DO I REALLY NEED TO APPLY FOR ETHICS CLEARANCE?  

• Please click HERE to determine whether you need to apply for ethics clearance.  Postgraduate students can refer to slides seven and eight, while undergraduate students can refer to slide nine.
• Please click HERE to access a recording of the ethics presentation delivered in March 2023, or click HERE for a recorded presentation (with slides) from November 2017 (you can skip the first 6:15 minutes of the latter recording).
• If your application should be submitted to the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC), please click HERE to view a presentation delivered by Dr Blanche Pretorius in February 2024.  Please refer to FAQ # 1 for additional information.  This information is particularly relevant to Biomedical Engineering students.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION CLOSING DATE:

• Please submit the first/initial submission of your ethics application by Monday, 1 September 2025.
• The FESC will only receive your application once it has been signed/submitted by both you and your supervisor.
• Unfortunately, late submissions can only be reviewed at the end of January 2026.

CONFIRM RECEIPT:

• After your supervisor has signed/submitted your ethics application form, you will receive a confirmation email from Tanya Ficker within two work days.
• If you do not receive the confirmation email, please contact Tanya (tanya@sun.ac.za) and follow up with your supervisor to ensure the form was successfully signed/submitted.

FAQ: 

1. NB:  Should I apply to the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or the Research Ethics Committee: Social, Behavioural and Education Research (REC: SBE)?
2. How do I apply for ethics clearance at the REC: SBE? (scroll down, click on “How-To Manuals” in the bottom left corner, then click on “Application Guide”)
3. Which form should I select if I apply for ethics clearance at the REC: SBE?
4. How do I know if my application will be classified as low, medium or high risk?
5. Are there specific submission closing dates for medium-risk applications (not applicable to low-risk applications)?
6. Is there an APPLICATION GUIDE I can refer to, with standard responses from the FESC for each individual question?
7. How do I know if Institutional Permission is required?
8. Where can I download the various templates?
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 respond to stipulations or modifications from the REC: SBE? 
19. How do I submit a final report to the REC: SBE, or how do I create a sub-form to amend my application or upload a document? (this can only be done once your application has been approved by the REC: SBE)
20. How do I share my application form?
21. What are the REC: SBE’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)?
22. Ethics clearance for a joint degree (partnership agreement with an international institution)