This page provides an overview of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs) at the University of Cambridge and information on how to contact them. For further information on the committees, including membership and how to make an application for ethical review, please refe to the REC website and/or email the contact point listed.
University RECs
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Department and Faculty-level RECs – a number of departments have their own ethics systems and committees in place to review projects involving human participants and personal data. The lead researcher should check local arrangements when planning their application.
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School-level RECs - There are 4 School-level RECs that can review research projects involving human participants and personal data. Before submitting an application to a School-level REC, the lead researcher should check whether their department/faculty has a research ethics committee or a process to submit an ethics application to a School-level REC
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University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) - the overarching Committee at the University of Cambridge for the consideration of ethical issues arising from research that involves human participants and personal data. Please see the UREC remit here.
External RECs
Depending on the nature and location of the research, the lead researcher may need to apply for ethical review from one or more of RECs, including committees within the University of Cambridge and external committees as appropriate (both in the UK and overseas). See below for further information and resources.
List of University of Cambridge RECs and resources relating to external RECs
| School | Name | Domain | Further details |
| SBS | Cambridge Psychology REC | Considers applications for ethical review for research programmes in human psychology at the University of Cambridge, where these do not come under NRES review. The Committee is constituted from senior members of Departments from which applications are most commonly made. For further information on the Committee, including membership and how to make an application for ethical review, please see their website. |
Contact point - SBSEthics@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| SHSS | HSS REC | Considers ethics applications from researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences at the University. The Committee considers cases that cannot be, or would not be appropriate to be, dealt with at a local level. |
Contact point - HSSREC@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| SBS | Human Biology REC | Considers applications for ethical review for research programmes in human biology at the University of Cambridge, where these do not come under NRES review. The Committee is constituted from senior members of those Departments from which applications are most commonly made. For further information on the Committee, including membership and how to make an application for ethical review, please see their website. |
Contact point - SBSEthics@admin.cam.ac.uk |
| STEC |
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Contact point - |
Local RECs in Faculties and Departments in the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences
| Department/Faculty | REC Name | Further details |
| Dept of Archaeology | Dept of Archaeology RC | |
| POLIS | POLIS EC |
Contact point - Emma King |
| Social Anthropology | Social Anthropology EC |
Contact point: RGA |
| Sociology | Sociology Division REC | |
Education
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Faculty of Education SPRE |
Contact Point: Research Administrator Assistant in the Faculty |
| Faculty of Law | Faculty of Law EC | |
| History and Philosophy of Science | HPS EC | Website |
| Institute of Criminology | IoC EC | |
| Department of Land Economy | Land Economy RC | Website (Intranet) |
Local RECs in Faculties and Departments in the School of Arts and Humanities
| Department/Faculty | REC Name | Further details |
| Faculty of Architecture and History of Art | Architecture & HoA EC |
Contact Point |
| Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence | CFI REC |
Website Contact Point |
| Faculty of Divinity | Faculty of Divinity RC |
Contact Point |
| Faculty of Music | Faculty of Music REC |
Website (Intranet) Contact Point |
| Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics | MMLL EC |
Website Contact Point |
Local RECs in the Departments and Faculties in the School of Physical Sciences
| Department/Faculty | REC Name | Further information |
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Geography |
Department of Geography ERG |
RECs in School of Technology
| Department/Faculty | Name |
Further Details |
| Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership |
CISL ROC |
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Cambridge Judge Business School
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Judge Business School ERG |
Website (intranet) |
| Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology | CEB REC |
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| Computer Science and Technology | Faculty of Computer Science REC | |
| Dept of Engineering | Dept of Engineering RERC |
Contact point - secretary |
Local RECs in Departments and Faculties in the School of Biological Sciences
| Department/Faculty | REC Name(s) | Further Details |
| Veterinary Medicine | Animal Ethics & Welfare Committee |
Contact - Chair |
| Department of Psychology | Dept of Pyschology EC |
Website (Intranet)
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Local RECs
| REC Name(s) | Further Details |
| Fitzwilliam museum & HKI | Website (intranet) |
| Institute of Continuing Education | |
| CHES REC |
For some research proposals, an application to an external ethics committee may be required.
NHS Research Ethics Review – any research that involves NHS patients, their relatives and carers, or NHS data requires NHS ethics review as part of the wider HRA Approvals process. In addition, research involving human tissue, prisoners or adults lacking capacity, Clinical Trials of Investigative Medicinal Products (CTIMPs) requires NHS ethical review. Please use the HRA checklist and the HRA's decision tool to understand what approvals are required. The Clinical School Research governance team can also give appropriate advice.
Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MoDREC) – most research funded or sponsored by the MOD or research that involves military participants requires MoDREC ethical review. The requirement for MODREC ethical review can be determined by completing the checklist in this guidance.
Overseas ethical review– All research with human participants or using personal data is expected to follow the UREC guidance on ethical review of overseas research available in the research ethics handbook (see p32).
Please note: where the external body advises that ethical review by that body is not required, the Lead Researcher should submit an ethics application to the relevant University REC in accordance with the University ethical framework.