Library: Working with data: Sensitive data

On this page you will find guidance on who to ask for advice about working with sensitive research data (personal or commercial), encryption of files and folders, storage of research data, transferring research data (including its export), disposing of research data and anonymisation.

N.B. This page uses “sensitive data” as an umbrella term. Please refer to the University’s Information Classification Scheme and the Data Protection Act to understand which category your data falls into.

Data Protection Act
Data protection at the University of Bath
University of Bath Data Protection guidance and Data Protection Officer contact information
Information Classification Scheme
Information management
Guidance, policies and procedures for records management, data protection, freedom of information, IT security, research data management and confidential waste.

Who to ask about working with sensitive data

This guide will help to ensure that you manage any commercially sensitive research data securely and, for personal data or special category data, ensure that you adhere to data protection legislation.

If you need advice about the legal aspects of collecting personal data, or need help drafting your consent forms, contact the Data Protection Team (dataprotection@bath.ac.uk).
If you need advice about any aspect of access to, or managing commercially sensitive data or personal data, contact the Library's Research Data Service (requires University of Bath login).
If you need guidance on export control policy requirements (including with regards to data), contact the Research Governance and Compliance Team.
If you need to complete an IT or data security questionnaire please contact the IT Security Manager.
There is guidance on the research ethics process from the Research integrity and ethics team.
Universities UK have produced guidance on Oversight of security-sensitive research material in UK universities.

We provide a self-paced online training course on Managing Human Participant Research Data (Requires University of Bath login).

Research Data Management: TOPdesk
Requires institutional login
Oversight of security-sensitive research material in UK universities: guidance
Research integrity and ethics
Managing Human Participant Research Data
Requires institutional login
Information management
Guidance, policies and procedures for records management, data protection, freedom of information, IT security, research data management and confidential waste.