Skip to main content

Step 3: Apply to start a new project

⚠️ This is Step 3/3.
Before completing this step, your project lead must complete step 1, and every member of the project team should complete step 2.
1. Make sure your project is feasible
2. Apply to become an OpenSAFELY Full User or Collaborator
3. Apply to start a new project in OpenSAFELY

In this final step, we’ll ask you to provide details about your project proposal.

Applications process

There are two stages to the review of submitted OpenSAFELY applications; the first is led by the Bennett Institute and is to confirm the project is feasible in OpenSAFELY, while the second is led by NHS England and leads to a decision to reject or approve the application. 

The review by the Bennett Institute has two components. They are i) an initial administrative check to confirm the information required for an application submission are present, and ii) an assessment by experienced researchers confirming the completeness of the application and feasibility of the proposed research in OpenSAFELY. 

If there are details missing from an application, insufficient information for assessment, or the project is not feasible as initially submitted, the Bennett institute will provide recommendations for the application to be updated. We will ordinarily only provide one round of recommendations, and suggest addressing these fully before resubmitting. If you have any questions about your project feasibility before submission, please contact us at team@opensafely.org. 

Once the Bennett Institute has completed the review of your application it will be sent to NHS England for processing. This involves a review by a Professional Advisory Group (PAG), the Advisory Group for Data (AGD), and the DARS team. The Project Lead will be notified of the outcome of their application by NHS England, and may be contacted by them during the process if further clarification is required.

For more information on the current application window and associated deadlines, please refer to this blog.

Things to consider before you go further

Before you complete this final form:

  • If you have not completed a feasibility check, go back and do that step first.
  • If you have not asked all members of your project team to complete the user application form, go back and do that first. The Project Lead of any Project Team must be an OpenSAFELY Full User.
  • Make sure at least one member of your team has completed the OpenSAFELY Getting Started tutorial.
  • Make sure at least one member of your team can demonstrate that they have experience working with electronic health record data.
  • Familiarise yourself with how patient opt-outs may affect your project (you’ll be asked about this in your application form)

If you’re unsure, you can get in touch with us at team@opensafely.org.

You might be contacted by a member of the OpenSAFELY team to discuss snags and small details.

If you want to see the questions in the form in full before you start your application, you can download a PDF version.

Complete the project application form

This button will open a Jotform in a new tab. Jotform is a third party service. You do not need any account to use the form. Information you submit will only be visible to members of the OpenSAFELY team at the Bennett Institute and NHS England. We will send an acknowledgement within 10 working days.