School of Social Science

Ethical Clearance Guidelines

Ethical Review Pathways for HDR Students

MyResearch

MyResearch is the new system available for researchers to apply for all their human research ethics approvals, including HDR candidates. You can login to MyResearch using your UQ username and password.

The MyResearch Training Hub contains resources about how to use this system. You can also contact my-research-help@uq.edu.au for any specific support requests.

Full Ethics Review

All HDR research involving humans that is greater than low or negligible risk must be reviewed by one of UQ’s central Human Research Ethics Committees in a full committee meeting. For further information, please visit UQ Human Ethical Clearances.

Full Ethics Review applications may be submitted at any time through MyResearch.

Low or Negligible Risk Research

Please see this website for details on UQ policies regarding low or negligible risk research.

Please direct specific questions regarding the low or negligible risk ethics review process to hasslnr@uq.edu.au. 

Applications for ethics approval for low or negligible risk research be submitted at any time through MyResearch.

Exemption from Human Research Ethics

Negligible risk research may be exempt from ethics review if:

  • The research meets the definition of negligible risk.
  • The research involves the use of existing collections of data or records that contain only non-identifiable information about human beings. The majority of existing collections of data that would be eligible for exemption are publicly available sources of aggregate information.
  • The original data collection and the proposed use of the data are consistent with the ethical principles outlined in the National Statement. Researchers must confirm that conditions of consent were appropriate and that the original consent covers the proposed research.
  • Permission from the data custodian is obtained prior to accessing the data and any conditions of access are observed.

An application for exemption from human research ethics must be made through MyResearch.

Ethics Review Ratifications

UQ researchers who have obtained external ethics approval may submit the external notification of approval and all approved documentation for administrative review.

Applications may be submitted at any time through MyResearch.