Research Conducted Overseas
(to include the rest of Europe)

The following ethical review is required for studies conducted overseas. This is obligatory given that the Health Research Authority (HRA) does not consider the ethical perspectives of the overseas elements of research and therefore it must also be reviewed by the UCL REC*.

If the study is deemed to be →exempt: from the requirement to obtain ethical approval through the UCL REC, only local ethics approval in the study country(ies) is required. Please note that these exemptions do not currently apply to Institute of Education staff and student researchers.

1. All non-patient and patient studies (including clinical trials) solely conducted overseas (to include the rest of Europe) require the following two-fold review:

   • UCL Research Ethics Committee (REC) review.
   • Local ethics approval in the study country(ies) in accordance with local requirements. However if a local ethics committee does not exist, approval from the organisation or location where the research will be conducted should be sought.

2. For non-patient and patient studies conducted overseas and studies on healthy volunteers in the UK the following two-fold review is required:

   • UCL Research Ethics Committee (REC) review.
   • Local ethics approval in the study country(ies) in accordance with local requirements. However if a local ethics committee does not exist, approval from the organisation or location where the research will be conducted should be sought.

3. For non-patient and patient studies conducted overseas and on NHS patients in the UK the following triple-review is required:

   • HRA review for the NHS patient element.
   • UCL REC review for the overseas element.
   • Local ethics approval in the study country(ies) in accordance with local requirements. However if a local ethics committee does not exist, approval from the organisation or location where the research will be conducted should be sought.

Approval of studies conducted overseas through the UCL REC is conditional on the securing of local research/ethical approval in the study country(ies).This is invaluable. It brings local and cultural considerations to bear that might not otherwise be appreciated by ethics committees outside that country/ies particularly around the issues of recruitment and consent.

The International Compilation of Human Research Standards listing: compiled by the Office for Human Research Protections, US Department of Health and Human Services provides details of Research Ethics Committees in over 100 countries.

It is also recommended that researchers regularly check the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: for further details and travel advice for the country they are planning to travel to.