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:

Involvement of other participants - actively or passively: including persons acting in a professional capacity, members of the public, children and others who are not able to give informed consent,
Research collaboration with external parties,
The involvement of animals,
The use of human tissue or biological matter,
Accessing and/or storing and/or disseminating material which may be regarded as unlawful, including promoting or endorsing terrorist acts related to the Prevent Statutory Duty,
Potential adverse impacts on the environment,
Health and safety risks beyond those experienced in everyday life including to the researcher(s).