ABSTRACT
A crucial part of any research you perform during your academic career will be governed by ethical considerations. Although ethical approval is essential for the research process it is oft en approached with a sense of dread, with the fear of drowning in a sea of paperwork. Like it or not, ethical approval is a crucial obstacle to negotiate before you can even begin your research, but is of course both critical for ensuring the highest standards of research and can also improve the research project. Th is chapter will aim to explain and demystify the processes involved in obtaining ethical approval. You should not have to cope with all of this alone when starting out in academia, and much will be done with the support of (or by) your supervisor.
