Human Research Ethics
The Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) ensures that UVic research and research occurring in academic courses involving human participants or human biological materials meets the ethical standards required by Canadian universities and national regulatory bodies.
The research ethics staff can provide research ethics advice, education, and up-to-date regulatory information. We make presentations to classes and offer individual and project-specific guidance to you and your students.
IMPORTANT -Human research ethics application forms have changed. The deadline for accepting old application forms is November 1, 2013.
Note: The "Waiver Application" form has been replaced with the "Application for Approval for Use of Anonymized Data or Biological Materials". The deadline for accepting the old "Waiver Application" form is December 1, 2013. See the link below for further information.
Replacement of "Waiver Application" form - Notice
New deadlines for course-based ethics applications
Guidelines for Signatures on Application Forms
If you have questions, or if you are new to research, please contact us before you begin your study to discuss whether you will require research ethics approval.
Phone: 250-472-4545
Email: ethics@uvic.ca
Fax: 250-721-8960
Address: Human Research Ethics, B202 Administrative Services Building, Office of Research Services, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 2Y2
UVic faculty, students and staff must obtain research ethics approval from the Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) if their research involves human participants and/or human biological materials.
HREB approval must be obtained before starting the research. See below for types of human research exempt from ethics approval.
You must apply for and receive ethical approval before you begin your study and maintain the approval during recruitment and data collection.
- Human Research Ethics Approval is required prior to the initiation of recruitment activities and the start of data collection phases of the study.
- Human Research Ethics Approval is granted for one year and must be renewed annually as long as there is the potential for the researchers to be in contact with the participants; whether this is for ongoing recruitment or data collection, or for the dissemination of results to participants.
- Human Research Ethics Approval is required prior to the acquisition or use of human biological materials. Where applicable, Human Research Ethics Approval is conditional upon approval from the UVic biosafety committee.
If you plan to modify your study any time after receiving approval, you must apply for a Request for Modification and receive approval before implementing changes. This includes modifications implemented in response to an unanticipated issue or event. Unanticipated events or issues that may impact on the risk of harm to participants must be reported to the Human Research Ethics Board immediately.
Submit a completed application to our office. We will review your research study and contact you after it has been reviewed.
Once your study is reviewed and approved by the Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) you will be certified to begin recruitment and data collection for your study.
If you're not sure whether your study needs research ethics approval please see the “Should I apply?” tab or contact us at ethics@uvic.ca or (250) 472-4545.
Applying for approval for a new project
Standard application form (used for most studies):
- Application for research ethics approval:
- Guidelines for research ethics in dual-role research for teachers and other practitioners - for teachers and practitioner-researchers undertaking research in professional/classroom settings
Consent form(s) to be attached to your full application form:
- Consent form template
- Point form consent template
- Letter of information for implied consent template
If applicable to your study, include these forms with your full application:
- Human materials form - For collecting human biological samples and receiving previously collected human biological samples.
- Request to use deception form - For research involving the use of limited or partial disclosure about the research purpose or procedures in the consent process where full disclosure would render the research impossible.
Other application forms for new projects:
- Anonymized Data or Anonymized Biological Materials Application (applies to limited, special categories of research)
- Course-based research projects (faculty and instructors only).
- In-principle application for funded research (funded research only).
Joint UVic-Vancouver Island Health Authority new studies
Please use the following forms if you are UVic faculty, student or staff and will be conducting minimal-risk research under the auspices of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), involving VIHA staff, patients, health records, sites and/or recruitment through VIHA sites:
Append consent form(s) to your full application form:
Other UVic-VIHA applications for new studies:
Contact us at 250-472-4545 or ethics@uvic.ca.
Submit your application for a new project
- Submit the application form and appendices, in hard copy + two photocopies, to the office address on the application form, in person, by regular mail, courier, or campus mail.
- All signatures must be included. At least one of the signatures (not the PI) must be original (not photocopied or scanned).For more details please see Guidelines for Signatures on Application Forms
- Submission instructions are at the top of the application forms or cover page.
- If you live out of town you may arrange for your department to submit the application on your behalf. Signature guidelines still apply; for more details please see Guidelines for Signatures on Application Forms
- We do not accept applications submitted by email or fax.
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You will be notified if your application is incomplete.
After submitting your application for a new project
Applications are entered into the review queue on an ongoing basis. Time required to review your application depends on the volume of applications in our system. The beginning and end of the term are our busiest periods.
- Standard applications: four to six weeks
- Waiver from standard application, course based applications and in-principle applications: two weeks
Receiving notification of approval
- We will send you an email with the results of the review and instructions to address any changes or clarifications if required.
- After you have responded to the required changes or clarifications, we will review the revisions - usually within five working days.
- You may receive an additional email if any items have not been addressed. Once the changes and/or clarifications are complete, we will email you a Notification of Approval and you may begin your research.
- A Certificate of Ethical Approval with an expiry date of one year from the approval date, will be forwarded to you through regular mail (if a mailing address is indicated on your application form) or campus mail to your department (if indicated on your application form).
Post approval – renewal, modification, completion
Post approval – renewal, modification, completion
- Request for annual renewal form - Your study must have current ethics approval when you are recruiting, collecting data and/or there is still a possibility that you will contact participants. You will need to submit annual renewal until all interactions with participants are complete. If the annual renewal form is not submitted, Ethics Approval will expire on the most recent expiry date issued.
- Request for Modification of an Approved Project - Submit this form when any modifications to the approved protocol are required or anticipated. Modifications to an approved protocol must be approved before being implemented, including modification in response to an unanticipated event or issue. If the Modification is extensive, or involves a modification to the original purpose of the research question, a new application may be required.
- Notice of project completion form - Submit this form once recruitment and data collection and any other anticipated interactions with participants have concluded.
- Joint UVic/VIHA request for amendment of an approved project form - Submit this form when any modifications/amendments to the approved protocol are required or anticipated. Changes to an approved protocol must be approved before being implemented, including those in response to an unanticipated event or issue.
UVic guidelines and national best practices guidelines will help you think through the ethical dimensions of your study when preparing your ethics application.
If you are new to research, your study is complex, or there are potential risks to research participants, research ethics and completing a research ethics application can be challenging. Feel free to contact us at ethics@uvic.ca or 250-472-4545.
UVic guidelines
- Annotated Guidelines - for completing the standard application for ethics approval
- Joint UVic-VIHA Annotated Guidelines - for completing the joint UVic-VIHA application
-
Course-Based Research Guidelines - recommended for faculty and instructors completing the ethics application for course-based research
- Guidelines for Signatures on Application Forms
-
Guidelines for Ethics in Dual-Role Research for Teachers and other Practitioners - for teachers and practitioner-researchers undertaking research in professional/classroom settings
-
Quantitative Single Case Design Guidelines - recommended for all teacher/practitioners using single case research designs.
Privacy resources
National guidelines, tutorial and best practices
Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2) - Adopted by Canadian universities, most hospitals, health authorities and research institutions
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People
- CIHR Best Practices for Protecting Privacy in Health Research
- CIHR Policies and Guidelines in Ethics (Canada)
- CIHR Guidelines for Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research
National ethics associations and organizations
- Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (Canada)
- National Council on Ethics in Human Research (NCEHR)
- Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB)
US and international codes of ethics and regulatory bodies
Ethics Forms, Templates and Samples
Note: If you are recruiting from or conducting research within the auspices of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, please use the Joint UVic-VIHA forms found below.
| Form | Guidelines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ethics Application | RTF | See consent form templates and other sample documents below. |
|
| Course-based Application | RTF | Course-based Guidelines |
Deadlines for course-based ethics applications |
| Anonymized Data or Biological Materials Application | Notice for Replacement of "Waiver Application" with "Application for Approval for Use of Anonymized Data or Biological Materials" | |
| In-principle Application | An interim ethics approval to permit partial release of research funds for preparatory activities. | |
| Joint UVic-VIHA Ethics Application | Joint UVic-VIHA Guidelines |
See consent form templates and other sample documents below. |
| Joint UVic-VIHA Waiver Application from a Full Ethical Review | Joint UVic-VIHA Guidelines | |
| Request for Annual Renewal | RTF | POST-APPROVAL Submit this form prior to the expiry date on your Certificate of Approval to ensure current research ethics approval for recruitment, data collection, or other interactions with participants. |
|
| Request for Modification | RTF |
POST-APPROVAL See consent form templates and other sample documents below. |
|
| Notice of Project Completion | PDF | POST-APPROVAL Submit this form once recruitment, data collection, or other interactions with participants have concluded. |
|
| Joint UVic-VIHA - Request for Annual Renewal | POST-APPROVAL Submit this form prior to the expiry date on your Certificate of Approval to ensure current research ethics approval for recruitment, data collection, or other interactions with participants. |
|
| Joint UVic-VIHA - Request for Modification/Amendment | PDF| RTF | POST-APPROVAL Submit this form before implementing changes to your protocol. |
|
| Joint UVic-VIHA - Notice of Project Completion | POST-APPROVAL Submit this form once recruitment, data collection or other interactions with participants have concluded. |
|
| Human Materials Form | PDF | For collecting human samples and receiving previously collected human samples. | |
| Request to use deception form | RTF | For research involving the use of limited or partial disclosure in the consent process. |
|
To report any incidents, experiences, or outcomes that have not been previously accounted for in the approved protocol and which place participants, or others, at a greater risk. |
Templates and Samples
Point-form Consent Form Template Word | PDF
Letter of Information for Implied Consent Template | PDF | RTF
Consent Form Checklist | PDF | RTF - important when devising your own template
Joint UVic-VIHA Consent Form Template | PDF | RTF
Joint UVic-VIHA Consent Form Checklist | PDF | RTF - important when devising your own template
The University of Victoria is committed to supporting our researchers in their intellectual pursuits while also recognizing the need to protect the rights and interests of individuals who participate in UVic research, and those of the public.
For this reason, UVic policies and procedures governing human-related research uphold the highest ethical standards and are designed to be in accordance with Canada's Tri-Council Policy Statement on the Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2).
It is vital that UVic researchers understand their responsibilities to both the university and the public. Please familiarize yourself with these policies before starting your research.
- Board of Governors (BOG) Research Policy (policy RH8100) -- sets out the manner in which research is conducted, supported and communicated at UVic.
- BOG University Regulations for Research Involving Humans (policy RH 8105) -- delegates ethical review management and administration to the Office of Vice-President Research and the Human Research Ethics office.
- Office of Vice-President Research procedures for conducting human research (procedures start on page 4 of policy RH 8105)-- includes detailed information about the administration of human research ethics at UVic and the terms of reference for the Human Research Ethics Board and related committees.
Federal Policies:
- Federal research ethics policy -- Tri-Council Policy Statement on the Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2)
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Roles and Responsibilities in the Management of Federal Grants and Awards