Turing Scheme

What is the Turing Scheme?

The UK government set up the Turing Scheme in 2021 to help fund international placements for students, replacing the EU's Erasmus programme. It's open to students at schools, colleges and universities across the UK. It’s usually split up into two parts:

• Study placements: Your uni will have partnerships with institutions worldwide. Speak to your department's exchange coordinator to explore options that match your course.

• Work placements: You can do placements anywhere, including companies, schools or research institutes. Your placement office can tell you what's available.

You could travel to over 150 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.

Did you know you could do an internship abroad? Find out about international internships and how you can get started.

Am I eligible for Turing funding?

You can apply if you're studying at a UK institution; your nationality doesn't matter. Here's what you need to know:

• Your placement must last at least 14 days, with a maximum duration of 12 months

• It must take place within an academic year (typically September to August)

• You must be studying at a UK or British Overseas Territory institution

Being eligible doesn't mean you’ll automatically receive funding. Universities receive limited funds and prioritise students from lower-income backgrounds or with special needs. 

How much money could I get?

Funding varies depending on where you're going and how long you're staying. Basically, if the country you’re going to has a higher cost of living, the more you could receive. Here’s how it works:

• Shorter placements (two weeks to two months): Higher daily rates to help cover setup costs

• Longer placements (over two months): Lower daily rates that add up over time.

The exact amounts vary each year, so check the Turing Scheme website or speak to your careers advisors for current rates.

If you're from a lower-income household, you could also receive extra funding. These include:

• Travel grants to help cover flights

• Grants to help pay for Visas, passports and travel insurance

• Higher daily living cost grants.

It’s important to remember that these grants are contributions towards your costs and not the full amount. You'll likely need additional funding from savings, part-time work, or other sources.

What to know before you apply

• You might have to pay tuition fees. Unlike Erasmus, your host uni might still charge you fees. Your home uni will ask them to waive it, but it's not guaranteed. So check this before you commit to anything.

• The budget changes every year. Turing Scheme funding isn’t fixed and depends on how much the government adds to it. So, some years it can be a lot, and in other years, less. 

• You can't apply directly to the Turing Scheme. Your uni applies for the funding pot, then hands it out to students. You’ll need to speak to your study abroad office ASAP to get on their radar.

• There can be a wait. Most students find out about their funding in the summer months, sometimes not until July or August for September placements. It's worth having a backup funding plan in place while you wait, so you've got options no matter what happens.

How do I apply?

Get in touch with your study abroad office ASAP. Ask them when they'll know about funding, what their deadlines are (usually October to January), and whether you're in a priority group.

Start thinking about where you want to go and what kind of placement fits your goals. Your uni needs this info to apply for funding on your behalf.

As funding might not be guaranteed, it’s worth looking at what else is available. Other funding options you could explore include:

• Student Finance England Travel Grant. Means-tested grants for reasonable travel costs

• BUTEX scholarships. £600 for UK students studying outside Europe

• University scholarships or bursaries. Speak to your student services or funding departments.

Turing Scheme vs Erasmus: what's the difference?

If you've heard people mention Erasmus and wondered what happened to it, when the UK left the EU in 2020, we also left the Erasmus programme. The Turing Scheme was created to replace it in 2021. Here's how they compare:

BIG NEWS for 2027! The government has announced that we’ll be rejoining Erasmus, giving 100,000 students the chance to spend one year abroad in Europe. Until then, you’ll still be able to apply for Turing funding. 

Thousands of UK students have used the Turing Scheme to study and work around the world. And with some early planning, you could be next. The key is to get in touch with your study abroad office now and explore all your funding options. You’ve got this.