Skip to:

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to accessibility
City, University of London
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
Search
Menu
Home
  • Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
        • Undergraduate
        • Apprenticeship
        • Information for teachers
        • Postgraduate taught
        • Postgraduate research
          • Preparing your application
            • Preparing your research proposal
          • All PhD research projects
        • Short courses
          • The Novel Studio published alumni
      • Prospectus
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Short courses
      • Visas
        • Student visas
          • Applying from outside the UK
          • Applying from within the UK
          • Applying for a dependant visa
          • Preparing your application
          • Working in the UK
        • Standard Visitor visas
          • How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa
          • Non-visa nationals
        • ATAS certificates
        • Brexit and European nationals
      • Study abroad programmes
        • Partnership programme
      • Clearing
        • Applying through Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
        • Foundation programmes
        • Second-year students
        • Work experience
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
        • Payment methods
        • Fee schedules
        • Deposit refunds
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Clearing
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
        • Finding a place to live
        • Accommodation for families
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
        • Undergraduate online events
        • Postgraduate online events
        • Ask a student
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
        • Sport clubs
        • Non-competitive sport
        • Competitive sport
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
        • Mental health counselling
        • Learning support
        • Young, estranged students
        • Care leavers
        • Young adult carers
        • Personal tutoring programme
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
        • Micro-placements
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
        • Research ethics
          • Principles
          • Approval process
          • Approval outcomes and appeals
          • External ethics approvals
        • Ethics guidance and resources
          • Participant information and consent
          • Recruiting participants from City
          • Records management
          • Research conducted abroad
          • FAQ
        • Research integrity
          • Framework for good practice in research
          • Research misconduct
      • Research data
        • Managing active research data
        • Digital research data and Figshare
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
        • Researcher Development Programme (DRDP)
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
        • One-to-one startup advice
        • The Good Entrepreneur Festival
        • Startup Camp
        • Startup Seminars
        • Side Hustle
        • CitySpark Workshops
      • Launch your startup
        • Start-up visa
        • Launch Lab
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
        • What is the apprenticeship levy?
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
        • Become a mentor
        • Employer engagement events
        • Micro-Placements
        • Industry Led Projects
      • Information for placement partners
        • Speech and Language Therapy training
  • Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
        • City Alumni LinkedIn groups
        • MENA Alumni Board
        • US Alumni Board
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
        • WeChat social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy and Global Affairs
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • English for academic purposes (EAP)
        • Department of International Politics
        • Department of Sociology and Criminology
          • Postgraduate Sociology at City
        • Department of Economics
      • School of Communication and Creativity
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
        • Department of Journalism
          • James Cameron Memorial Lecture
            • Lectures
            • Special awards
            • Winners
        • Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries
          • English, Publishing and Creative Writing
          • Culture and the Creative Industries
          • Library and Information Science
          • Media and Communications
        • Department of Performing Arts
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health and Psychological Sciences
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Selection Process
          • Occupational Health Checks
          • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (formerly CRB)
          • MSc Nursing - RPL
          • Reference request
        • Department of Health Services Research and Management
          • Health Services Management at City
        • Department of Language and Communication Science
        • Department of Midwifery and Radiography
          • Radiography undergraduate learning contract
          • Midwifery at City
          • Radiography at City
        • Department of Nursing
        • Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences
        • Department of Psychology
      • School of Science and Technology
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Aviation Management at City
          • Civil Engineering at City
          • Computer Science at City
          • Cyber Security MSc courses at City
          • Energy MSc courses at City
          • Library and Information Science at City
          • Maritime Management at City
          • Placements and internships
            • Placement and internship schemes
        • Department of Computer Science
        • Department of Mathematics
          • Potential PhD projects
        • Department of Engineering
      • The City Law School
        • Academic programmes
        • Professional programmes
        • About the School
          • Contact the City Law School
          • How to find us
          • Legal careers
          • Careers advice
            • Pupillage Advice Service
            • Training Contract Advisory Service
          • Courses
            • Undergraduate
            • Professional courses
            • Master of Laws (LLM)
            • The Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE)
            • Continuing Professional Development courses
          • Global Engagement
          • Pro-Bono
            • The School Exclusion Project
            • Start-Ed Commercial Law Clinic
          • Research
            • Working Paper Series
            • ESRC Project
            • Ethics
            • Global Law@City
            • The Critical Corporation Project
            • Academic Visitor Programme
            • International Trade Law and Regulation
          • Support
            • Financing your study
          • Athena SWAN in the Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
        • Better
        • Bigger
        • Partnerships
        • Living the values
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
        • Rankings
        • Education
          • Flexible learning spaces
          • Active and collaborative learning
          • Term dates
        • Student statistics
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
        • Data and objectives
        • Staff networks
      • Sustainable development
        • Get involved
        • Environmental Impact and Performance
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
        • Audit and Risk Committee
        • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
        • Remuneration Committee
        • Strategy, Implementation and Performance Committee
      • Senate
        • Board of Studies
        • Collaborative Provision Committee
        • Educational Quality Committee
        • Research and Enterprise Committee
        • Senate Research Ethics Committee
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
        • Financial Summary
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
        • Coronavirus accommodation information
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
  • Prospective students
    Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
      • Prospectus
      • Visas
      • Study abroad programmes
      • Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
      • Research data
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
      • Launch your startup
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
      • Information for placement partners
  • Alumni and supporters
    Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy and Global Affairs
      • School of Communication and Creativity
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health and Psychological Sciences
      • School of Science and Technology
      • The City Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
      • Sustainable development
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
      • Senate
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
Some of our Schools and departments are changing. Find out more.
  1. Home
  2. …
  3. Governance and legal
  4. Legal documents and policies
  5. Security Sensitive Research
Governance and legal
  • Charter and Statutes
  • Rector
  • Council
    • Audit and Risk Committee
    • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
    • Remuneration Committee
    • Strategy, Implementation and Performance Committee
  • Senate
    • Board of Studies
    • Collaborative Provision Committee
    • Educational Quality Committee
    • Research and Enterprise Committee
    • Senate Research Ethics Committee
  • Executive leadership
  • Financial statements
    • Financial Summary
  • Legal documents and policies
  • Committees

Security Sensitive Research

City supports the principle of academic freedom and aims to support the scholarly research activities conducted under its auspices.

This includes research into security sensitive areas such as:

  • Accessing websites relating to terrorism, radicalisation and/or downloading material considered ‘extremist’ (this is defined as, ‘vocal and active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs’ in the Counter Terrorism and Security Act (2015))
  • Primary criminal or illegal activity
  • Materials which require security clearance
  • Materials used for research commissioned by the military or under an EU security call
  • Research into prohibited organisations.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive. For further advice, please contact the Research Integrity Manager in Research and Enterprise.

In order to facilitate research into such topics, but to protect staff and students, a registration process for research projects into these areas has been put in place.

Registering a project and getting Ethics approval

The registration process is a mechanism that enables City to demonstrate the legitimacy of the research, should this prove necessary, and is not put in place to regulate such research.

Researchers need to be aware that there is a degree of personal risk in undertaking this type of research and that City cannot guarantee protection from investigation or criminal prosecution by external authorities even if the project is registered with the institution.

The registration process applies to all research projects undertaken by students (including UG and PG) and staff involving access, collection and use of security sensitive materials, and applies to all research being undertaken under the auspices of City.

Research project(s) must be registered before the research can commence. Breach of this policy will be investigated through the normal institutional misconduct procedures.

A full research ethics applications must be submitted for review by Senate Research Ethics Committee for all projects, not just those that have prior registration. 

Read how to apply to Senate Research Ethics Committee to get approval

Safeguarding

City has a responsibility to ensure that its staff and students are not adversely affected by the research being undertaken. This needs to be considered before the project commences, with a prior risk assessment being undertaken. The risk assessment should include consideration to the potential psychological impact of the study.

Where students are undertaking research that may be distressing, it is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the student is supported appropriately. This can be achieved by, for instance, additional supervisory meetings.

In addition, students should contact the Student Counselling and Mental Health Service to discuss the potential impact and ongoing need for support before commencing the research. Staff are advised to speak to their Head of Department or Research Group and can contact Occupational Health to obtain information a list of organisation that provide psychological support.

Registration process

Research that falls within the definition of security sensitive research has to be registered using the ethics application form on Research Ethics Online.

Please note that the form must be signed off by the supervisor in the case of student research, and the Head of Department or Associate Dean for Research in the case of members of staff.

This will demonstrate to Research & Enterprise that the Department/School is aware of the research being undertaken.

Research shared drive

Once the project has been registered with Research & Enterprise, a research shared drive for storing the security sensitive material will have to be set up. The researcher will need to make a request in Service Now to arrange for the drive.

This request will be allocated to the IT Business Relationship Manager who will discuss the request with the researcher to ensure all the requirements of the project are captured and able to be met. Upon approval a standard, password protected shared drive will be created for the researcher and their collaborators.

In the event that the data is highly sensitive, the data must be held encrypted. The specifics of the encryption requirements and the processes by which the data must be accessed have to be discussed with IT Service. This should be considered before the project starts, as there may be a cost associated with procuring a solution.

Storing material

Any security sensitive research material must be stored on the institutional password protected research shared drive. Note that material must not be stored on the researcher’s personal computer, on a City computer or on a standard institutional drive. A password protected project drive will be allocated once the project has been registered and approved.

Physical outputs (e.g. reports, manuals, CDs) must be scanned and a copy uploaded to the secure project drive. Hard copies should be destroyed securely once the scanned copy has been saved to the drive.

Documents stored on the project drive will only be accessible to the researcher and must only be shared with named collaborators.

The Research Governance & Integrity Manager will be notified of the names of the files on the drive when they are uploaded and will have access to the metadata.

This will enable the institution to have oversight of the material and allow for prompt responses should any internal or external enquiries relating to the use of security sensitive material be received.

Accessing security sensitive websites

All staff and students should be familiar with Prevent Duty Guidance for higher education institutions (specifically section 27), City’s Acceptable Use of Telephones, Email and Internet policy (internal access only) (specifically sections 30 to 34) and Conditions of Use (internal access only).

Security sensitive research involving human participants

All research projects involving human participants and/or personal data are subject to review by one of City’s Research Ethics Committees. Security sensitive research projects involving human participants and/or personal data must be submitted via Research Ethics Online for review.

For further advice, please contact the Research Integrity Manager in Research and Enterprise.

External enquiries

Enquiries from legitimate external bodies or members of staff or students at City should be directed to the Research Integrity Manager.

Help us to improve this page

City, University of London

  • Library Services
  • Moodle
  • Email
  • Staff directory
  • Term dates
  • Book a room
  • Schools and departments

Back to top

Contact us

+44 (0)20 7040 5060
Make an enquiry

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Weibo
  • Youku
  • WeChat
Social media directory

Find us

City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

Campus map

Our global campuses

  • London
  • Dubai
  • Athena SWAN: Bronze Award
  • UKRI Research England logo

Useful links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • City Store
  • Support City
  • Work for City
  • City Magazine
  • 中文

© 2022 City, University of London

University of London