A properly drafted consent form is essential for ethical research involving human participants. Our free template helps you clearly communicate study details, protect participant rights, and meet institutional ethics committee requirements.
Every consent form should clearly cover these four core areas to be considered ethically sound and ready for committee approval.
A clear summary of the research purpose, procedures, duration, and what participation involves.
Statements confirming voluntary participation and the right to withdraw at any time without penalty.
Details on how data will be stored, anonymised, used, and protected throughout the research process.
Space for participant and researcher signatures along with the date of consent acknowledgement.
Get the editable template and adapt the wording to match your specific study and institution.
Send the completed form to your institutional review or ethics committee for approval.
Share the approved form with participants before data collection begins.
Gather signed forms—physical or digital—from each participant prior to enrolment.
Keep signed copies in a secure, confidential location as per your institution's data policy.
Our consent form template is designed to help you move smoothly through the ethics approval process while ensuring participants are fully informed and protected throughout your study.
A general-purpose consent document suitable for most studies involving adult participants aged 18 and above.
Age-appropriate language for participants under 18, to be used alongside parental or guardian consent.
Ready-to-use consent wording for the introduction page of online surveys and questionnaires.
A tailored consent form covering recording, transcription, and use of quotes from interviews and focus groups.
A simple form participants can use if they choose to withdraw from the study after initially consenting.
A document outlining how long collected data will be retained and how participants will be informed of this.