Research Ethics Application Form
Document ID: RKEO-FRM-Ethics Application Form | Version 5.0 | Effective 5 February 2026
Oryx University · Research & Knowledge Exchange Office
Who is submitting this application?
Please select your role to load the correct version of the Research Ethics Application Form. The form will adapt to show only the fields relevant to you.
Student
Undergraduate or Postgraduate Taught student conducting research as part of your programme
Select — Student
Staff Member
Academic or research staff member leading an independent or externally-funded research project
Select — Staff
Submitting as: Student Applicant — your supervisor must co-sign this application in Section J
Submitting as: Staff Member / Principal Investigator
Completion Progress
A
Applicant Details
Applicant information, co-investigators and project affiliation
🎓Enter your personal details as the student applicant. Your supervisor is required to complete the Supervisor Declaration in Section J before this application can be submitted. You remain responsible for the ethical conduct of your research.
Student Details
Supervisor Details *
💡Your supervisor acts as the Principal Investigator for this application and must sign the Supervisor Declaration in Section J. If you have more than one supervisor, list the lead supervisor here.
💡Enter details of the lead researcher (Principal Investigator) responsible for this application. Use the + Add Co-Investigator button to include as many collaborators as needed.
Principal Investigator
Faculty *
Co-Investigators (if applicable)
💡List all researchers actively involved in the project. Include their institution even if they are from Oryx University.
| Name | Institution | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| — |
B
Project Details
Title, timeline, objectives and funding information
💡Describe the project in plain language so non-specialist committee members can understand it. The project summary must not exceed 300 words. Use the + Add Objective button to include all research questions or objectives.
Project Summary * (max 300 words)
0 / 300 words
Research Questions / Objectives
💡State each research question or objective on a separate line. Click + Add Objective to add more.
Funding Source *
Collaborative Project
C
Participants
Who will take part, how they will be recruited, and inclusion/exclusion criteria
💡Tick all participant categories that apply and enter the estimated number in each group. Research involving children (<18), vulnerable adults, or Qatar-specific groups will require additional safeguards and scrutiny.
Participant Categories (check all that apply)
| Category | Include | Number | Details / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University staff | |||
| University students | |||
| General public (18+) | |||
| Children (<18) | |||
| Patients / Service users | |||
| Vulnerable adults | |||
| Others | |||
| No Participants included |
Payment, Reimbursement or Incentive
D
Consent
How informed consent will be obtained and documented
💡Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical research. Written consent is the preferred method. If you select an alternative, provide a clear justification. All participant-facing materials must be available in Arabic as required under Qatari law.
Consent Method (check all that apply)
Participants Under 18 or Lacking Capacity
Right to Withdraw
Limits on Withdrawal
Arabic Language Materials (Required in Qatar)
E
Methods and Procedures
Data collection approach, research setting and participant burden
💡Tick all data collection methods you plan to use and provide relevant details for each. For covert observation or AI-assisted tools, additional justification will be required.
Methods Used (check all that apply)
| Method | Use | Details / Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire / Survey | ||
| Interview | ||
| Focus group | ||
| Observation | ||
| Experiment | ||
| Physical measurements | ||
| Secondary data analysis | ||
| AI-assisted analysis (e.g. transcription, coding, NLP) | ||
| Other |
Research Location (check all that apply)
F
Risks and Benefits
Ethical balance of potential harms, mitigations and anticipated gains
💡Be thorough and honest about risks — even minimal ones count. For each risk type you identify, describe the nature of the risk and your specific mitigation plan.
Potential Risks to Participants
| Risk Type | Applies | Description of Risk | Mitigation Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical harm or discomfort | |||
| Psychological distress or upset | |||
| Social risks (reputation, relationships) | |||
| Economic risks or financial harm | |||
| Legal risks | |||
| Privacy or confidentiality breach | |||
| Time burden or inconvenience | |||
| Other |
G
Data Management
Personal data collected, storage, retention, sharing and international transfer
💡Qatar's PDPPL (Personal Data Protection and Privacy Law) requires that personal data is collected only for legitimate purposes, stored securely, and not transferred outside Qatar without adequate protections. Justify the collection of every category of personal data you select.
Personal Data Types Collected (check all that apply)
| Data Type | Collect | Justification for collection |
|---|---|---|
| Name | ||
| Contact details (email, phone, address) | ||
| Date of birth / Age | ||
| Gender | ||
| Nationality / Ethnicity | ||
| Health information | ||
| Financial information | ||
| Religious or political views | ||
| Audio / Video recordings | ||
| Photographs | ||
| Location data | ||
| Other |
Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data
Anonymisation
Third-Party Data Sharing
International Data Transfer
H
Sensitive Topics
Ethically sensitive research areas requiring additional scrutiny
💡Answer honestly for each topic. If your research touches on any of these areas, describe your justification and the specific safeguards you will put in place. If none apply, select "No" for all.
| Topic | Yes | No | Justification and Safeguards (if Yes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal activities | |||
| Sexual behaviour | |||
| Drug or alcohol use | |||
| Mental health | |||
| Violence or abuse | |||
| Religious beliefs | |||
| Political opinions | |||
| Death and dying | |||
| Other sensitive topic |
I
Deception and Covert Research
Transparency, debriefing and covert observation
💡Deception should only be used when it is scientifically necessary and cannot be avoided. Full debriefing is generally required if any deception is involved. Covert observation raises significant ethical concerns and requires a particularly strong justification.
Full Disclosure to Participants
Debriefing
Covert Observation or Recording
J
Declarations
All declaration boxes must be checked before submission
⚠️All declaration checkboxes in this section are mandatory. By checking each box you confirm that you have read and understood the statement. The form cannot be submitted until every relevant declaration is checked.
Student Applicant Declaration
I, the student applicant, confirm that:
Principal Investigator Declaration
I confirm that:
K
Checklist of Attachments
Supporting documents to accompany this application
💡Tick each document you are attaching. Applications without the required documents may be returned or delayed. Email all attachments alongside the submitted PDF to the RKEO. Documents marked "All projects" are mandatory for every application.
| Document | Required? | Attached? |
|---|---|---|
| Participant Information Sheet (PIS) | All projects | |
| Consent Form | All projects | |
| Recruitment materials (posters, emails, social media posts, etc.) | If applicable | |
| Questionnaire or survey instrument | If applicable | |
| Interview / Focus group topic guide | If applicable | |
| Debriefing sheet | If deception used | |
| Parent / Guardian information sheet and consent form | If minors involved | |
| Assent form for children | If minors involved | |
| External ethics approval (from another institution or body) | If applicable | |
| Data management plan | Recommended | |
| Risk assessment | If fieldwork involved |
Ready to Submit Your Application?
Clicking Submit Application will validate the form, generate a PDF copy for your records (downloaded automatically), and open your email client with a pre-drafted message to rkeo@oryx.edu.qa for UREC review. Please attach the downloaded PDF to that email before sending.