The Royal Society is the scientific academy of the UK and Commonwealth and has a substantial grants programme, funding fellowships and projects in science and engineering (but not medicine).

Other Academies, Colleges and Learned Societies are professional, membership organisations which generally do not make substantial grants to support research projects and salaries - there are a few exceptions, such as the Research Fellowships available from the Royal College of Surgeons.

They DO have smaller sums available, usually for their members, for:

• attending conferences,
• travel grants,
• student prizes,
• equipment grants
• various types of professional development or
• other small grants.

Links to many of these organisation can be found in the RELATED panel on the right. But this is not an exhaustive list - if you don't see a society relevant to your specific interest, try Google or ask your supervisor/tutors/colleagues.