Ethics committee

What counts as a student project?

Student projects undertaken as part of a taught undergraduate or postgraduate course, including research, service evaluation and audit activities.

S-SPEC reviews projects undertaken as part of taught programmes. Staff and students undertaking projects as part of a research programme should seek guidance from the Research Ethics pages of the Research and Innovation Support website.

Does my project need S-SPEC review?

S-SPEC review may be required for student projects that involve:

• Human participants
• Data derived from human participants
• Observation of people
• Personal or sensitive information
• Human tissue including cadaveric material

Students should discuss projects with their supervisors at the earliest opportunity.

S-SPEC review will not be required for literature-based projects (e.g. systematic or narrative reviews) that involve analysis of published literature only.

Students undertaking projects involving secondary analysis of existing datasets should follow any programme-specific governance arrangements before preparing an S-SPEC application.

S-SPEC review does not replace any approvals required by external organisations, NHS bodies, professional regulators or University governance processes.

Projects requiring additional approvals

All projects within this section will require S-SPEC review and may also require additional approvals or requirements.

Projects involving NHS staff, patients or services

Projects involving NHS patients, NHS staff, NHS services or NHS-held data are rarely feasible within the timescales of taught student projects and may require review through an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) and/or approval through the Health Research Authority (HRA). Guidance is available on the HRA pages for student research.

Projects involving medical students 

Projects involving medical students as participants may require additional permissions or approvals before recruitment can begin, including where researchers seek access to medical students through the School of Medicine. Additional consideration may be required where projects involve recruitment beyond Keele University or distribution through national medical school networks.

Projects involving cadaveric material

Projects involving cadaveric material at the School of Medicine Anatomy Facility should be discussed with the Anatomy Team (anatomy.kastcbooking@keele.ac.uk), as local requirements may apply.

Projects involving human tissue

Projects involving human tissue may require additional approvals. Guidance is available on the Human Tissue Research pages, and advice should be sought from research.humantissue@keele.ac.uk.

Planning your project

Students should work with supervisors to design projects that are achievable within programme timelines and plan sufficient time for ethical review and any additional approvals.

Submit applications as early as possible and allow up to 30 working days for an initial committee response.

Many projects require revisions following review and final approval may take longer.

Do not begin any project activity involving participants, data collection or data access until all required approvals have been obtained.

Before you apply

Before preparing an application, students should:

• Discuss their project with their supervisor
• Identify any additional approvals or requirements that may apply
• Ensure the proposed project is achievable within programme timelines
• Allow sufficient time for ethics review and any additional approvals

How do I apply?

Students applying should:

• Complete the S-SPEC application form
• Prepare all supporting documentation
• Submit the application and supporting documents to s-spec@keele.ac.uk via email
• Copy supervisors into all correspondence with S-SPEC

What should I submit?

Typically, applications will include:

• S-SPEC application form
• Peer review documentation
• S-SPEC Masters dissertation proposal form
• Participant information sheets and consent forms (where applicable)
• Questionnaires, topic guides or data collection tools (where applicable)
• Any additional documentation relevant to the project

Responsibilities of students 

Students are responsible for the conduct of their project and for preparing applications and supporting documentation. Supervisors provide academic and ethical guidance and support students in preparing applications and documentation to an appropriate standard.

Further advice

If you are unsure whether S-SPEC review is required, or whether additional approvals may be needed, discuss this with your supervisor before contacting s-spec@keele.ac.uk for advice.