At UT, any research involving human participants (directly or indirectly) and/or, research using potentially (sensitive) personal identifiable data about or from individuals, groups, or organizations, must receive ethics committee approval before the data collection of your research starts.
Submit your application early through the UT Ethics Review Tool. Remember to allow time for your supervisor’s approval (if any), possible clarifications requested by the committee, and re-review. Reviewers aim to complete the ethics review within 10 working days after receiving the application. So, we strongly recommend submitting at least 4 weeks before your planned data collection. For projects with higher ethical risks (e.g. sensitive data or vulnerable participants), submit even earlier. Please be aware that we do not conduct retrospective ethical reviews; all research must be submitted before data collection begins. For staff, please note: without ethics approval, publishers will often not accept your work.
Most BMS-affiliated staff and students enrolled in BMS educational programs will submit their research for review within HSS domain. Are you in doubt where to submit, choose the domain to which the thesis's 1st supervisor is affiliated or reach out to one of the domain committees. Submitting to another domain is allowed if that better fits your research.
Supervisor of a BA/MA-thesis
As a supervisor of bachelor’s and master’s thesis students, you play a key role in helping them design their research. An important part of this guidance is supporting students in planning a month for the ethics review process, including possible clarifications or adjustments that may be required. As a supervisor, you share responsibility for your student’s ethics application. After the student submits it, your approval is required in UT Ethics Review tool (notifications via email) before the Ethics Committee secretariat can assign it to a reviewer.
Going through an ethics application and review is not just a formality—it is a valuable learning experience. It helps students develop awareness of ethical considerations when working with people or sensitive data, and understand data handling and privacy responsibilities. These insights will serve them well, both in their thesis research and in their future professional work.
Questions on the progress of your ethics review?
Responses to reviewer comments must be submitted through your application in the UT Ethics Review tool, not by email.
If you have questions about the progress of your ethical review, contact the HSS Ethics Committee through ethicscommittee-hss@utwente.nl stating your application number.
To keep the process fair and smooth, we kindly ask that you do not contact reviewers directly by email or Teams about the progress of your application.
research changes after approval?
Do you have changes/amendments concerning your approved application? Inform us by submitting these changes to the HSS Ethics Committee (ethicscommittee-hss@utwente.nl), do not forget to state your application number. We will decide if they will be archived with your original request or if a new review request is needed.
# Ethics approval is valid for one year, unless stated otherwise in your application. Extending data collection within this period does not require an amendment. This policy is also followed by SONA and the BMS Lab.
