External research funding

For the range, intensity and quality of its research and the scale of its cross-disciplinary work and collaboration, the University of Oxford has few peers anywhere in the world. Much of this activity – and its impact in intellectual, social, cultural and economic terms – depends on external funding. During 2007/8 (the most recent reporting period for which the Higher Education Statistics Agency has published financial results across the UK sector) Oxford secured more external funding than any other UK university. In 2008/9, its external research income grew very strongly and was 19 per cent up on the previous year to stand at more than £340 millon.

In addition to this £340 million funding from external sources, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides an additional block grant to support research infrastructure, including the salaries of permanent academic staff, premises, libraries and central computing costs. The largest component of this was allocated by HEFCE on the basis of Oxford’s outstanding results in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

The UK Charity sector and the UK Research Councils are the largest sources of competitive research funding to Oxford. The scale and diversity of charity funding for research not only at Oxford but at many other UK universities are very special features of the national landscape. Support comes from across the UK charity sector, from the largest funders, such as the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust, to a large number of smaller charities whose support is equally important and valued. The University greatly appreciates this aspect of the charities’ work and the generous support provided by their donors, volunteers and staff.

Research funding from overseas, especially from the European Commission and various public and charitable agencies in the USA, is significant at more than 21 per cent of total research income, and is growing more rapidly than from domestic sources (though from a smaller base).

Oxford also receives significant research funding from business and from government departments (often to support collaborative research).

It is this external funding for research, major programmes, projects, fellowships, studentships, travel, equipment and more which is so important in facilitating world-class research at Oxford and its application for public benefit.