- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Faculties
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
To apply for a research degree, please make sure you fulfill the entry requirements and then complete the online research degree application form and upload your supporting documents.
You should have a good honours degree (2:1 or above) or masters degree or equivalent in the relevant subject area.
International applicants should be aware of our research degree English language requirements
Dr. Margaret Melrose is Chair and Dr. Tim Bateman is Vice-Chair of the Institute of Applied Social Research Ethics Committee (IASREC). The purpose of the committee is to provide ethical oversight for all research based activities conducted by staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students within the Department of Applied Social Studies. The Institute of Health Research and the Psychology Department have their own ethics committees and arrangements to process applications. Currently the Psychology Department reviews only undergraduate applications.
All research undertaken within the Department of Applied Social Studies, whether primary (involving fieldwork with human beings) or secondary (involving work which draws on already published sources), requires ethical approval.
To make an application to IASREC download the form relevant to the type of research you intend to undertake below. If you are an undergraduate student undertaking secondary research you should complete the form for ‘Library Based Research’. The form will need to be signed by your supervisor and a member of the Ethics (Teaching) Sub-Committee.
If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student or member of staff and you are intending to undertake research involving primary data collection you should complete the form for ‘Primary Research’. Undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking primary research must have a hard copy of their form signed by their supervisor as well as signing it themselves.
When you have completed your application for approval for primary research return one electronic copy to cara.senouni@beds.ac.uk and one hard copy (signed by you and your supervisor) to Cara Senouni, Research Administrator, IASR, Room C411, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU, Beds.
When you have completed your application for approval for secondary research please return your form in hard copy to Cara Senouni, Research Administrator, IASR, Room C411, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU, Beds.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain the necessary ethical approval for your work and in the case of research involving primary data collection (primary research) your application MUST receive approval BEFORE fieldwork commences. Retrospective approval cannot be given and embarking on any fieldwork before approval has been obtained may constitute a disciplinary offence.
Proposals for all research based and other academic activities which involve contact with individuals or organisations must be submitted to, and approved by, the ethics committee before fieldwork can commence.
IASREC requires that all proposals for primary research are submitted using the IASREC RA1_RS1 Application form.
Researchers are encouraged to read and follow the ethical guidelines provided by the Social Research Association http://www.the-sra.org.uk/documents/pdfs/ethics03.pdf and to be aware of the Dept of Health’s Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care:
Please download and complete the application and return one signed hard copy and an electronic copy to Cara Senouni, Institute of Applied Social Research Administrator at:
E: cara.senouni@beds.ac.uk
Cara Senouni
Research Administrator
Department of Applied Social Studies
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU
T: 01582 743085
F: 01582 743918
