The University of Waterloo is committed to maintaining the highest standards in research. To support the administration and oversight of the research ethics review, a fee structure has been established for industry and for-profit sponsored research projects. The fee is charged regardless of whether the project is investigator-initiated or sponsor-initiated. This fee structure aligns with practices at peer institutions across Canada.
Fees do not apply for studies that are:
- Funded by public, charitable or not-for-profit organizations (e.g., NSERC, CIHR, NIH).
- Funded by internal Waterloo grants.
- Unfunded studies, such as those for student thesis work.
Principal investigators are responsible for communicating the research ethics review fee to sponsors and industry partners and incorporating these fees into their research budget.
Fee structure
As of May 1, 2025, the fees will apply.
The fee is a one-time, non-refundable charge applied regardless of the review outcome. Ethical clearance of a study may be withheld until the review fee is paid in full.
In certain cases, the fee may be waived or reduced. Requests for waivers or reductions can be emailed to Ian Milligan, Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight and Integrity (i2millig@uwaterloo.ca), with a summary of the project and a detailed explanation of why the sponsor is unable to pay this fee.
If the project's total budget is $25,000 or less, the review fee is $500, including amendments. It is expected that projects of this size will not exceed one year.
| Fee type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial review | $3,500 per submission | Charged for the initial review of the research ethics application. |
| All amendments + annual renewal + closure report | $500 for each year of the project | Covers reviews for all amendments plus annual renewal(s) and closure report. |
| Length of project | Fee | Total fee |
|---|---|---|
| One-year project | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Two-year project | $3,500 + $500 | $4,000 |
| Three-year project | $3,500 + $500 + $500 | $4,500 |
| Four-year project | $3,500 + $500 + $500 + $500 | $5,000 |
Billing and payment process
To streamline the process, contract reviewers in the Office of Research will include the fee in the agreement with a sponsor or industry partner.
Contact
For more information, contact:
Ian Milligan
Associate Vice-President, Research Oversight & Integrity
i2millig@uwaterloo.ca
Updated September 24, 2025