Research Councils UK (RCUK) are responsible for investing public money in research in the UK to advance knowledge and generate new ideas which lead to a productive economy, healthy society and contribute to a sustainable world.
Each Research Council funds research and training activities in a different area of research ranging across the arts and humanities, social sciences, engineering and physical sciences and the medical and life sciences. RCUK supports over 50,000 researchers including 19,000 doctoral students, around 14,000 research staff, and2,000 research fellows in UK universities and in their own Research Institutes.
There are currently seven Research Councils:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
All are Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), established by Royal Charter and are independent legal bodies outside of Government, accountable to Parliament.
