This page provides a sample of some of the types of available research funding in the UK for engineering and physical sciences.
This includes research in information and communications technology, materials, mechanical and medical engineering, mathematical sciences, physical sciences, process, sustainability and environmental technologies.
The EPSRC is the UK's leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. All EPSRC research grants can be used to support international collaboration. Overseas Travel Grants provide funding for international travel and subsistence. Visiting Fellowships provide salary costs and travel and their Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship enable researchers to work at the interface with life sciences at leading laboratories outside the UK. Responsive Mode Research Grants are very flexible and fund projects ranging from small travel grants to multi-million pound research programmes.
The STFC is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Postdoctoral Fellowships enable less experienced researchers the ability to pursue a long term research career at a UK institution. Advanced Fellowships enable outstanding researchers the opportunity to pursue full-time research at a UK institute.
The ESF is an association of 77 member organisations devoted to scientific research in 30 European countries. The ESF fund Exploratory Workshops aimed at helping European research teams to exchange knowledge and establish new links Research Network Programmes (RNP) in engineering and physical sciences lay the foundation for nationally funded research groups to address major scientific and research infrastructure issues.
The European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7) has several themes under its ‘Cooperation’ programme which touch upon engineering and physical sciences. These are: -
Research proposals in these areas must involve some trans-national cooperation.
The purpose of the programme is to promote the mobility of European researchers towards the Chinese research and development area. The STF China is the pilot phase of a European Community action offering fellowship positions in China.
The RAEng is Britain’s national academy for engineering. Their International Travel Grants Scheme is intended to help Engineering Researchers in the UK make study visits overseas. Post-doctoral Research Fellowships provide funding for research engineers of any nationality to undertake research at UK Universities. Research exchanges with China and India enables a UK researcher to spend time at an Indian or Chinese University, or an Indian or Chinese researcher to visit the UK. Short awards support exploratory or networking visits. Major awards support longer-term projects. Their Global Research Award scheme is intended to help Engineering Researchers employed in the UK to travel and work overseas for periods between three months and one full year with a view to establishing long-term collaborations.
The fellowships will be run by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society to cover the broad range of natural and social science, engineering and the humanities. The fellowships aim to attract the worlds best post-doctoral researchers to Britain for a period of one to two years.
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