Repositories for finalised data
When considering storage for research data, you need to consider where the data will reside while you are working on it and where it will be deposited for long-term storage once it is finalised.
The University requires that researchers deposit any research data of long-term value safely in a repository, where they can be cited using a persistent identifier (such as a DOI) and will remain accessible for a minimum of ten years. You will need to choose an appropriate repository, select the data that should be deposited, and prepare it for deposit.
Deposit costs
Many repositories, including Enlighten: Research Data, have a deposit charge. For more information on factoring research data management costs into funding applications, see Data Costs.
Choosing an appropriate repository
Researchers have many options when deciding on a suitable repository. There are many subject-based and/or funder-supported repositories such as the UK Data Archive or the NERC Open Research Archive. This list of external Research Data Repositories can help you locate a suitable home for your research data, but if in doubt please contact the Research Data Management (RDM) team for advice.
Some publishers provide repositories and data journals where authors can deposit the data that accompanies a publication. Exclusive rights to reuse or publish research data should not be handed over to commercial publishers or agents without retaining the rights to make the data openly available for re-use, unless this is a condition of funding.
If you deposit data in an external repository, please notify the RDM service. This will enable us to link your data to your staff profile and make sure that your data is included in future reporting exercises.
Enlighten: Research Data
If no suitable external repository exists for your data, the University’s own Enlighten: Research Data is also an option. For more information on the repository, see Enlighten: Research Data.
Some costs may apply for deposit in Enlighten: Research Data. See Data Costs.
Selection
For more information, see our guide on appraising and selecting data for long-term deposit.
Preparing data for deposit
At a minimum, you should plan to deposit:
- The data of long-term value from your research project (or, if depositing data for a publication, the data which underpin each figure).
- A Readme file which (at least) lists the files and explains the file types, folder structure and file naming convention
- Any other relevant documentation needed to make sense of the data
You should check in advance that you comply with the requirements of your chosen repository. See Enlighten: Research Data for guidance on preparing data for deposit into the repository.
Preservation
The University and most funders require researchers to keep their data for 10+ years after creation, and the data must be managed so it can still be found, understood and used in the future. The simplest way to prepare your data for preservation is to make sure that the data is well documented and stored in appropriate file formats.