Top funders
- RESEARCH COUNCILS
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
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The AHRC supports both arts and humanities research, through a variety of funding mechanisms such as research awards, postgraduate scholarships, and numerous knowledge transfer awards. For information go to the AHRC’s funding opportunities.
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
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The BBSRC supports research into biosciences, through a variety of funding mechanisms such as research grants, fellowships, postgraduate studentships and research experience placements, schemes to enable international collaborations and special opportunities through calls for applications through specific initiatives. For information go to the BBSRC’s funding opportunities.
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
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The ESRC is the UK’s largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. They support independent, high quality research which has an impact on business, the public sector and the third sector through a range of funding opportunities, including schemes, competitions and initiatives.For information go to the ESRC’s funding opportunities.
- Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC)
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The EPSRC supports research into engineering and physical sciences, ranging from physics, chemistry and mathematics to materials, computing, engineering and high value manufacturing through funding mechanisms such as research grants, fellowships and studentships. For information go to the EPSRC’s funding opportunities.
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
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The MRC supports medical research ranging from research to understand fundamental science (without having specific health questions in mind) to tackling some of the most pressing health issues facing society. The MRC funds research through a range of grants, calls, highlight notices, studentships and fellowships. For information go to the MRC’s funding opportunities.
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
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NERC is the UK’s main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences through a range of research grants, fellowships, postgraduate studentships and knowledge exchange funding schemes and undergraduate research experience placements. For information go to the NERC’s funding opportunities.
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
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The STFC offers grants and support in Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics and Facility Development. It also provides support for research infrastructure, training, knowledge exchange and activities through research grants, fellowships, knowledge transfer partnerships and postgraduate studentships. For information go to the STFC’s funding opportunities.
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
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UKRI is the strategic partnership of all seven UK Research Councils and was established in 2002 to enable the Research Councils to work together more effectively to enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of their research, training and innovation activities, contributing to the delivery of the Government’s objectives for science and innovation. UKRI co-ordinates over-arching Research Council policy, cross-council research (e.g. through their priority areas), and systems. For information go to the UKRI website.
- PUBLIC SECTOR & CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
- British Council
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Through their worldwide science network, the British Council builds partnerships and encourages links and networking between scientists, engineers and research managers. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
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BIS is the UK government department for economic growth. The department invests in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Department for Education (DfE)
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The DfE is the UK government department with responsibility for infant, primary and secondary education. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
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DEFRA is the UK government department responsible for policy and regulations on the environment, food and rural affairs. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Department for International Development (DFID)
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DFID is a government department promoting sustainable development and eliminating poverty. DFID’s main programme areas of work are the promotion of education, health, social services, water supply and sanitation, government and civil society, economic sector, environmental protection, research and humanitarian assistance. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Department of Health (DoH)
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DoH provides strategic leadership for public health, the NHS and social care in England. The DoH remit is to improve England’s health and well-being. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Natural England (NE)
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NE is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its purpose is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Home Office
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The Home Office is the lead UK government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, counter-terrorism and policing. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website.
- Ministry of Defence (MOD)
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The MOD is the government department responsible to protect the security, independence and interests of the UK at home and abroad. For information about policy and potential procurement opportunities, go to their website
- EUROPEAN UNION
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Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU’s research and innovation framework programme running from 2021-2027. The UK will associate to Horizon Europe subject to ratification of the overall deal and finalisation of the Horizon Europe Programme regulations. Further details are available from the Horizon Europe web page.
Brexit and Related Issues
Last updated February 2020
The Government has published an updated version of the technical notice containing guidance on ‘Horizon 2020: what it is and how to apply for funding’ to take into consideration what will happen during the Brexit transition period and beyond:
"UK scientists, researchers and businesses can continue to participate in, bid for and lead projects in Horizon 2020, as if the UK remained a member state, even after the UK exits the EU on 31 January 2020.
The UK government is encouraging UK organisations to continue to bid into calls for new Horizon 2020 grant funding for the lifetime of the Horizon 2020 programme and, if successful, funding will be provided by the Commission. This includes Horizon 2020 calls that extend into 2021, after the transition period has ended.”
The full text of the Government statement is available here.
In summary:
- During the transition period, the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget and therefore remain in EU programmes as if it were a member state.
- UK-based researchers can bid for and participate in all Horizon 2020 calls issued by 31 December 2020 (and lead consortia), with any successful grants covered in full (via the EU budget) for the duration of the project. The European Commission will continue to make payments to UK projects agreed during this period. Please note: A very small number of UK Horizon 2020 projects which involve access to security-related sensitive information restricted for EU Member States may be unable to continue after Brexit. If you are concerned that your project might be affected, please contact UKRI directly by emailing EUGrantsFunding@ukri.org.uk
If you have any questions regarding EU funding please do not hesitate to get in touch with your Research Development Manager, or contact the Research Development team on research_support@sussex.ac.uk
Further Information:
UKRO statement on 31 January 2020.
- NON-PROFIT - Medical & Bio-Medical
- Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
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The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is a membership organisation of the leading medical and health research charities in the UK. They are a good starting point for researching the broad range of charities in the UK that support medical research. For further information of current funding opportunities, go to their website.
- Alcohol Research UK (AR)
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The AR is dedicated exclusively to fund work that improves understanding of what causes excessive drinking, how it can be prevented and the best ways of tackling the problems it causes. AR provides a wide range of grants. For further information on current funding opportunities, go to the funding pages of their website.
- Alzheimer’s Research UK
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Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity specialising in finding preventions, causes, treatments and a cure for dementia. Alzheimer’s Research UK has a large number of different grant schemes. For further information on current grant schemes, go to the funding gages on their website.
- Breast Cancer Now
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Breast Cance Now funds innovative research into breast cancer causes and treatments in the UK & Ireland through project and pilot grants, Postgraduate studentships and fellowships. For current funding opportunities, go to their current funding website.
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)
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The BHF is a charity that aims to prevent people from dying from heart diseases through funding research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and circulation. To find out more about their current research grants and fellowships, go to their current funding website.
- Cancer Research UK (CR)
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CR is the UK’s leading cancer research charity, funding individual biomedical scientists, clinical researchers and research leaders. CR also supports research through their multiple centres of excellence in cancer across the UK, via their core institutes, and through their involvement in partnerships and networks both in the UK and internationally. Further details are available from the funding pages of their website.
- Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS)
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The MSS provides support and advice to those living with and affected by multiple sclerosis. MSS is the biggest charitable funder of MS research in the UK. They fund research grants into the cause and cure of MS, as well as symptoms relief and the services which MS suffers need to improve the day-to-day effects of MS. For more information, go to the funding pages of their website.
- Stroke Association (SA)
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The SA is a UK charity, which works to prevent stroke and to support everyone touched by stroke. Research funded by the SA has the ultimate aim of making stroke a preventable and treatable disease, and improving the quality of life for people affected by stroke through fellowships and programme grants. For more information, go to the funding pages on their website.
- Versus Arthritis
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Versus Arthritis (formerly Arthritis Research UK) is the leading UK funder of research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis. Versus Arthritis funds research grants into all types of arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions; from laboratory-based science through to multi-centre clinical trials through funding mechanisms such as research grants, fellowships, Postgraduate studentships and various clinical studies grants. For current funding opportunities, go to their current funding website.
- Wellcome Trust (WT)
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The WT is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health through a wide variety of funding schemes, including investigator awards, fellowships and strategic awards, and through the support of major initiatives. For more information about their current funding opportunities, go to the funding pages on their website. Wellcome’s funding guidelines changed in 2019. If you are considering applying, please review our support process here.
- NON-PROFIT - Non-Medical
- British Academy for the humanities and social sciences (BA)
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The BA supports and champions excellence in the humanities and social sciences large and small research grants, various fellowships and the BA/Wolfson professorships call. For current funding opportunities, go to the funding pages of their website.
- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EFF)
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The EFF is one of the leading independent grant-making foundations in the UK. For further information, go to their website.
- Fulbright Commission (FC)
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The FC aims to foster cultural understanding through educational exchange. Their US-UK Fulbright Awards Programme offers opportunities to study, lecture, or pursue research in any academic field. For more information go to their Fulbright Award pages on their website.
- Gatsby Charitable Foundation (Gatsby)
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Gatsby is a foundation set up by David Sainsbury to realise his charitable objectives, focusing support on six programme areas (Plant Science, Neuroscience, Education, Africa, Public Policy and the Arts). For more information on possible funding opportunities go to their website
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF)
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PHF is an independent grant-making organisation focusing on the arts, education and social justice through their UK Open Grant Scheme. For more information, go to their funding website.
- Henry Moore Foundation (HMF)
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The HFM is an arts charity established by the artist Henry Moore to promote sculpture in general and Henry Moore’s work in particular through small grants. For more information, go to their website
- Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
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JISC promotes the innovative application and use of information systems and information technology in further and higher education through research programmes. For further information, go to their funding pages on their website.
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)
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The JRF is a British social policy research and development charity that funds a UK-wide research and development programme. It seeks to understand the root causes of social problems, to identify ways of overcoming them, and to show how social needs can be met in practice. For more information, go to their funding pages on their website.
- Leverhulme Trust (LT)
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The LT was established at the wish of William Hesketh Lever and makes awards for the support of research and education. The trust emphasises individuals and encompasses all subject areas through research grants, fellowships, studentships, research leadership, visiting professorships and international network awards. For more information go to LT’s funding pages on their website.
- Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art (PMC)
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The PMC is an educational charity set up to promote and support the study of British art history and architecture and to disseminate knowledge through publications, exhibitions and education through fellowships and grants. For more information please go to the funding pages on their website.
- Nuffield Foundation (NF)
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The NF is a British charitable trust, which tries to improve social well-being by funding research and innovation in education and social policy. It also aims to increase the proliferation and quality of research and professional skills – both in science and social sciences – through its capacity building programmes. For more information on funding opportunities, go to the funding pages of their website.
- Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE)
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The RAE is the UK’s national academy for engineering and they bring together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering. The RAE runs a comprehensive programme of awards and schemes to encourage engineering research and facilitate closer contacts between the industrial and academic worlds. For funding opportunities, go to their funding pages on their website.
- Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)
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The RAS encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science through awards, medals, prices as well as research grants. For current funding information, go to their website.
- Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (RC)
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The RC offers major awards to scientists and engineers for research, development and design. It aims to support education for the benefit of productive industry and full details of its awards are on its website.
- Royal Society (RS)
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The RS is a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. The RS provides a range of grant schemes to support the UK scientific community and foster collaboration between UK based and overseas scientists. For more information go to the funding pages of their website.
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
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The RSC is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences, with its activities spanning education, conferences, science policy and the promotion of chemistry to the public. The RSC funds prizes and awards and for more information on these, go to the funding pages on their website.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
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SCIE is a UK charity, set up by government and funded by the UK Department of Health. SCIE identifies and disseminates the knowledge base for good practice in all aspects of social care thought the United Kingdom social care. For funding information and potential procurement opportunities, got to their website.
- Sir Halley Stewart Trust (SHST)
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The SHST assists innovative developments in research, social & development, and medical fields in the UK and Africa through salary grants. For more information on these salary grants please go to the funding pages on their website.
- Wingate Foundation (WF)
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The WF supports research into Jewish Life and Learning, Performing Arts, Music, Education & Social Exclusion, Developing Countries and Medical Research through grants to charitable organisations. For more funding information, go to their website.
- Wolfson Foundation
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The Wolfson Foundation is a charity that awards grants to support and promote excellence in the fields of science and medicine, health, education, and the arts and humanities through research grants. For funding information, go to the funding pages on their website.
- PRIVATE SECTOR
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An indicative listing of a range of national and international companies that invest in R&D
M12 (previously Microsoft Ventures, specific funding to help with start ups)
- INTERNATIONAL (non-EU FP)
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A limited selection of some of the major overseas (non EU) funders can be found below:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation