All UK Higher Education Institutions are eligible to receive funds for research, postgraduate training and associated activities. The higher education funding councils for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland determine whether an organisation meets the criteria to be a Higher Education Institute.
Research institutes for which the Research Councils have established a long-term involvement as major funder (listed here) are also eligible to receive research funding, from any Council.
Other independent research organisations (IROs) may also be eligible if they possess an existing in-house capacity to carry out research that materially extends and enhances the national research base and are able to demonstrate an independent capability to undertake and lead research programmes. They must also satisfy other criteria related to their financial and legal status: these are set out in full in the Research Councils' joint statement on eligibility, which can be viewed here 
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The current list of eligible IROs can be seen here
A list of the Research Council Institutes is available here.
Information for IROs on how to apply for eligibility
Any organisation wishing to apply for IRO status should contact the Je-S helpdesk in the first instance. The Je-S helpdesk will then advice you of the process and send the appropriate documentation to be completed. When e-mailing the helpdesk for this purpose please include “Application for IRO Status” in the subject heading and provide the full name and postal address of your organisation.
The helpdesk can be contacted at:
- E-mail: JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0) 1793 44 4164
- Staffed Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm UK time (excluding Bank holidays and other holidays)
- Out of hours: leave a Voice Mail message
To view the guidance that individual Research Councils are providing to their communities, follow the links below:
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)