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): 

1. Do I need to apply for ethics clearance? (PG students refer to slides 1 & 2)
2. When should I apply to the HREC (Health)?
3. When should I apply to the REC: SBE (Social, Behavioural and Education)?
4. How do I know if my application will be classified as low, medium or high risk?
5. Are there submission deadlines for medium-risk applications? (n/a for low-risk)
6. Is there an APPLICATION GUIDE with standard responses for each question?
7. Where can I download the various templates?
8. How do I know if Institutional Permission is required?
9. Can I include a Lucky Draw to motivate people to participate?
10. How can my supervisor sign/submit my application form?
11. How do I respond to changes requested by my supervisor or by the FESC?
12. Troubleshooting – how do I sign in to Infonetica?
13. How do I edit my application form?
14. When can I start with my data collection?
15. How long will it take to obtain ethics clearance?
16. How do I update my personal details in the application form?
17. How do I change my email address in the application form?
18. How do I share my application form?
19. How do I respond to stipulations or modifications from the REC? 
20. Is there a template for the REC Response Letter?
21. How do I submit an amendment/final report to the REC (after approval by REC)
22. How do I submit a progress report for the renewal of REC approval?
23. How do I apply for an amendment to my REC-approved project?
24. What are the REC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)?
25. Ethics clearance for a joint degree (partnership with international institution)