The types of approvals you will need for your research, will depend on your research, what will be involved and where your research will take place.
If your research involves human participants, ethical review by a Research Ethics Committee (REC) is the most commonly required approval. Ethical approval may be from your research organisation (for example university REC), or an NHS (or Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland) REC.
To learn when NHS REC review is needed, please visit Do I need NHS REC review?
Approvals from places, like schools or other establishments, may also be required depending on the nature of your project.
There are times when no REC approval is needed (usually for studies considered low risk). Work with your local research office to understand your local policy.
No research should start before the necessary approvals are in place. Approvals do not need to be in place at the time of applying for a grant.