There are five main stages to the project.

1. All HEIs in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been invited to contribute to the research.

2. Where HEIs can identify suitable cases for the study and agree to participate, a member of HEI staff (ideally someone who has had contact with the family previously) contacts parents, partners or relatives of the student who has died to ask if they would be willing to be contacted by the researchers.

3. If parents/partner and relatives agree(s) to being contacted, a researcher contacts them to discuss the project in more detail. >

a. The aim of this discussion is to tell them more about what taking part in the project involves. We are aware that each family's situation is unique therefore the team will work closely with families at this stage to come to a decision about participation which is right for them.

b. If families agree to their story being included in the research, they are then offered the opportunity of talking to us about their personal experiences before and after the death of their relative.

c. If they decide that they do not wish to talk to the research team themselves, they can choose to allow us to include their relative’s story by allowing permission for us to approach staff and friends of the student and to access Coroner's records.

4. If the family’s consent is obtained, the HEI may contact those who knew the student and those who were involved in responding to the student's death.

5. If following this contact, individuals agree to have their details passed to the team, a researcher will contact them to discuss whether they are willing to talk to us about their individual experiences.

The team will ensure that it will not be possible to identify any individuals or organisations who take part in the research. Any details which could lead to identification will be changed or removed.