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The Taylor's University Human Ethics Committee (TUHEC) conducts ethical reviews for all research involving human participants, both funded and unfunded, in non-medical fields. TUHEC assesses various aspects of research ethics, including methodology, subject safety, recruitment, consent, confidentiality, data handling, and feedback provision.

 

Ethical approval is mandatory for all research involving people, their data, or tissue. The goal of ethics review is to support research aligned with key principles of human research ethics: research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence, and respect

HUMAN ETHICS SUBMISSION GUIDELINES & PROCESS

Human Ethics approval for all research conducted with or about people, or their data. The purpose of ethics review is to facilitate research that fulfils the principles of human research ethics – research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence and respect.

 

Before commencing research, researchers (including undergraduate and postgraduate students) who wish to undertake projects involving human participants must obtain approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee. No research can take place without ethics clearance.

For Staff and Student Applicants

 

Human Ethics application forms and guidelines are available to both staff and students and can be downloaded below:

Application Form

Consent Form

Participation Information Sheet

Submission Guideline

Policy-related Documents

Policy documents are restricted to staff and accessible only via the STAFF PORTAL. Students must request their supervisors to download them.

HUMAN ETHICS APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Human ethics approval is essential to ensure that research involving human participants is conducted ethically, responsibly, and in accordance with legal and institutional requirements. 


It serves to:

  • Protects participants’ rights, safety, and wellbeing
  • Maintain the integrity of the research process
  • Ensure adherence to established ethical standards

Ethics approval must be obtained before starting any form of data collection, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observational studies.

 

 

Submission Requirements

To ensure a smooth and timely review process, please adhere strictly to the following requirements:

 

Typed Submission Only

Typed Submission Only

  • All forms must be typed
  • Handwritten forms will not be accepted
Complete Submission Checklist

Complete Submission Checklist

Ensure the following documents are included and complete:

  • Human Ethics Application Form
  • Participant Information Sheet
  • Consent Form
  • Gantt Chart or Flow Chart (showing timeline)
  • Questionnaire and/or Interview Guide

Note: Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.

Project Timeline Planning

Project Timeline Planning

  • Set a realistic end date that allows time for the review process. Example: If submitting in January 2025, the end date should be at least 6 months later. The project timeline must align with your Gantt or Flow Chart.

 

Note: The ethics approval is only valid until the project’s end date as stated in your approval letter.

 

Co-Researchers, Students & Supervisor Details

Co-Researchers, Students & Supervisor Details

For Taylor’s Staff:

  • Include all co-researchers (internal and/or external) in Part C(i) of the application form and ensure each of them signs the declaration

For Taylor’s Students

  • Include your supervisor’s details in Part C(i).
  • Your supervisor must sign Part C(i) to confirm that they have reviewed and support your application.
  • For Postgraduate Students: You are strongly advised to discuss and review your application with your supervisor before submission.

 

File Naming & Submission Format

File Naming & Submission Format

Combine all documents into one PDF in this order:

  1. Application Form
  2. Participant Information Sheet
  3. Consent Form
  4. Gantt/Flow Chart
  5. Questionnaire/Interview Guide

File naming format:

  • Staff: Staff_YourFullName_School Name | Example: Staff_Daniel_School of Medicine
  • Student: PG_YourFullName_School | Example: PG_Daniel_School of Biosciences

Note: All applications and communications must be submitted using your Taylor’s University email address, which must also be reflected in your application form. Submissions from non-Taylor’s email addresses will not be entertained.

Incomplete Submissions

Incomplete Submissions

  • Only applications that meet all checklist requirements will be reviewed
  • Incomplete submissions will not be processed

 

Application Timeline and Review Cycle

Application Timeline and Review Cycle

  • Reviews are conducted on a monthly basis, in accordance with the submission deadlines.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications at least 3 months before the intended start of data collection.
Monthly Submission Schedule and Closing Date

Monthly Submission Schedule and Closing Date

  • Applications must be submitted by the 5th of each month to be considered for that month’s review cycle.
  • Submissions received after the 5th will be carried forward to the following month’s review cycle.

Note: TUEC DO NOT provide urgent reviews. Kindly plan your project timeline accordingly.

 

Estimated Approval Timeline

Estimated Approval Timeline

  • The review and approval process typically takes between 30 to 90 days from the submission deadline. The exact duration may vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the application, the nature of reviewer feedback, and the timeliness of the applicant’s response to any requested revisions or additional information.

Post-Approval Guidelines for Amendment Requests

Post-Approval Guidelines for Amendment Requests

Any changes to your approved study (e.g. methodology, procedures, or project timeline/extension) must be submitted to and approved by Taylor’s University Ethics Committee (TUEC) before implementation.

Please ensure the following documents are included in your request:

  • A formal letter to the Human Ethics Chair explaining the changes
  • A copy of your current ethics approval letter
  • The previously approved application form
  • The updated application form with all changes highlighted in yellow

Notes:

  • Submit your amendment request at least 60 days before your ethics approval expires.
    Requests submitted after the approval expiry date will not be accepted. A new ethics application will be required.
    Failure to comply may result in the withdrawal of your ethical approval.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out to TUEC Office through the email below. You will be notified via email with any updates regarding your application. We’ll also inform you by email once a final decision has been made on your application.

Taylor’s University Human Ethics Office

TUEC@taylors.edu.my