Student Guide to the Ethics Application Process
What Is Ethics Review and When Is It Required?
At the University of Toronto, any research involving human participants must undergo an ethics review and receive approval from an appropriate University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (REB). This must be done before research activities begin.
This includes research for theses, major research projects, course-based studies, practicum work, and independent research. Even if a project is considered minimal risk, students must confirm with their supervisor whether ethics review is required. Exemptions only apply in limited cases (for example, use of publicly available de-identified data).
Ethics approval must be obtained before recruitment of participants, data collection, or any human research activity begins.
Step-by-Step Process for Ethics Application
Before starting the ethics application:
- Review the University of Toronto’s ethics guidance and forms.
- Discuss your research with your supervisor to determine if ethics approval is needed.
ll ethics applications are submitted through the My Research Human Protocols (MRHP) online system:
- MRHP is part of the University of Toronto’s broader My Research system.
- Students should work with their supervisor to create a new protocol submission in MRHP.
This system allows you to:
- Submit a new protocol
- Prepare and submit renewals
- Submit amendments
- Track review progress and correspondence
- Submit reports (e.g., protocol completion, deviations, adverse events)
Before logging into MRHP, students can use a Human Participant Ethics Protocol Worksheet to draft their application.
Need help with MRHP? Contact the support team at:
- Phone: 416-946-5000 (RAISE Help Desk, Mon–Fri, 9AM–5PM)
- Email: raise@utoronto.ca
When developing the protocol:
- Clearly describe your research objectives, methods, participant recruitment, and data handling.
- Consult the Guide for Informed Consent Documents when preparing consent forms and information sheets.
- Follow any discipline-specific guidelines (e.g., participant observation, use of deception, compensation).
- Protocols should not include thesis proposals, journal articles, or budgets as attachments unless required.
Once submitted through MRHP:
- Delegated Review: Typically for minimal risk research; may take approximately 4–6 weeks for first response.
- Full Board Review: For higher-risk projects; review times depend on REB meeting schedules.
- The applicable REB will communicate with the student and supervisor if revisions are needed.
Research Ethics Boards at U of T
University of Toronto has multiple REBs that oversee ethics review:
- Health Sciences REB – reviews research from faculties including Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Dentistry, and Public Health.
- Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education REB – reviews research from Arts & Science, Education (including OISE), Music, and related areas.
Each board has its own submission deadlines and meeting schedules. Students should consult the REB contacts and dates page.
Renewals, Amendments, & Protocol Close
Ethics Renewal
If your research continues beyond the current ethics approval expiry (usually one year), you must submit a renewal via MRHP before the expiry date.
Amendments
If your research changes (e.g., methods, participant criteria), submit an amendment through MRHP.
Completion Reports
Once the study is complete, submit a Protocol Completion Report (PCR) to close the file in MRHP. Students who are graduating should make sure they have submitted the PCR prior to graduation.
Additional Resources
Tips for Students
- Start the ethics process early — deadlines and review timelines vary and can affect your project schedule.
- Work closely with your supervisor —U of T requires that your supervisor add you as a Student PI and sign-off on your application.
- Prepare clear consent forms and data handling procedures.
- Attend any available training videos or workshops offered by the Human Research Ethics Program.
Reminder
For student-led research, supervisors must first assign the student the Principal Investigator (PI) role in MRHP. Students then complete and submit the protocol. The submission must be approved by the supervisor and the department/unit head (e.g., Chair, Director, or Dean) before it is forwarded for Research Ethics Board (REB) review.
