Before You Apply
DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR ETHICS CLEARANCE?
- Click HERE to determine if you need to apply for ethics clearance at the Research Ethics Committee: Social, Behavioural and Education Research (REC: SBE).
- Postgraduate students can refer to slides seven and eight.
- Undergraduate students can refer to slide nine.
- Click HERE to view a PowerPoint presentation presented in Aug ’25.
- Click HERE for a recorded presentation from Mar ’23.
- Click HERE for a recorded presentation from Nov ’17 (skip first 6:15 min).
- Click HERE to determine if you need to apply for ethics clearance at the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
- Click HERE for a recorded presentation from Feb ’24 (health research).
APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
- Please ensure that your first or initial submission reaches the FESC by 1 Sep ’25.
- Please ensure that your amended application reaches the FESC by 15 Nov ’25.
- We will only receive your application if you and your supervisor have signed it.
- Late submissions will unfortunately only be reviewed in Jan ’26.
CONFIRM RECEIPT:
- After your supervisor signs and submits your ethics application form, you will receive a confirmation email from Tanya Ficker within two working days.
- Please contact Tanya Ficker if you do not receive this email.
- Please ask your supervisor to confirm that the form has been signed successfully.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):
- Do I need to apply for ethics clearance? (PG students refer to slides 1 & 2)
- When should I apply to the HREC (Health)?
- When should I apply to the REC: SBE (Social, Behavioural and Education)?
- How do I know if my application will be classified as low, medium or high risk?
- Are there submission deadlines for medium-risk applications? (n/a for low-risk)
- Is there an APPLICATION GUIDE with standard responses for each question?
- Where can I download the various templates?
- How do I know if Institutional Permission is required?
- Can I include a Lucky Draw to motivate people to participate?
- How can my supervisor sign/submit my application form?
- How do I respond to changes requested by my supervisor or by the FESC?
- Troubleshooting – how do I sign in to Infonetica?
- How do I edit my application form?
- When can I start with my data collection?
- How long will it take to obtain ethics clearance?
- How do I update my personal details in the application form?
- How do I change my email address in the application form?
- How do I share my application form?
- How do I respond to stipulations or modifications from the REC?
- Is there a template for the REC Response Letter?
- How do I submit an amendment/final report to the REC (after approval by REC)
- How do I submit a progress report for the renewal of REC approval?
- How do I apply for an amendment to my REC-approved project?
- What are the REC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)?
- Ethics clearance for a joint degree (partnership with international institution)