Ethical research practices are crucial to prevent research abuses and to improve the quality of scientific research. Application for ethical clearance is essential to protect the University of Pretoria (UP), its faculties and researchers from possible legal action.
To achieve these goals, all research projects (undergraduate, postgraduate, or studies by personnel) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) that involve biotechnology and genetic engineering, human subjects in research, including an individual, a group or a community, occupational hazards and biohazards, animals, experimental (laboratory) research, and the use of internal or external data, that may impact on man, animal and plant life need to apply for ethical approval.
Note that you may not proceed with the research project until ethical approval has been obtained. Each approved ethics application has a unique reference number for use in reporting and publication of research findings.
The application for ethical clearance is fully online.
Please direct all correspondence to [email protected]
How to get to the online application:
Login to UP Portal (www.up.ac.za / MyTUKS Login)
On the UP Staff Portal, UP Student Portal and UP Guest Portal, find the “Research Grants & Ethics” section.
Click on the Research Grants & Ethics link.
NAS ETHICS IMPORTANT DATES:
Opening date for all applications: 12 January 2026
Closing date for all applications: 13 November 2026
Closing date for applications referred back before 9 November 2026: 20 November 2026
Closing date for applications referred back after 13 November 2026: 27 November 2026
Please note:
Processing time for applications is approximately 4-5 weeks
Important:
Applications submitted during the June recess require up to 7 weeks for completion (see ethics applications workflow on top of page)
| Chairperson | Prof Gyebi Duodu | [email protected] |
| Ethics Administrator | Ms Sihle Njwambe | [email protected] |