About research ethics at King's
All research involving human participants undertaken by staff or students of the College must have ethical approval.
If you are a research participant, please download our information on what to expect as a research participant (PDF, 33 KB).
Brief guidance for applicants is given below, though it is strongly recommended that all applicants read the General Guidance for Applicants (PDF, 331 KB).
Why do I need ethical approval?
It is a mandatory requirement of the College that all research with human participants be conducted in line with an approved research ethics application. Research conducted with human participants without ethical approval will be reported as misconduct and the College takes no responsibility (Financial or otherwise) for such research.
The term research should be taken in its broadest possible sense and includes questionnaires, observations and the use of materials derived from human participants as well as invasive or intrusive procedures. The re-use of personal data may also require ethical approval due to its sensitive nature or if individuals can be identified from it. Research raising any ethical issues with potential social or environmental implications may also require approval.
The only exception to this is when the research is being reviewed by Research Ethics Committee within the UK Health Departments Research Ethics Service (such as an NHS research ethics committee).
Please note, you can only use data that was collected after ethical approval was granted. Any data collected prior to this date must not be used.
The College is committed to ensuring that all research with human participants conducted by staff and students is conducted according to generally accepted ethical principles. This is to protect both the participants and the researchers.
There is a widening body of professional, regulatory and legal requirements which touch upon the ethical conduct of research with human participants. The ethics application process is designed to assist staff and students in identifying what these issues might be and how best they might be addressed.
Who should apply?
Any King's member of staff or student doing research involving human participants.
External researchers should see our Guidelines for External Researchers, while researchers holding substantive or honorary contracts at both King's and another institution should contact the Research Ethics Office for further advice, as should students being jointly supervised by staff at King's and another institution, as research with a substantial King's involvement may require ethical approval from a King's RESC in addition to approval from the primary research site.
What needs ethics approval?
If your study is classed as research and involves human participants, ethical approval is required. The term research should be taken in its broadest possible sense and includes questionnaires, observations and the use of materials derived from human participants as well as invasive or intrusive procedures.
If your study is research and does not involve human participants, but raises any ethical issues with potential social or environmental implications, ethical approval may be needed.
Studies that are classed as Service Evaluation & Audit (by the member of staff in charge) do not require ethical approval. Please see the following link for more information on this and advice on the differences between research, service evaluation & audit.
The re-use of already collected data may require ethical approval due to its sensitive nature or if individuals can be identified from it. Please see the following link for guidance on when ethical approval is required for research studies involving further analysis of pre-existing data (Word, 41 KB).
Does your research need ethical approval?
To help you work out if your research needs ethical approval, we have designed a step-by-step guide:
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Work out if you need ethical approval: use flowchart below
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Work out where you need to apply: use flowchart below
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Apply using the application form and guidelines
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And if needed... use the additional guidance in our Training and advice section.
You can also download a PDF flowchart (PDF, 34 KB).
How do I apply?
You can find out where you need to submit your application for ethical approval by going to how to apply.
Feedback
We welcome your feedback on this site, or any other research ethics related matter. Please email comments to rec@kcl.ac.uk.