Check your research ethics status with our useful tool
24 Jul 2025
Use our interactive resource to determine if your project requires University research ethics approval before undertaking recruitment and data collection.
The University’s Ethics Decision Tool is an interactive resource that helps staff and students determine if their research project requires University research ethics approval.
Created in 2018, it is continually updated to reflect changes in policy and guidance.
It assists staff and students with determining the necessary ethical approvals for their research project without having to wait for an email reply from the research ethics team. As it is self-guided, users can complete the tool as many times as they wish and can adjust their answers to see various outcomes. It also provides helpful signposting to more information on ethical approval and ethics best practice.
How does it work?
Users answer a series of questions related to their project and are then told if based on their answers, the study would require University research ethics approval.
- If it does, they are signposted to guidance information on how to apply and the routes available.
- If it does not, they are signposted to ethics best practice guidelines and information related to how to request a formal letter of ethical exemption (staff, PGR and PGT students only).
Important steps
Anyone who is planning on conducting a research project at the University (either as part of a student degree programme or led by/in collaboration with a University member of staff) should use the tool to determine if University ethical approval is required.
This should be done prior to undertaking any recruitment or data collection activities.
Users need to also ensure they factor in appropriate time to apply for and gain ethical approval if needed.
If the outcome stipulates that ethical approval is required, users should read the relevant guidance on how to apply for approval and the routes available.
If the outcome stipulates that ethical approval is not required, users should save a screenshot of this outcome for future reference and consider applying for a formal letter of ethical exemption (especially if they intend to publish in future).
Access the tool
You can access the tool at: