Applying for FEC F-REC Approval
Paths to appropriate research ethics approval within DCU vary according to the level, risk, and types of proposed research. The following provides an overview to help you in directing your application for approval of a research project from the Engineering and Computing Faculty Research Ethics Committee:
Undergraduate (UG) and taught Masters-level (PGT) projects are reviewed and approved at local level, by the relevant School Ethics Convenor. Students should seek information on the associated procedures and deadlines from their supervisor(s) or programme chair. Supervisors and other staff involved in the approval of UG/PGT projects should be familiar with the School’s process and should contact their local Ethics Convenor for assistance.
All other FEC low-risk research projects may be reviewed and approved by the F-REC, using the application template and portal below.
Faculty postgraduate research (PGR) projects - i.e. Doctoral research and Masters-by-research thesis projects - should use this template and portal, but note that the application must be completed in conjunction with the research supervisor(s), who reviews and signs the application prior to submission. Supervisors should confirm that the research is low-risk if applying to F-REC.
All higher-risk research projects must be reviewed by the University-level REC, following their procedures and forms. Proceed here: REC Applying for Ethics Approval
Applications to F-REC for approval can only be made where your proposed project is low-risk. Research outside this remit must be reviewed and approved by the University REC.
Low-risk research is any research that would or could submit participants in the project to a level of risk no greater than would be encountered in everyday life, where there are no vulnerable participants, and where Personal Data gathered in the project is not of a highly sensitive nature, or belonging to the special categories of protected data under GDPR (Art. 9.1).
If you are uncertain about the level of risk in your project, it is advisable to review the resources provided on this information hub, and on the University REC page, and to contact the Data Protection Unit with queries related to GDPR or data security and protection.
In addition to the best practices for collecting, storing, and protecting any data in your research design, you are also subject to legal requirements under the GDPR for the handling of Personal Data.
Personal Data is any information that relates to a living individual who can be directly or indirectly identified.
DCU provides a range of resources and supports for researchers on data protection and GDPR. You must review and assess your proposed research using this guide, as part of an Application to F-REC. You can also find relevant information from University REC, under “Personal Data and the Research Ethics Process”, and should consult with DCU’s Data Protection Unit for necessary advice.
Applying to F-REC for ethics approval
Ensure that you are completing the correct application template and procedure, by checking that ALL the following requirements for an approval by F-REC apply:
- My proposed research involves a staff, doctoral, or masters-by-research project
- My proposed research is within the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at DCU.
- My proposed research does not involve vulnerable participants (e.g. minors).
- My proposed research is low-risk.
If any of these requirements are not met, you should refer to the university-level REC for approval of your proposed project.
Deadlines for Application
The F-REC commences in March 2025 and meets several times during the academic year, providing decisions on submitted applications shortly after each meeting.
Deadlines for submission of an application for review at a particular meeting are at 5pm on the first of the month in which the meeting is held.
For valid applications, submitted by one of the deadline above, you should expect to hear from the F-REC about approval or edit requirements within 5 working days of the corresponding meeting that month.
Like University REC, F-REC does not meet in the summer months (July, August), so 01 June is the last deadline for a review in an academic year. The calendar of deadlines and meetings along with the steps for making an application and the application form can be found on the FEC F-REC Loop page , which can found in the "FEC F-REC Application Process Information" section below.
Information on the steps to submit an FEC F-REC application, the application form, calendar of deadlines and meetings, current membership, and the application portal can be found by accessing the FEC F-REC Loop page above
Open the F-REC GDPR Assessment Guide
If collecting or processing Personal Data, you should review and assess your research proposal, using this short guide, to verify that your application meets the review remit for F-REC. The document will alert you to instances where special categories of data collected in your project, or work with vulnerable participants, cause you to have to escalate your application for approval to university REC. The guide also alerts you to other areas of concern for data handling, that might prompt you to seek advice or amend your research design to meet best practices.