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Ethical Review Application System (ERAS)
ERAS is the online system through which Rhodes students and staff apply for and receive research ethics approval.
Applicants click here to access ERAS
Reviewers click here to access ERAS
The ERAS system ONLY uses Rhodes University email. Check your email regularly for notices from ERAS
If you wish to make changes to your protocol after having received Ethics Approval, download and complete the Protocol Amendment Request form below and email it to ethics-committee@ru.ac.za
PROTOCOL AMENDMENT REQUEST FORM
For queries, contact the Research Ethics Coordinator -
046 603 7314
For step-by-step instructions on how to use ERAS, please download the manuals or watch the videos below:
ERAS Navigation Videos:
- Accessing ERAS Page and logging in
- Creating a project in ERAS
- Addressing comments in ERAS
Researchers outside Rhodes University seeking to conduct research involving human participants should obtain research ethics clearance at their home institutions and provide proof of such clearance when approaching Rhodes University to conduct research at the institution.
External or Non - Affiliated Research Application form
Researchers wanting to engage Rhodes staff as research participants will need gatekeeper permission from the Director of the Division of People & Culture (formerly known as Human Resources). This can be obtained by emailing their provisional ethics approval letter to hr+gatekeeper@ru.ac.za.
Researchers wanting to engage Rhodes students as research participants will need gatekeeper permission from the Rhodes Registrar. This can be obtained by emailing their provisional ethics approval letter to registrar@ru.ac.za.
Research Ethics Training workshops will be held online via Zoom on:
Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 10:30
Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 14:15
Wednesday 5 February 2025 at 10:30
Wednesday 5 February 2025 at 14:15
These training sessions will be one hour long and you only need to attend one workshop. Please complete this GOOGLE FORM if you would like to join.
Training and Resources in Research Ethics Evaluation
TCPS Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.
Examples of Consent and Permission requests to download and adapt according to your research.
The Rhodes University Animal Research Ethics Committee (RU-AREC) reviews applications for ethical clearance for research and teaching activities involving animal subjects. RU-AREC is registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC). Before you undertake any research/teaching that involves animals, be sure to read the Rhodes University and navigate to the Research Involving Animal Subjects page. Applications for clearance can be done on the ERAS system using the Animal Ethics form.
Research Policy on Animal Ethics
Animal Ethics REC:
Chairperson –
Prof Roman Tandlich
Deputy Chairperson –
Prof Ben Smit
Upcoming Animal Research Ethics Committee Meetings
23 January 2025
06 February 2025
06 March 2025
Applications to be reviewed at a meeting need to be submitted at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is to be held.
ANIMAL RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (AREC) MEETING DATES 2025
Students or staff planning to undertake studies involving human participants or affecting humans must apply for research ethics clearance through one of two committees, each of which has its own forms on ERAS.
Please use the correct form for the application.
For all research in the Education Faculty, apply through the Education Faculty’s REC and form on ERAS.
For research involving humans but NOT in the Education Faculty, apply through the Human Ethics REC and form on ERAS.
For queries and support NOT involving the Education Faculty, you may contact the following:
Human Ethics REC:
Chairperson and Ethics Coordinator –
Dr Janet Hayward
046 603 7314
The issuing of Gatekeeper Permissions for conducting research with Rhodes University students as the research participants has been delegated by the Registrar to the Chair of the Human Ethics Committee. Kindly contact Dr Janet Hayward for Gatekeeper Permissions.
Community Engaged Research
If you wish to design your research questions and methods and select your participants through engagement and interaction with community members, Apply for Scoping Approval.
Upcoming Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Meeting
27 February 2025
27 March 2025
24 April 2025
Applications to be reviewed at a meeting need to be submitted at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is to be held.
HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (HREC) MEETING DATES 2025
HUMANITIES FACULTY RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE (HF REC) MEETING DATES 2025
For all research registered in or associated with the Education Faculty, apply through the Education Faculty’s Research Ethics Committee (REC).
Click HERE to access the form.
For queries and support, you may contact the following:
Faculty of Education REC:
Chairperson -
Dr Mandy Hlengwa
Deputy Chairperson -
Prof Bruce Brown
Prof MaDeyi'Andile Mbelani
Faculty Officer of Education:
Ms Shehnaaz Asmal-Motara
In Education, researchers gain approval through two Faculty committees: The Education Faculty Higher Degrees Committee reviews the proposal, and the REC reviews the ethics application. Approval for both takes place via ERAS.
All the info you need to apply for Research Ethics clearance in the Education Faculty can be found here.