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British Council India
Jodrell Bank, Astronomy exhibits in the Science Centre - Image © The University of Manchester
SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
Our Projects for 2006-07
UK Funding opportunities and Initiatives
UK Funding opportunities and Initiatives

Here is your gateway to study Science in UK through various schemes and opportunities provided through various programmes and initiatives listed below:

Research Councils
Royal Society, UK
Wellcome Trust
British Academy
The Asia-Link Programme
Support for International Science, Technology and Engineering Research (SISTER)
The Darwin Initiative
Department for International Development (DFID)
Global Opportunities Fund (GOF)
Scholarships Weblinks

Research Councils

The Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK with interests ranging from bio-medicine and particle physics to the environment, engineering and economic research. RCUK works alongside the Office of Science & Innovation (OSI) to support the UK’s finest academic researchers and to ensure the best investment of public money in research.

  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
    EPSRC seeks to work with other agencies both in the UK and overseas to help increase links between other countries and the UK, in research and training in engineering and the
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
    BBSRC is the UK’s principal funder of basic and strategic biological research in some of the most exciting areas of contemporary science like Genomics, stem cell biology, bionanotechnology, bioprocessing etc. BBSRC is one of eight Research Councils supported through the Science Budget by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
  • Medical Research Council (MRC)
    Promoting research and training skilled people in all areas of medical and related science with the aim of improving human health.  The MRC, through its units and institutes, participates in a large number of international collaborations, both bilaterally and as part of larger international consortia, and also host large number of visiting workers from overseas.
  • Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)
    PPARC is the UK's strategic science investment agency and directs, coordinates, funds research, education and training in particle physics and astronomy.  PPARC operates three scientific sites: the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC) in Edinburgh, the Isaac Newton Group (ING) in La Palma and the Joint Astronomy Centre (JAC) in Hawaii.
  • The Natural Environment Research Council NERC
    The Natural Environment Research Council delivers independent research, survey, training and knowledge transfer in the environmental sciences, to advance knowledge of planet Earth as a complex, interacting system. Their work covers the full range of atmospheric, earth, biological, terrestrial and aquatic sciences, from the deep oceans to the upper atmosphere, and from the poles to the equator.

Royal Society, UK

Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting excellence in science. The Society plays an influential role in national and international science policy and supports developments in science engineering and technology in a wide range of ways.

  • International Joint Projects programme
    Provide support to cover costs of exchanging staff involved in collaborative research between a UK and an overseas group.  Subjects include all sciences, i.e. the disciplines in which the Society will elect researchers to the Fellowship of the Royal Society
  • Short visits to the UK
    Provide support for visits of between one week and three months, with the purpose of enhancing the research capabilities of individual scientists and developing collaborative links.  Key objectives are to initiate one-to-one collaborations, explore opportunities to build lasting networks and gain access to complementary equipment, data observations and ideas.
  • International Incoming Fellowships Programme
    The Royal Society International Fellowships provides opportunities for cutting-edge scientific research at post-doctoral level and encouragse excellent postdoctoral scientists based in India to undertake high quality research in centres of scientific excellence in the UK.  The research undertaken must be on a subject within the natural sciences, including: physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering science, agricultural and medical research, the scientific aspects of archaeology, geography, experimental psychology and the history of science.

Wellcome Trust

The Wellcome Trust devotes a significant proportion of its funds to research conducted outside the UK. This support is focused in three areas - international biomedical research in developing and restructuring countries, tropical and clinical research in developing countries and international networks and partnerships.

  • International Senior Research Fellowship
    This fellowship supports outstanding researchers, either medically qualified or science graduates, who wish to establish a research career in an Indian, South African, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian or Polish academic institution. Read details

British Academy

  • British Academy/ACU Grants for International Collaboration
    Funds are available to support international joint activities, involving British scholars in collaboration with Commonwealth partners. Applications must be for projects involving genuine collaborative work between a defined group of scholars in one, or possibly two, other Commonwealth countries. Priority will be given to applications involving the initiation of a new programme where there is an expectation of continued collaboration, or a defined outcome such as planned joint publications. Read details
  • British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships
    This scheme is designed to enable outstanding recently postdoctoral scholars to obtain experience of research and teaching in the university environment. Applicants must have obtained their doctorate recently (normally within 2 years of taking up an award), and must not have held an established teaching post in an institution of higher education. Read details

The Asia-Link Programme

The programme is an initiative by the European Commission to promote regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in EU Member States and eligible countries in Asia. The programme aims to promote the creation of new partnerships and new sustainable links between European and Asian higher education institutions and to reinforce existing partnerships. Read details.

Support for International Science, Technology and Engineering Research(SISTER)

SISTER provides funding route map for UK researchers, postgraduates and international students who are seeking funding for international collaboration in science & technology.  It has been created for British Council Science, the Office of Science and Technology, The Royal Society and UK Trade and Investment to help researchers find sources of funding for international collaborations. Visit the SISTER website for details.

The Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative is a small grants programme that aims to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources around the world. The Initiative is funded and administered by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra). Read details.

Department for International Development (DFID)

DFID operates a number of different funding schemes to promote sustainable development and eliminate poverty. Read details.

Global Opportunities Fund (GOF)

GOF is to promote action on global issues in areas of strategic importance to the UK and has been created to fund projects around the world relating to the FCO's eight strategic international policy priorities. Read details.

Scholarships Weblink

  • Commonwealth Scholarship & Fellowship Plan (CSFP)
    For taught postgraduate courses, doctoral studies, PhD, split-site doctoral for those studying for a PhD in developing Commonwealth countries, post-doctoral research etc
  • Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS)
    For research at well-established UK academic institutions, covers difference in cost between home and overseas student fees.
  • Felix Scholarships
    For taught postgraduate masters courses, masters degrees by research and doctoral degrees by research at Oxford, Reading and SOAS
  • The Gates Cambridge Scholarship
    For research leading to the PhD degree, one year post-graduate courses, second Bachelor degree at Cambridge.
  • Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards
    This new Ph.D scholarship scheme was announced recently in UK. The scheme is a £10 million initiative to allow over 100 science, engineering and medical students from developing countries to study in top rated UK universities. The fully funded scholarship is open to students from India, China, Hong Kong, Russia and the developing world.
  • The British Chevening Scholarship Programme
    The programme is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and managed by the British Council world-wide, supporting over 2300 international students annually to study in the UK. Subjects covered include Science and Innovation, environment management besides others. Candidates can apply for one-year Master’s programme in any UK University, or for short-term professional courses (from one to four months’ duration) tailor-made to Indian needs at specific UK universities.
  • Scottish International Scholarship Programme
    The Scottish Executive offers 6 scholarships for Indian students for Masters programmes (not more than 12 months), based in a Scottish higher institution. The scholarship covers airfare, tuition fees and a living allowance.
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