Skip Navigation

Data Access Statements

A Data Access Statement (DAS, also known as a Data Availability Statement) is a short statement that tells the reader of a publication where the underpinning data are.

This includes code, software, images, sounds, textual records, objects. If data cannot be shared, or no data were created or used, the DAS provides the reasons for this.

Some funders, including UKRI, and many publishers require you to provide a DAS in your publications.

Ideally, deposit your data in a repository, whether open or restricted access. This will provide you with a persistent identifier (Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or accession number) which you can include in your DAS.

Edge Hill Figshare is the University’s open data repository.

You should include a DAS in all of your publications.
Postgraduates should also include one in their thesis.

In Figshare, your data receives a DOI when it is published. You can also reserve a DOI to put in your DAS if you do not want to publish the data before your publication is published. Or you can embargo the data until your publication is published.

Find out more about using Figshare (Edge Hill only)Find out more about sharing data
I can’t share my data
Non-digital data

Where should I put my Data Access Statement?

If your publisher provides guidance, follow this. Usually, there is a section in the manuscript for ‘Data access’ or ‘Data availability’. If you are unsure where to place your DAS, add it to the acknowledgements section.

Note that the data access section is sometimes not included in the published article, so check this with the publisher. If it is not, make sure that you also include a DAS within the manuscript.

What should my Data Access Statement include?

  • Where the data can be accessed,
  • A URL to the data, ideally in the form of a persistent identifier (DOI), and
  • Any restrictions on access to the data and an explanation as to why it is not openly available.

It is also best practice to include a full citation for the data in your main references list.

It is not sufficient to state “Data will be made available upon reasonable request” or to direct requests for access to data to the author.

Clinical trials

Some journals require that your data access statement meets the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) requirements.

Example Data Access Statements

You can adapt the following examples as appropriate.

Openly available data
Secondary data
Data under embargo
Data that can’t be shared openly
Non-digital data
No new data created or analysed

Further support

For support with data access statements or other research data management questions, please contact Esther Byrom, Research Data Manager.