All Canadian research involving human participants requires Research Ethics Board approval under TCPS 2 before data collection begins, and researchers must complete the TCPS 2 CORE tutorial first. Review takes two to eight weeks depending on whether the study qualifies for delegated or full board review.
What TCPS 2 Is
The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans is the shared policy of Canada's three federal research agencies — CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. Every institution receiving their funding applies it, which in practice means every Canadian university.
It rests on three core principles: respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice. Each section of your REB application maps to one of them.
Complete the CORE tutorial first. TCPS 2 CORE is a free online course taking roughly three hours, and most Canadian REBs will not accept an application without the certificate attached. Do it during coursework rather than when your proposal is ready.
Delegated vs Full Board Review
- Delegated review. Minimal risk — meaning risk no greater than that of everyday life. Anonymous surveys of adults on non-sensitive topics, interviews with professionals about their work. Reviewed by a subset of the REB, typically two to four weeks.
- Full board review. Greater than minimal risk, or research involving children, people lacking capacity, patients, prisoners, or sensitive topics. Reviewed at a convened meeting, so timing follows the REB's calendar.
You do not decide the category. You describe the study; the REB determines the pathway.
Research With Indigenous Peoples
TCPS 2 Chapter 9 sets specific requirements for research involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, including community engagement from the design stage and agreement on data governance. The OCAP principles — ownership, control, access and possession — apply to First Nations data.
This is not a box to tick late. If your research involves Indigenous communities or data, engagement must begin before the design is fixed, and student timelines rarely accommodate it unless planned from the outset.
Consent Requirements
TCPS 2 requires consent that is free, informed and ongoing. Your consent form must state:
- Purpose, procedures and time required
- Foreseeable risks and benefits, including psychological and reputational
- That participation is voluntary and refusal carries no penalty
- The right to withdraw and the point after which withdrawal is not possible
- How confidentiality is protected and its limits — including any duty to report
- Data storage, retention and destruction
- Contact for the researcher and, separately, for the REB
What Causes Revisions
- Consent forms written at academic reading level. Plain language is a requirement, not a preference.
- No withdrawal cut-off, or one with no reason attached.
- Confidentiality promised absolutely where a legal duty to report exists.
- Vague data storage. Name the encrypted institutional location, not a personal drive.
- Power relationships unaddressed when recruiting your own students, patients or staff.
- Recruitment materials omitted — the REB reviews the actual wording participants see.
Timing
Submit as soon as your design is stable. Amendments after approval need their own review, so settle your instrument first. Data collected before approval generally cannot be used in your thesis and will not be publishable.
Frequently asked questions
What is TCPS 2?
The Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, the shared ethics policy of Canada’s three federal research agencies. Every institution receiving their funding applies it, which in practice means every Canadian university.
Do I need REB approval for an anonymous survey?
Yes, you still need to apply. Anonymous surveys of adults on non-sensitive topics usually qualify for delegated review, which is faster, but the category is determined by the Research Ethics Board rather than by you.
What is the TCPS 2 CORE tutorial?
A free online research ethics course taking around three hours. Most Canadian REBs will not accept an application without the completion certificate, so it should be finished during coursework rather than when the proposal is ready.
What are the OCAP principles?
Ownership, control, access and possession — principles governing First Nations data. Alongside TCPS 2 Chapter 9, they require community engagement from the design stage for research involving Indigenous peoples, which needs planning well before a student timeline would normally allow.
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