethics@manchester.ac.uk once you have obtained Scientific Assessment Committee (SAC) approval. The sponsor checklist cannot be signed off by the PI. You should allow 10 working days for this to be completed.

UoM will accept MODREC approval in lieu of its own so no separate UREC approval is required, however a copy of the final approved application form, supporting documents and letter of approval must be submitted to research.ethics@manchester.ac.uk once obtained.

Chester Zoo

If the project is working in collaboration with Chester Zoo, UoM has a collaborative agreement in place for specific types of projects that allow ethical review to take place at either the University or at the Chester Zoo Ethics Committee.

HMPPS

If the project is planning on working with staff and/or offenders in prison establishments, the National Probation Service or within HMPPS Headquarters it will require dual approvals from HMPPS as well as UoM ethical approval. Approval from UoM should be obtained first before an application to HMPPS is submitted as the approval letter from UoM must be appended to the HMPPS application. 

It is important to note that approval at UoM does not guarantee approval from HMPPS.

If your research is health–related and involves offenders you will require HRA approval.

Confidential Advisory Group (CAG)

Approval from the Confidential Advisory Group (CAG) is needed for studies that require access to identifiable patient data by individuals outside of the direct care team without consent. CAG’s remit extends to England and Wales only. If you plan to access identifiable patient data in Scotland or Northern Ireland you will need to seek guidance from the relevant privacy committee. For all queries related to CAG please email UoMRGT@manchester.ac.uk. 

Radioactive Substances

Approval from the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) is needed for studies involving the administration of radioactive substances to participants.

Medicines & Healthcare Products

For all studies relating to clinical trials of medicinal products and medical devices, please see https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/rbe/ethics-integrity/clinical-trials/

If you are collaborating with another organisation or higher education institution, the ethical approval you may need depends on a number of factors. Please use the collaborations arm in the ethics decision tool as a starting point to guide you. 

Additional information can be found in the Guidance on Collaborative Projects. 

Collaborations may require some form of contractual arrangements (eg. data sharing agreement, collaborative agreement or material transfer agreement). Please refer to the Contracts Team's website for further guidance and contact information. Additional guidance can be found on the Information Governance website. Please note that the Research Ethics team is unable to provide support in these areas.

All information for studies that require NHS ethical approval or HRA Assessment (formally NHS R&D) can be found in the Research Governance Team's (RGT)  SharePoint site. Please ensure that you visit the site each time you begin a new study to ensure you are reviewing the most up to date information.

The RGT have also published a quick guide to approvals to help researchers understand what approvals are needed. 

Information on how HRA approval fits with UREC, where applicable, can be found below along with guidance on studies that may require both NHS REC and UREC approval (this is rare).

Please note the Health Research Authority (HRA) issued updated guidance on student project eligibility criteria in September 2021, see https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/research-planning/student-research/ for full details, including suggested alternatives to conducting research requiring ethics review. 

For all queries related to these types of studies please email the RGT via UoMRGT@manchester.ac.uk

The Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity (RGEIT) Support Officer is responsible for screening all applications for UREC review and can provide advice to staff and supervisors with research ethics queries, including guidance on the outcome of the ethics decision tool, that cannot be answered by the guidance found on the website, or by the local Ethics Chair (Humanities, Computer Science, Civil Engineering Pharmacy, Psychology & Human Neuroscience Divisions only). The Support Officer can also give advice on appropriate routes of review (proportionate vs full UREC). 

If contacting the Support Officer (research.ethics@manchester.ac.uk) for support with queries relating to the requirement for ethical review or the appropriate route of review please ensure you include a copy of the decision tool outcome screen as it is helpful for them to see the route you took and answers given, a copy of your data collection tools and a brief outline of who your participants will be and how they will be recruited.

Please note that all students should contact their supervisor in the first instance with any queries.

If your query relates to data protection, data management, contractual or data sharing agreements, HRA/NHS REC, insurance, health & safety or safeguarding please refer to the table of contacts.

Clinic Slots

If you have a complex query that cannot be answered by the online guidance or would like to discuss something more specific to your study, 20 minute online clinic appointments are available with the REGIT SO on Tuesdays (16.00, 16:20, 16:40), Wednesdays (10.00, 10:20, 10:40) and Thursdays 13.00, 13:20, 13:40.  

To request a slot, please email research.ethics@manchester.ac.uk with an outline of the issue you wish to discuss, copies of any relevant documents (e.g. data collection tools) and your preferred day / time and a member of the team will be in touch. 

• Policy on the Ethical Involvement of Human Participants in Research
• Incidents Procedures for University Research Ethics Processes (covers incidents, adverse events, appeals, complaints, breaches)
• Reporting an incident or adverse event 
• UREC Terms of Reference
• Research Ethics Oversight Committee Terms of Reference
• Frequently asked questions

Please see below for the dates that the Full UREC Committees are due to meet. Applications are allocated on a first come, first served basis after pre-screening by the Support Officers. Please note that meetings have a limited number of slots and will close for allocation at least two weeks before the meeting date. For more information on the process of full UREC review, please refer to the relevant sub menu above.

For information on Prop UREC review, which meets throughout the academic year, please refer to the relevant sub menu above.

The next available full UREC Meeting for submitted application consideration is: 3 September 2026