Ethical Review Application System (ERAS)
ERAS is the online system through which Rhodes students and staff apply for and receive research ethics approval.
Applicants click here to access ERAS
Reviewers click here to access ERAS
The ERAS system ONLY uses Rhodes University email. Check your email regularly for notices from ERAS
For queries contact the Research Ethics Coordinator
046 603 7314
For step-by-step instructions on how to use ERAS, please download the manuals or watch the videos below:
ERAS videos:
- Accessing ERAS Page and logging in
- Creating a project in ERAS
- Addressing comments in ERAS
Researchers outside Rhodes University wanting to conduct research involving human participants should obtain research ethics clearance at their home institutions, and provide proof of such clearance when approaching Rhodes to conduct research at the institution.
External or Non - Affiliated Research Application form
Researchers wanting to engage Rhodes students or staff as research participants should contact:
For Rhodes Staff members - the Human Resource Director:
Ms Susan Robertson and copy in
Ms Zimkhita Dyibishe
For Rhodes students –
Registrar and copy in
Ms Melanie Appollis
If the research involves the Counselling Centre, also contact the Director of Student Affairs
Dr Pakiso Tondi
The Gatekeepers Permission letter/s must be emailed to
Dr Janet Hayward
Final approval may only be granted once all Gatekeeper Permission letters have been received.
Research Ethics Training with Henriette van den Bergh:
28-30 September 2022
Contact Dr Janet Hayward for information and to attend.
Research Ethics Policy: Research Involving Human Participants
Structure of ethics committees at Rhodes
Ethics clearance application workflow at Rhodes
The Belmont Report
Examples of Consent and Permission requests to download and adapt according to your research.
The Rhodes University Animal Research Ethics Committee (RU-AREC) reviews applications for ethical clearance for research and teaching activities involving animal subjects. RU-AREC is registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC). Before you undertake any research/teaching that involves animals, be sure to read the Rhodes University Research Policy on Animal Ethics and navigate to the Research Involving Animal Subjects page. Applications for clearance can be done on the ERAS system using the Animal Ethics form.
Research Policy on Animal Ethics
Animal Ethics REC:
Chairperson –
Prof Roman Tandlich
Deputy Chairperson –
Prof Ben Smit
Upcoming Animal Research Ethics Committee Meetings
02 February 2023
02 March 2023
06 April 2023
Applications to be reviewed at a meeting need to be submitted at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is to be held.
Animal Research Ethics Committee meetings 2023
Students or staff planning to undertake studies involving human participants or affecting humans must apply for research ethics clearance through one of two committees, each of which has its own forms on ERAS.
Please use the correct form for the application.
For all research in the Education Faculty, apply through the Education Faculty’s REC and form on ERAS.
For research involving humans but NOT in the Education Faculty, apply through the Human Ethics REC and form on ERAS.
For queries and support NOT involving the Education Faculty you may contact the following:
Human Ethics REC:
Chairperson and Ethics Coordinator –
Dr Janet Hayward
046 603 7314
The issuing of Gatekeeper Permissions for conducting research on Rhodes University students has been delegated by the Registrar to the Chair of the Human Ethics Committee. Kindly contact Dr Janet Hayward for Gatekeeper Permissions.
Community Engaged Research
If you wish to design your research questions and methods and select your participants through engagement and interaction with community members, Apply for Scoping Approval.
Upcoming Human Research Ethics Committee Meetings
25 August 2023
22 September 2023
27 October 2023
Applications to be reviewed at a meeting need to be submitted at least TWO WEEKS before the meeting is to be held.
Human Research Ethics Committee Meetings 2023
HUMANITITIES FACULTY ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2023
For all research registered in or associated with the Education Faculty, apply through the Education Faculty’s REC.
Click HERE to access the form.
For queries and support you may contact the following:
Faculty of Education REC:
Chairperson -
Prof. Eureta Rosenberg
Deputy Chairperson -
Dr Pamela Vale
Faculty Officer of Education:
Ms Shehnaaz Asmal-Motara
In Education, researchers gain approval through two Faculty committees: The Education Faculty Higher Degrees Committee reviews the proposal and the REC reviews the ethics application. Approval for both takes place via ERAS.
All the info you need for applying for Research Ethics clearance in the Education Faculty can be found here.