There are four English-based National Academies, all of which have the same principal roles:

The four organisations are as follows:

The Royal Society is a leading independent scientific body in the UK and the Commonwealth, promoting excellence in science by supporting scientists from postdoctoral level to senior professorships. They offer grants for a variety of purposes ranging from conference travel to the modernisation of laboratories.

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences – the study of peoples, cultures and societies, past, present and future. The British Academy provides a variety of grants and fellowships to support academic research, career development and wider engagement. Funding opportunities cover UK and international research from the postdoctoral level upwards.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is the UK’s national academy for engineering and technology, bringing together the most talented and successful engineers to advance and promote excellence in engineering for the benefit of society. The Academy runs a programme of grants and prizes to support and celebrate the pursuit of engineering activities and to enable closer contact between academia and industry. 

The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science, advancing biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. The Academy is committed to supporting the careers of the next generation of biomedical and health researchers through a portfolio of grant schemes, a mentoring programme, career development events and careers policy work.