Faculty of Education FREC: Information and Resources
!Important Points!
Part 2: Self Assessment and Relevant Details:
17. Cooperating institution:
Please enlist and provide the number of each cooperating institution that will be contacted including:
(i) institutions required for access to participants (e.g., MEYR, Secretariat for Catholic Schools, etc.);
(ii) institutional gatekeepers directly responsible for participants (e.g., heads of school, NGO executives, etc.).
Kindly note that Education FREC in the section above requires applicants to send letters requesting permission in the section below before they are sent to the intermediaries. FREC will review such letters along with the online REDP form and any other documentation. Please mark the section above as "Yes/Unsure" if you require permissions.
It is also highly recommended that researchers submit their online FREC applications as early as possible in order to avoid undue pressure and undue delays.
URECA Guidelines:
Order of documents to attach to URECA Form [PDF]
Research Ethics Review Procedures
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
URECA Resources:
URECReplica-21-03-2025 [Word]
Sample information letters and consent forms
Information Letter - Younger Pupils - Primary School [Word]
Information Letter Pupils - Secondary School [Word]
Sample Participant Assent Form (Secondary Student) [Word]
Sample Participant Assent Form – Younger students [Word]
Sample Participant Assent form – Very Young Pupils [Word]
Presentations and Videos:
Faculty of Education Research Ethics Slide presentation - 06-01-2023 [PowerPoint]
Power Point presentation used during the ethics presentation of 2021 [PDF]
CPD Information session Power Point [PDF]
The role of the Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) is to ensure that the University of Malta’s Research Code of Practice is adhered to. FREC manages the process of reviewing applications submitted for ethical clearance; this is done in accordance with the University of Malta’s Research Ethics Review Procedures.
FREC works to comply with international standards of research, especially those established by recognized associations in Education, and cognate disciplines, such as BERA, BSA, APA and others. It is also committed to ensure that research is compliant with the EU (GDPR) that came into force as of May 2018. Apart from ensuring that participants in research are protected by ethical research, FREC also assists researchers (staff and students) by giving advice on how to reach the expected standards and how to modify proposals and documents where necessary.
FREC receives Ethics applications as an ongoing process; hence, applicants may submit their Ethics Application at any time of the year. Applications are processed in the order that they are received.
Nonetheless, applicants would benefit from submitting their online FREC applications as early as possible in order to avoid undue pressure and undue delays.
When applying, it is highly recommended that the URECReplica-21-03-2025 [Word] is first downloaded by applicants to familiarise themselves with its contents and requirements. It is also highly advised that students consult with their supervisors while filling in the replica/online form. Instructional videos can be followed for further guidance on submitting the URECA form.
The online URECA form includes a 'Self-Assessment' section. If no potential issues are indicated in this section, the applicant can submit the application and supporting documents (e.g. information letters, consent forms, interview questions, etc.) for FREC records.
If any issues are flagged in Part 2 : Self-Assessment and Relevant Details, the applicant will be asked to elaborate upon the specific issue/s indicated, and will need to seek FREC permission before data collection.
For ease of reference, FREC requests that the documents are filed in the order indicated in the Further Information and Resources section (see Further information and resources).
Any other correspondence should be sent to the secretary of FREC (Education) Jessica Cutajar. If further amendments need to be done to the online form and/or to the documents, feedback will be sent to you from the email address research-ethics.educ@um.edu.mt .
Supervisors must confirm that they have read and approved the documents that the students are submitting. FREC can only process a student’s application (for records or for review) if it has been endorsed by the supervisor. It is the students' responsibility to ensure that the application is endorsed by their principal supervisors.
FREC will eventually approve, send for amendments or ask to resubmit the online URECA application once it has been received and processed. If applicants are requested to send amendments, the REDP form can be accessed and amended through the online URECA form.
Please also note that in the case of Faculty of Education FREC, the necessary institutional and gatekeeper permissions need to be submitted on your online URECA form AFTER your URECA form has been granted ethical clearance from FREC.
For further details on completing and submitting the online form, researchers are to refer to the FREC Ethics Power Point presentation and recording (listed in the first bullet below):
FREC receives Ethics applications as an ongoing process; hence, applicants may submit their Ethics Application at any time of the year. Applications are processed in the order that they are received.
FREC meets regularly. During 2025 and 2026 the FREC committee met on the dates listed below:
8 January 2025
10 January 2025
15 January 2025
31 January 2025
3 February 2025
7 February 2025
24 February 2025
11 March 2025
1 April 2025
3 April 2025
11 April 2025
14 April 2025
2 May 2025
5 May 2025
13 May 2025
15 May 2025
2 June 2025
3 June 2025
17 June 2025
19 June 2025
23 June 2025
1 July 2025
3 July 2025
4 July 2025
15 July 2025
17 July 2025
22 July 2025
23 July 2025
15 September 2025
16 September 2025
9 October 2025
10 October 2025
23 October 2025
24 October 2025
6 November 2025
7 November 2025
18 November 2025
20 November 2025
1 December 2025
3 December 2025
16 December 2025
17 December 2025
13 January 2026
16 January 2026
4 February 2026
5 February 2026
25 February 2026
16 March 2026
30 March 2026
16 April 2026
22 April 2026
8 May 2026
13 May 2026
20 May 2026
22 May 2026
27 May 2026
1 June 2026
5 June 2026
11 June 2026
24 June 2026
26 June 2026
1 July 2026
8 July 2026
14 July 2026
21 July 2026
22 July 2026
3 September 2026
Chairperson
Dr Michael Grech
Members
Prof. Karl Attard
Dr Maria Stephanie Borg Bugeja
Dr Lucianne Zammit (Assistant to the Chairperson)
Secretary
Ms Jessica Cutajar
FREC email:
research-ethics.educ@um.
After receiving acknowledgement or the final FREC approval from FREC Office, researchers can proceed with their research.
All students need to take note of the REDP Application ID of your application.
The REDP Application ID is the Research Ethics & Data Protection form code which will need to be included in your Authenticity and research ethics form as part of your dissertation.