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How to access : Apply for researcher accreditation

Overview

Being accredited means that you can work with secure data in a safe setting. It allows you to carry out analysis and produce outputs in a secure research environment. This is also known as a Trusted Research Environment (TRE) 

There are two types of researcher accreditation, full and provisional.

You will need to apply for an Integrated Data Service (IDS) account to start your accreditation application 

You must then complete a verification check and a recognised Safe Researcher Training (SRT) course   

Currently we estimate that the researcher accreditation process may take three to five weeks. 

Full researcher accreditation

To become fully accredited (for five years), you must either have a degree that includes a significant proportion of maths or statistics or have three years of quantitative research experience. 

If you have a degree that includes a significant proportion of maths or statistics

You should have an associate, bachelor’s, master's or a doctorate (PhD) degree, with a minimum grade of a 2:2 (lower second class).  

Examples of mathematical or statistical elements that you may have studied include: 

  • application of ethics   
  • data analysis  
  • data collection, including designing questionnaires, ethnography, focus groups, interviewing, sampling, or weighting  
  • hypothesis formation  
  • research design  
  • statistical analysis  
  • testing and evaluation

If you have at least three years of quantitative research experience

If you do not have a degree, you should be able to provide evidence of three years of research experience. 

Datasets that you may have used during this experience include:  

  • admin data  
  • case control data  
  • census data  
  • cohort data  
  • longitudinal data  
  • marketing data  
  • survey data 

You may also have used one or more popular statistical techniques or methods

Provisional researcher accreditation

If you are working towards meeting one of the full researcher requirements, you may be eligible to apply for provisional accreditation (for three years).  

A fully accredited researcher must agree to direct, supervise and take responsibility for your work, on condition that you meet the requirements in a reasonable period. 

Your supervisor must agree that they: 

  • work for the same organisation as you 
  • will work on all your research projects 
  • will direct and take responsibility for work undertaken by you when working on research projects 
  • will be held responsible if you breach your accredited researcher access declaration

Your chosen supervisor must accept for your application to be successful, so we recommend discussing their responsibilities with them before applying. They will also need to be registered with the Integrated Data Service (IDS) Hub. 

Renewing or upgrading your accreditation

To renew or upgrade your researcher accreditation, you must first: 

  • pass a verification check, which includes confirmation of your qualifications or experience
  • retake and pass the Safe Researcher Assessment 

We will email you to remind you to renew your accreditation 60 days before your accreditation expiry date. This email will include a link to the assessment. To request a verification check, email Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) 

If you are expecting an email but have not received one, email Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)  

You do not need to wait for an email to upgrade your accreditation from provisional to full, you can do this at any time through the IDS Hub. 

Additional requirements

To apply for either full or provisional researcher accreditation, you must accept a researcher access declaration. This requirement is detailed in Part 2 of the Research Code of Practice and Accreditation Criteria (opens in a new tab)  

By doing so you are committing to protecting and maintaining the confidentiality of data. 

It is also a Digital Economy Act (DEA) 2017 requirement to publish your details in the UK Statistics Authority Public Register  (opens in a new tab) 

If you want to be excluded from the public register, you must provide a reason to the UK Statistics Authority. This will delay your accreditation. 

If you have any questions about the application process, email Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) 

Training and assessment requirements

To apply for either full or provisional researcher accreditation, you must: 

  • pass a verification check, which includes confirmation of your qualifications or experience
  • complete a recognised Safe Researcher Training (SRT) course
  • pass an assessment after completing that training course 

The training course will: 

  • cover data security and personal responsibility, including legal and procedural breaches and penalties
  • introduce a framework for data access (the Five Safes)
  • explain the theory behind Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC), how to make outputs safe for release and the principles used 

You can complete a free training course and assessment with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) or arrange your own with another provider. 

Training with the ONS

You can book a place on the ONS’s free training course and assessment by applying for an Integrated Data Service (IDS) account  

When your account is approved, you will need to email Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)  to request a verification check. 

Once this is complete, you will be sent access instructions to the ONS Learning Hub where you can book your training course. 

We will automatically update your record to show you have completed your training and passed your assessment. 

If you completed your assessment and your record has not updated, email evidence of your assessment to Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) 

Training with another provider

If you have arranged your own training and assessment with another provider, you will still need to complete a verification check. 

We will also need evidence of: 

  • the provider you used 
  • the date you completed training 
  • the date you passed your assessment 
  • any supporting documentation 

You can send this to us by email and request a verification check at Accredited.Researcher.Support@ons.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)  

View our list of Trusted Research Environment (TRE) training and assessment providers 

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