Major funders and funding opportunities
REIO maintains two lists of research funding opportunities.
- - upcoming deadlines and highlighted schemes.
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Regularly recurring funding opportunities – schemes run once or more times a year.
- For an in-depth search of research funding opportunities use . Please see our on our SharePoint site.
Major Funders Overview
Here are quick summaries of major funders at the ڹϳ, divided into four categories:
The has a searchable list of Research Council funding opportunities.
AHRC funds world-leading research in the arts, humanities, and cultural sectors. It supports fellowships, research grants, and collaborative projects with cultural institutions. Key schemes include the Research Grants, Catalyst Awards and Curiosity Awards.
BBSRC supports bioscience research to advance agriculture, food security, and health. It funds strategic programs, responsive-mode grants, and industry partnerships. Major schemes include the Strategic Longer and Larger Grants (sLoLa) and Fellowships in the biosciences.
ESRC funds research on social and economic issues, from education to public policy. It supports individual researchers and large-scale interdisciplinary projects. Main schemes include responsive-mode Research Grants, Secondary Data Analysis Initiatives, and Doctoral Training Awards.
EPSRC funds research in engineering, mathematics, and physical sciences. It supports discovery science, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Key schemes include Standard Research Grants, Programme Grants, and Doctoral Awards, often in partnership with industry and academia.
MRC funds biomedical research to improve human health. It supports discovery science, translational research, and clinical trials. Key schemes include Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS), Experimental Medicine and the Research and Programme Grants through its research boards.
NERC funds environmental science to understand and protect the natural world. It supports fieldwork, modelling, and data-driven research. Major schemes include Standard Grants, Large Grants, and strategic programs on climate, biodiversity, and geosciences.
Innovate UK drives business-led innovation across sectors, supporting commercialisation and growth. It funds feasibility studies, collaborative R&D, and scaling of innovations. Core schemes include Smart Grants, Innovation Accelerators, and the Innovate UK EDGE support service for scaling businesses.
The Leverhulme Trust funds curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary research across all academic disciplines except medicine. It supports “blue skies” projects through Research Project Grants, Early Career Fellowships, and Major Research Fellowships. Funding prioritises originality and long-term impact, with schemes designed to support researchers at all career stages.
The British Academy funds humanities and social sciences research through fellowships, project grants, and international collaborations. Key schemes include Postdoctoral Fellowships, Mid-Career Fellowships, Innovation Fellowships, and Small Research Grants. It supports curiosity-driven research and public engagement across UK and global contexts. Please see the PowerPoint slides from a BA visit to the ڹϳ in 2023.
The Royal Society funds natural sciences research, including physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. It offers Research Grants, University Research Fellowships, and International Exchanges. Funding supports early-career researchers, equipment needs, and global collaboration. The Society promotes excellence and diversity in STEM subjects.
Wellcome funds research to improve health and wellbeing, focusing on discovery science, infectious diseases, mental health, and climate-related health impacts. It supports researchers at all career stages through Early Career, Career Development and Discovery Awards, and strategic programmes. Funding is available across biomedical, social, and physical sciences.
BHF funds research into heart and circulatory diseases, including stroke and vascular dementia. It offers Project Grants, Programme Grants, Clinical Study Grants, Fellowships, and Translational Awards. Funding spans basic science to clinical trials, infrastructure, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
CRUK supports research across cancer discovery, prevention, detection, and treatment. It funds individual projects, fellowships, large-scale programmes, and clinical trials. Key schemes include Early Detection, Translational Research, and Infrastructure Awards. CRUK also backs multidisciplinary collaborations and international consortia.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, open to UK researchers via association. It funds collaborative projects across health, climate, digital, and societal challenges. Key schemes include Marie łǻǷɲ첹-Curie Actions, European Research Council grants, and thematic calls under work programmes. See our for more information.
The British Council funds international research partnerships and mobility through schemes like the International Science Partnerships Fund and UKIERI. It supports collaboration between UK and global institutions, focusing on education, innovation, and societal impact.
The John Templeton Foundation funds research exploring life’s big questions across science, philosophy, and theology. Core areas include human flourishing, fundamental physics, and the nature of consciousness. Funding is awarded through a two-stage process: Online Funding Inquiry and Full Proposal. Grants support interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven projects that bridge empirical research and spiritual inquiry.
NIHR funds applied health and care research to improve outcomes and services. It offers themed programmes including Health Technology Assessment, Public Health Research, and Invention for Innovation. Funding supports clinical trials, implementation studies, and career development through the NIHR Academy.