Research Ethics

Overview

The University of Malaya Research Ethics Committee (UMREC) undertakes ethics review of all non-medical research involving human participants including funded and unfunded research.

The UMREC conducts an ethics review prior to the beginning of any research involving human participants. The UMREC examines the ethics components of the research such as, sound methodology, possible risks and benefits to the subjects, recruitment of subjects, consent from the subjects, confidentiality or anonymity for the subjects, the way in which the data is handled, and how feedback can be provided for the subjects. Please note that any data collection and participants recruitments for any purposes are strictly prohibited before obtaining ethical clearance.

More information is available in the following documents:

1. Code of Research Ethics
2. University of Malaya Manual of Responsible Research
3. Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ)

Application of UMREC-NM (student and staff):

a. The UMREC-NM forms can be downloaded directly from this website:

Application form
Participant information sheet
Consent form
Questionnaire/ interview guide (please submit your own questionnaire/interview questions)

b. All the application forms should be computer typed. Handwritten forms will be totally rejected

c. Applicants are required to submit a copy of PDF of their application to UMREC email at umrec@um.edu.my. Therefore,
The application form must be signed by supervisors (for student application) and head of department/ dean of the faculty

Please scan and save the completed form,

i) Application form,

ii) Participant Information Sheet,

iii) Consent form, and

iv) Questionnaire/ interview guide) in ONE PDF file with name: “UMREC_Application_(your name)” e.g. UMREC_Application_Ali

d. Please make sure that your submission is complete prior to the checklist. The UMREC-NM will strictly reject and will not entertain any incomplete submissions.

e. Closing dates for application submission: 23rd of every month

1. UMREC requires 7 working days to complete the preliminary review. Applicants are required to submit their applications before the preliminary review deadline to ensure sufficient time for this process. Any applications submitted after the deadline will be considered for the next review cycle.

2. Applications that do not pass the preliminary review by the review cycle deadline, will not be considered for the current cycle and will automatically be forwarded to the next cycle.

Please see our SOP as below: 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

  1. Ethics clearance is to be obtained before the research project starts. Researchers should not approach or recruit participants or collect data for any purpose (including pilot study) prior to receiving ethical approval.
  2. For studies conducted in the applicant’s home country (outside Malaysia) that involve recruiting patients from a hospital or clinic, ethical approval must be obtained from the medical ethics committee of the respective hospital in that country, in addition to UMREC’s approval.
  3. We do not provide retrospective reviews. Applications for research where data collection has already started or been completed will not be accepted. 
  4. We require all applicants to submit early to meet the mandatory preliminary review deadline.
  5. We DO NOT provide urgent reviews. Therefore, please plan your research accordingly as any request for an expedited review will not be entertained.

Download

Contact Us

  • Assoc Prof Dr Raida Abu Bakar
  • Chairperson
  • University of Malaya Research Ethics Committee-Non Clinical (UMREC)

For enquiries on research ethics, please email to:

  • Encik Khairul Nizam Abil
  • Tel: +603-7967 7022 (ext. 2369)
  • Email: umrec@um.edu.my
Last Updated on June 24, 2025