SHEFC has decided in principle to take part in the Arts and Humanities Research Board next academic year and will discuss this further next month.
There has been concern among academics that the Scottish and Welsh funding councils were not part of the new board.
Jennifer Birkett, steering committee convener of the Standing Conference of Arts and Social Science, said: "We very much hope we will be hearing similar news soon from the Welsh funding council, and that this will help clear the way for what we really need, a full national research council."