Clarification on Student Tier: authorship requirements and applying as Applicant/PI for multiple projects

Ruxi Ou

12 August 2025 04:19
6 comments

Hello, I am preparing a Student Tier application and I would be grateful for clarification on two points:

Does the phrase “the resulting paper must be authored by the student” require the student (as Applicant/PI) to be the first author on the final publication, or is it sufficient that the student is an author and the paper is primarily authored by them even if the byline lists another person as first author?
May a single student act as Applicant/PI on more than one simultaneous Student Tier project? Is there any limit to the number of concurrent projects a student can apply for or lead?
e.g. If I already have an approved Student Tier project (Project A) and later submit a separate Student Tier application for Project B, will I be charged the Student Tier fee again for Project B , or is there any waiver/reduction when the same student is Applicant/PI for multiple projects?

Thank you for your help and for any links to the relevant UKB policy or guidance. I am keen to ensure my application(s) fully comply with the Student Tier requirements.

Comments

6 comments

Molly D Data Analyst UKB Community team
- 12 August 2025 08:14
Dear Researcher,
Please find below our response to your queries:
1. Authorship requirement: The student doesn’t need to be the first or sole author on the final publication. As long as the student is a named author and has made a significant contribution to the work, that satisfies the requirement that the paper be authored by the student. It’s understood that collaborative work can involve multiple authors, and first authorship isn’t strictly necessary for compliance.
2. Multiple Student Tier applications: Yes, a student can act as the Applicant/PI on more than one Student Tier project at the same time. There’s no formal limit on the number of concurrent Student Tier applications or projects a student can lead. However, each application is treated separately, so if you submit a second (or third) project, the Student Tier fee would generally apply again for each one, there's no automatic waiver or discount for multiple applications from the same student.
I hope this helps as you move forward with your projects.
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Ruxi Ou
- 12 August 2025 10:54
Thanks a lot for the helpful explanation and guidance.

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Ruxi Ou
- 13 August 2025 12:20
I have one more question. If, after my project is approved, I find I need additional variables or a larger dataset to complete the research, can I submit a further data request under the same project? If so, could you please explain the process and whether any additional charges or changes to the original application or fee would apply?

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Molly D Data Analyst UKB Community team
- 14 August 2025 08:20
Dear Researcher,
Submitting a request for additional variables or a larger dataset after your project has been approved could require a tier change, depending on the data you currently have access to and the data you are requesting. Please note that this may incur an additional cost.
If you find that you need to make such a change, you can submit a tier change request under the same project. Please see the following link: https://community.ukbiobank.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/23358302128413-How-do-I-change-the-tier-of-my-project#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20upgrade%20the,once%20the%20transition%20is%20complete

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Ruxi Ou
- 14 August 2025 09:05
If I'm on the Student Tier, would submitting a request for additional variables or a larger dataset after my project has been approved incur any additional fees?

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Molly D Data Analyst UKB Community team
- 14 August 2025 12:14
Dear Researcher,
Thank you for your post. We've converted your inquiry into a support ticket so we can better assist you directly. We'll be continuing the conversation offline and will follow up with you shortly.
Thank you for your understanding.

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