Funding, Postdoctoral Positions and Studentships


National funding
Regional funding
Postdoctoral Positions
Studentships (local)

National funding

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the principal public funder in the UK for research on underlying processes in biology, including genetics, cell and tissue biology, plant and animal sciences.

Community of Science has the largest source of grant information on the Web

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is the UK Government department with the overall aim to increase competitiveness and scientific excellence in order to generate higher levels of sustainable growth and productivity in a modern economy.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the largest of the seven Research Councils responsible for promoting and supporting basic, strategic and applied research for the UK.

European Commission's Research website (CORDIS) has information on the research areas, policies and activities promoted by the European Union.

Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK (HERO) is the official gateway site to the UK's universities, colleges and research organisations.

Leverhulme Trust offers grants and fellowships in support of academic research.

Medical Research Council (MRC) promote research into all areas of medical and related science with the aims of improving the health and quality of life of the UK public and contributing to the wealth of the nation.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funding opportunities for post-genomic research based in the UK.

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) promote and support, by any means, high quality basic, strategic and applied research, survey, long-term environmental monitoring and related postgraduate training in terrestrial, marine and freshwater biology and Earth, atmospheric, hydrological, oceanographic and polar sciences and Earth observation.

Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) funds UK research, education and training in its four broad areas of science - particle physics, astronomy, solar system science and particle astrophysics.

Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

Royal Society of Chemistry is the Learned Society for the chemical sciences and the Professional Body for chemical scientists in the UK with over 46,000 members worldwide.

UK Research Office (UKRO) is the UK's leading information and advice service on European Union funding for research and higher education.

Wellcome Trust mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and supports 'blue skies' research and applied clinical research. It also encourages the exploitation of research findings for medical benefit.

Regional funding

Graduate Research School at Sunderland University exists to give support and structure to the research work of Sunderland University staff, students, clients and partners.

Higher Education Reach Out to Business and the Community Fund (HEROBC) is intended to develop the capability of HEIs to respond to the needs of business, and to contribute to economic growth and competitiveness, by enabling HEIs to put into practice organisational and structural arrangements to achieve their strategic aims in this area.

North East Centre for Scientific Enterprise aims to promote an entreprenueurial culture within the Science and Engineering Faculties of the North East Regional Universities and to enhance the exploitation of the Intellectual Property generated by the high quality research activities.

Research and Economic Development Support Services at Durham University includes information about research grants.