Research Data Access Pathway pricing

Find information on costs associated with applying through the Research Data Access Pathway.

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Pricing changes from 1 April 2025

Pricing for the Research Data Access Pathway has increased from the 1st of April 2025. This has been a joint decision made by Research Data Scotland (RDS) and our partners to ensure the long-term sustainability of our services. Our goal is to create a pricing model where charges cover the full cost of data provisioning, and each individual project contributes to the costs of running the Scottish National Safe Haven. This allows us to continue to invest in improving our service and scaling in the future.

This price increase is a one-off step change in pricing structure to bring our system to a sustainable level.

For more information on the decision to update our pricing, please read our blog post: "Changes to prices for accessing Scottish datasets."

Research Data Access Pathway pricing model

Research Data Access Pathway pricing covers the cost of delivering data access services, including researcher support, data processing, linkage, governance and access infrastructure. Researchers are not charged for the data itself.

The Research Data Access Pathway operates a component-based tiered pricing structure based on the type of organisation researchers are applying from (e.g. public sector, academia, charity, commercial, industry). Whether a research project is routed through the Research Data Access Pathway or the PBPP Approval Pathway, the component pricing model remains consistent though individual costs within the model may vary.

Researchers will only pay for the support they require, receiving a bespoke cost estimate following the submission of an enquiry. While the addition of research questions after a project has already been approved by the Research Data Access Pathway Approval Panel will not incur an additional cost, project amendments falling into the three categories below will be priced as additional components:

Addition of approved researchers
Extension of project end date
Addition of or changes to variables or datasets (within scope of the Research Data Access Pathway)

All pricing is under continuous review and actual costs will be agreed with the researcher during the application process. Please be aware that researchers are required to have funding in place before an application can be submitted to the Research Data Access Pathway Approval Panel for review.

Preparing your application

Think your project is suitable for the Research Data Access Pathway? Read our guidance for how to prepare your application.

Find application guidance

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Research Data Access Pathway pricing examples

Example 1

Up to four (4) datasets from the Research Data Access Pathway, two (2) researchers requiring access to the Scottish National Safe Haven for one (1) year:

NHS or Public Sector body price	Academic Institution or Third Sector organisation price
£11,588 (ex. VAT)	£15,064 (ex. VAT)

Example 2

Up to four (4) datasets from the Research Data Access Pathway, three (3) researchers requiring access to the Scottish National Safe Haven for three (3) years:

NHS or Public Sector body price	Academic Institution or Third Sector organisation price
£25,494 (ex. VAT)	£33,141 (ex. VAT)

Example 3

Eight (8) datasets from the Research Data Access Pathway, four (4) researchers requiring access to the Scottish National Safe Haven for two (2) years: