New eligibility criteria from 1 September 2021
In March 2020 we paused student research approvals to create capacity for urgent COVID-19 research. From 1 September 2021, we are introducing new eligibility criteria for standalone student research. The new criteria have been developed following a review, supported by the Wessex Institute at the University of Southampton, with input from students and course leaders across the UK.
The new criteria mean that some master’s level students will be able to apply for ethics review and Health Research Authority (HRA) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) Approval or devolved administration equivalent. Standalone research at undergraduate level that requires ethics review and/or HRA and HCRW Approval (or devolved administration equivalent) cannot take place. Arrangements for doctoral research remain unchanged.
We've given examples of other ways in which students can gain rich and valuable experience of health and care research.
Our student research toolkit shows the type of standalone research projects that students will be able to do from September 2021. Standalone research means research where the student designs the study, submits for approval and conducts the project on their own with supervision. Students and their supervisors will need to use the toolkit and complete before being able to submit an application through IRAS.