The Research Ethics Council (Forskningsetiska rådet, FER) reviews degree projects at the undergraduate (first cycle) and graduate (second cycle) levels to ensure that they are conducted in ethically acceptable forms. The council further oversees the provision of education and information on research ethics in ways relevant to research and education.
FER issues statements on independent projects at the first-cycle and second-cycle levels that involve humans or human biological material. The council receives information about these projects through the research ethics application process. FER also assists in assessing research projects that, though falling outside the scope of the Swedish Ethical Review Act, still require an ethical assessment.
The council's work primarily falls within the two levels outlined above. For doctoral students and researchers, this act applies: Swedish Act (2003:460) concerning the ethical review of research involving humans. Applications for ethical review are submitted to the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM). FER answers questions relating to applications for ethical review to this authority; note, however, that pre-submission reviews of such applications are not part of the council’s mandate.
Ethical review by EPM is governed by Swedish legislation and is limited to data collection and processing conducted in Sweden. FER follows the same limitation.
Research ethics for students and researchers
When working on a thesis project that involves people and/or personal data, the work must be carried out in ethically acceptable forms. Students must consider several aspects before, during, and after their thesis work.
Ethical Guidelines for Research Theses and Essays at Dalarna University (pdf)
For student projects involving people and/or personal data, you must determine whether you need to submit an ethics application. To do this, you should perform an ethical self-assessment.
Conduct an ethics self-assessment of the student project
Use the form below as a basis for research ethics reflections together with your supervisor to determine the appropriate ethical approach and to decide whether an application to the Research Ethics Council (FER) or the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Etikprövningsmyndigheten) is needed. The form must be retained by both the student and the supervisor,and must also be attached to the ethics application.
Ethics self-assessment form for degree projects that involve humans (pdf)
Is an application to the Research Ethics Council needed?
An application for student work must be submitted if the self-assessment shows the need for this (that is, if any questions in the form are answered with Yes and/or Unsure) and after consultation with your supervisor. Remember that the application must be submitted well in advance of the recruitment of study participants and the start of data collection.
Will study participants be involved?
As part of your thesis work, you may need to ask people to participate in your study. Keep in mind that participants must receive comprehensive information about the study before being asked and must be able to give informed consent. When preparing this information, use the designated template. The template has been developed with the university’s data protection officer and helps you comply with GDPR.
Consent template for information letter and consent form
Processing personal data
Many research projects, degree projects and placement reports involve processing personal data. All such processing must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Furthermore, any processing of personal data must always be reported in advance to the university's Data Protection Officer using this digital form:
Behandling av personuppgifter i studentarbeten (E-form, Swedish and English)
Processing sensitive personal data
Dalarna University restricts the processing of sensitive or extra sensitive personal data in student work to work done at the second-cycle level. That said, there may be exceptions to this, and these are granted on an individual basis if the examiner judges that processing sensitive data is necessary for the student’s learning. This decision aims to reduce the risk of personal data incidents and ensure that the university complies with GDPR.
Submit an application for a research ethics review
If your project needs an ethical review, you must submit an application to the Research Ethics Council. The information must be as complete as possible so that FER can review it. Use the form below titled “Checklist for FER Application” to help you prepare your submission. Both the student and the supervisor must both then sign the checklist, which must then be attached to the application.
Checklist FER applications) (pdf)
The Research Ethics Council meets approximately once a month; see current dates below. Feedback on the application is sent to the student and supervisor about a week after the meeting.
For students:
For researchers and doctoral students:
- Ansökan till Forskningsetiska nämnden (pdf, in Swedish) (pdf, in Swedish)
- Anvisningar för ifyllandet av formuläret för forskare (pdf, in Swedish) (instructions on how to complete the form)
- Informationsbrev - forskningsprojekt (pdf, in Swedish) (template for writing the information letter)
Before submitting your application to FER
Check that you have carried out the following tasks before you send your application to FER (note that you must complete the application form in Swedish):
- Ethical self-assessment (completed form attached)
- Complete project description with relevant appendices (e.g. interview guide, questionnaire)
- Information for study participants/research subjects in accordance with FER’s instructions
- Separate consent form
- Checklist for FER application (completed and signed by student and supervisor)
- Notification of personal data processing under GDPR
Statement after FER review of the degree project
| Statement – degree project* | What are my responsibilities as a student? |
| Follows good research practice | No further adjustments or actions are required. |
| Revisions | Revisions described in the statement must be made in consultation with your supervisor. |
| Recommendation to return it to the FER chairperson | FER recommends that you submit the adjustments described in the statement to the FER chairperson for further review. |
| Recommendation to return it to FER | FER recommends that you send the adjustments described in the statement for further review at the next FER meeting. |
| Advises against proceeding | FER recommends that you not proceed with your study plan. Reconsider your study in consultation with your supervisor. |
| Not applicable for FER statement | For the reason(s) described in the statement, the application is not eligible for review by FER |
* Note that the statement usually contains more specific comments and instructions.
Meeting times
Each semester, FER typically meets four times each semester. Research ethics applications need to be submitted at the latest eight days ahead of a meeting date.
2026
Research ethics
The role of the Research Ethics Council
The council works to prevent and counteract research misconduct through informational activities and seminars. It is also handles incoming reports of research misconduct.
FER’s responsibility for research integrity extends to research projects conducted by Dalarna University employees
See CODEX - Rules and Guidelines for Research
Research ethics for Dalarna University staff
The document Administrative Procedures in the Event of Research Misconduct and Deviations from Good Research Practice (pdf, in Swedish) explains how Dalarna University deals with research misconduct.
There are several important aspects of good research practice that researchers must consider. These are described, for example, in the Swedish Research Council’s publication God forskningssed, where Chapter 8, Vetenskaplig oredlighet, summarises the internationally accepted view on misconduct.
Good Research Practice, Swedish Research Council 2024 (in Swedish) pdf
To enable the review of projects and withstand any potential allegations of research misconduct, research materials must also be documented and archived. The university has specific guidelines for what types of materials must be documented and archived.
For more information, contact arkiv@du.se.
See also:
- Research data and personal data (staff website)
Council members
- Chairperson: Catrin Borneskog Sinclair
- Acting chairperson: David Gray
- Secretary: Kerstin Göras
- Members, humanities/social sciences: David Gray (regular member) and Roger Melin (substitute)
- Members, ethics: vacant
- Members, health sciences/medical sciences: Catrin Borneskog Sinclair
- Members, natural sciences/technology/engineering: Ilias Thomas (regular member) and Arend Hintze (substitute)
- Student representatives: vacant (regular member) and Anton Bergström (substitute)
Lunch seminars
Watch recordings from the Research Ethics Council lunch seminars.
Management of sensitive research data, 2022
Vilmantas Giedraitis, PhD