Research registration for staff and students

All research (that requires a review by a Health Research Authority (HRA), Research Ethics Committee (REC), or involves the processing of special category personal data (sensitive), using Personal Data must be registered. The registration form to use as part of this process has now been updated and is available on UCL’s Data Protection Office website. 

This policy requirement applies to all UCL staff (including honorary staff, affiliate academics and visiting researchers), and students.  

Registration with the DPO is the second step of the Ethics Application Process. 

Completing the registration form 

You can find further guidance on completing the relevant sections on the Data Protection Office website. 

What happens next? 

When you have completed and submitted your Online Research Registration, you will receive an email notification. After reviewing your application, the DPO will issue a data protection registration number that you should include in your ethics application (if applicable). 

Processing Times 

The review process normally takes 10 working days. However, should this take longer (and you are applying for a UCLREC review), please submit your ethics application form, marking the sections relating to data protection registration as ‘to follow’ or ‘registration in progress’. Once available, please supply the relevant Research Ethics Service with your data protection registration number alongside any changes the DPO advised you to make to data collection and storage arrangements. 

Please remember... 

Always use the latest forms from UCL’s DPO website – earlier versions should no longer be submitted. 

Need more help? 

If you are having issues accessing or using the form, please notify data-protection@ucl.ac.uk.