Research ethics and integrity
Process for research ethics approval
How the process works, key contacts and committees.
After discussing your research with your supervisor or line manager, applications should be submitted to your School Research Ethics Committee (SREC).
Please allow at least 8 weeks for the ethical approval application process. It may be that the SREC can approve your application but if there are amendments, or your application needs to be escalated to UREISC, then the process can take longer. You should not commence your research without written confirmation of approval.
From 1 November 2022 this will be an online process using our Ethics Monitor.
Please log in using your usual York St John University credentials. The monitor is only available to PhD (level 8) researchers, Masters by Research (Level 7) students and academic staff. All other students should first look at our frequently asked questions. Guides to completing each question are embedded in the new software.
If you have a question about the system, please contact ResearchOffice@yorksj.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding your research, please contact your Research Lead.
Once received by your SREC, they will either:
- Approve
- Request more information
- Escalate it to the University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC) if considered to be high risk
Approval must be given for all research and must be in place before your research begins.
Ethical Support for Professional Services
If you are a member of Professional Services at York St John and require advice, or ethical approval relating to specific projects, please contact the Research Office, ResearchOffice@yorksj.ac.uk, for further help.
School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) contacts
| School | Chair | Start date | Expiry date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts | Dr Tilo Reifenstein | t.reifenstein@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 February 2023 | 31 January 2026 |
| Humanities | Dr Sharon Jagger | s.jagger@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 January 2023 | 31 December 2025 |
| Education, Language and Psychology | Dr Charlotte Haines-Lyon | c.haineslyon@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 January 2023 | 31 December 2025 |
| York Business School | Dr Steven Hirschler | s.hirschler@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 August 2023 | 31 July 2025 |
| Science, Technology and Health | Dr Sophie Carter | s.carter@yorksj.ac.uk | 1 May 2021 | 31 March 2026 |
University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC)
If the School Committee is unable to make a decision, or the application relates to work with the NHS, the School Research Ethics Committee (SREC) will escalate to the University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC). The committee includes the Ethics Lead from each school in addition to the:
- Pro Vice Cancellor - Research and Knowledge Transfer
- Head of the Research Office
- Head of Library and Learning Services
- Head of Communications and Media Relations
- Information and Governance
It also comments on ethical risks relating to internal projects, which are not deemed to be research. Examples include:
- The collection and storage of personal data on behalf of the University
- Equality and diversity
Committee members are given a minimum of 3 weeks to review any submission and this may be longer if additional information is required. Please factor in any possible delay to your research plan.
On completion of their review, applications will either be:
- Approved
- Require more information
- Rejected (a full explanation will be given)
To download a copy of, for example, your approval confirmation letter, open your application in the Ethics Monitor System and go to the 'NOTIFICATIONS' field on the right-hand-side of the page. Select the letter you wish to download and when the letter opens, select 'Download as PDF...' on the top right-hand-side of the page. This option also allows you to download the letter in a form that includes the YSJ logo.
Please contact ResearchOffice@yorksj.ac.uk for further information
