Modifying an approved application
Applications can only be modified after ethical approval has been granted. If you do not yet have ethical approval, you should follow the instructions set out in the response letter from the reviewers as any modification requests received prior to ethical approval will not be considered.
Taught students within SSPP, Law and Arts & Humanities who gained approval using the low risk application procedure should follow the guidance below as well as the additional information at the end of the page.
Do I need to apply for a modification approval?
You will need to apply for a modification approval if you wish to:
-
Add a new participant group;
-
Add a new research method;
-
Ask for additional data from your existing participants;
-
Remove a group of participants or a research method from the project, and have not yet commenced that part of the project;
-
Apply for an extension to your current ethical approval.
Modification Proforma
If you need to apply for a modification approval, please use the Modification Proforma (Word, 1,021 KB), ensuring that you:
-
Clearly explain what the modification you wish to make is, and the justification for making the change.
-
Insert details of any ethical issues raised by the proposed modification/s. In addition to general issues, detail any items on your original Risk Checklist and associated responses that are affected, and also indicate any additional items that should now be included on the Risk Checklist.
-
Include all relevant information regarding the change so that the reviewers can make an informed decision, and submit a copy of the sections of your application that have changed with all changes highlighted/underlined for clarity.
-
You do not usually need to submit your original application form in full again. However, if the changes you wish to make alters several sections of the application form, you are advised to submit this.
One signed original hard copy of the modification form (and any amended documents), as well as an electronic copy of these same documents must be submitted to the Research Ethics Office or the Panel Administrator as appropriate.
NB: Any request submitted without the Modification Proforma will be returned.
After submission
Modification requests are generally considered within 15 working days from submission. However, substantial modification requests may need to be considered by the full committee and therefore would be sent to the next relevant meeting. Applicants are advised to take this into consideration when timetabling changes.
Applications made using the low risk procedure
Taught students within SSPP, Law and Arts & Humanities who gained approval using the low risk application procedure should submit their modification request as per the submission process for the low risk procedure. Such applicants should use the Modification Proforma to outline the changes to be made, and ensure to include all relevant appended documents. Note that applicants making modification requests using the low riks procedure do not need to submit a hard copy of the Modification Proforma.
Once you have submitted the modification request, it will be considered in the same way as your original low risk application. You should receive a response within 15 working days.