Research & Knowledge Exchange Ethics

All UAL Creative Computing Institute (CCI) members (including staff, post-graduate research, and taught students) who are involved in research or knowledge exchange activities must check whether their research requires ethical procedure before conducting their research.

The information contained here is maintained by the CCI College Research Ethics Sub-Committee (CRESC) on behalf of the UAL Research & Knowledge Exchange Ethics Sub-Committee (RKEESC). 

Your first port of call for all ethical guidance is UAL Research Ethics canvas page here.

Use the sub-pages below to find specific procedures depending on whether you are staff, PhD students or conducting research as part of your taught course.

For general enquiries check #research-ethics channel on Slack or email  (cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk).

Do I need to apply for ethics approval?

If the research involves any of the following elements then the research is likely to have an ethical dimension for which approval must be obtained:

Further definitions/explanations are available here: https://canvas.arts.ac.uk/sites/explore/SitePage/97782/research-ethics. See 'Guidance on Research Ethics (PDF)'

Follow the drop-down instructions below for how to apply.

Staff Ethics Procedures

If you are CCI staff and wish to start a new research or KE project you must apply for ethical approval before you begin your research. If you are unsure if you require ethical approval please consult the guidance here or send a brief description to CCI CRESC (cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk).

Ethics applications to CRESC can be made at any time but please note that you should allow 2-3 months for a decision.

To Apply: Complete the staff research ethics approval form here and email it to cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk. Remember to include information sheet and consent forms with your application.

The Process:

Any questions about the process should be directed to cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk or #staff-ethics on Slack.

PhD Student Ethics Procedures

If you are a CCI PhD student and wish to start a new research or KE project you must apply for ethical approval before you begin your research. If you are unsure if you require ethical approval please consult the guidance here or send a brief description to CCI CRESC (cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk).

As a UAL PhD student you are required to apply for research ethics via the UAL Doctoral School. Please refer to your PhD handbook for guidance and the ethics application forms.

To Apply: Email your completed 'Post-Registration Research Ethics Approval Form' to researchdegrees@arts.ac.uk. Remember to include information sheet and consent forms with your application./b>.

The Process:

Any questions about the process for PhD students should be directed to researchdegrees@arts.ac.uk or #research-ethics on Slack.

Taught Course Ethics Procedures (aka Educational Ethics)

All students at CCI are required to adhere to the UAL ethical policies and procedures when conducting research.

Undergraduate: Details are available in your programme handbook. If required, the ethical approval process will managed by your course leaders.

Postgraduate Taught Students (e.g. MSc): Details of the ethical procedures for your degree are available in your programme handbook. For all projects on taught postgraduate programmes, students (with their project supervisor's help) must complete the pre-screen ethics checklist before any data gathering begins.

The ethics pre-screen checklist must be completed by 20th June 2025 for all courses (12- and 15-month).

Your ethics pre-screen checklist can be completed via this link--> ethics pre-screen checklist

Does my project require ethical approval?

All Masters projects must complete the pre-screen ethics checklist above. The checklist will help your Course Leader and the CCI College Research Ethics Sub-Committee (CRESC) identify if you need to apply for full ethics by walking you through the considerations below.

If the research contains any of the following elements then it’s likely to have an ethical dimension for which approval must be obtained:

The most common scenario is human data such as gathered from experiment participants, users for an evaluation or human data either gathered as part of the project (known as primary data gathering) or existing human data used during your project (known as secondary data analysis, e.g. a database of social media posts). Definitions and clarifications of the activities above can be found here.

If your project involves any of the above activities you must apply for ethical approval before starting your project. The first step for this is to complete the ethics pre-screen checklist above.

If the pre-screen informs you that ethical approval is required you should complete the application form and Participant Information & Consent Form with your supervisor. Before completing the application form please read through the information on 'Minimising Risk' below. Once you are happy that your research design does all it can to minimise unneccesary risk you should email it to cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk with the subject line: MSc project ethics application.

Deadline for the full ethics application is 27th June 2025.

Minimising Risk

All research must minimise the risk involved as much as possible with the majority of student projects being minimal risk or below. If your project is above minimal risk your application will be reviewed by the UAL educational ethics sub-committee which may require more time.

Minimal risk is defined as a risk no greater than risks encountered in everyday life to anyone involved in the research, or any others affected by it directly or indirectly, that is reasonably foreseeable.

Examples of projects above minimal risk to conduct include:

Full definitions and guidance can be found in section 6 here.

Can I change my research once pre-screened or approved?

Yes. If there are changes to the way the intended project is carried out, please let us know by filling in a Notice of Ammendment. Substantial amendments may require a new ethics application, non-substantial amendments can be approved by Chair’s action. Further information can be found here.

Please contact cci-cresc@arts.ac.uk or #research-ethics on Slack with any questions.