What is the Turing Scheme?

The Turing Scheme is the UK Government’s scheme which provides funding to enable students to study and work abroad. The scheme allows students the opportunity to develop new skills, gain international experience, boost employability, gain a better understanding of different cultures and improve upon or learn to speak a new language.

Where can I go?

Which countries can I go to?

The Turing Scheme is a fully international scheme and can allow participants to travel anywhere in the world as long as foreign travel advice provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is followed.

Where can I do a study abroad placement?

The University has a number of pre-established connections with HE providers across the world. Please talk to your department’s exchange co-ordinator to discuss the partnerships and opportunities for your area of study.

Please see our list of international partner universities here.

Where can I do a work placement?

With Turing funding, you could do a placement at any public or private organisation active in the labour market or in the fields of education and training.

For example:

• A public or private, a small, medium or large enterprise (including social enterprises)
• A public body at local, regional or national level
• A social partner or other representative of working life, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional association, and trade unions
• A research institute
• A foundation
• A school/institute/education centre (at any level, from primary school to upper secondary school education, including vocational and adult education)
• A non-profit organisation, association, non-governmental organisation (NGO)
• A body providing career guidance, professional counselling, and information services

Please contact to your placements team to discuss available opportunities for your area of study.

Eligibility

How do I know if I am eligible for funding?

In order to be eligible to apply for the University of Bath's Turing Scheme funding, you will need to:

• be registered at the University of Bath and enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree (all levels of study, up to and including the level of doctorate, are eligible)
• be studying or working in person at your placement abroad (remote and virtual activities are not eligible for Turing Scheme funding)
• be aged 18+ on departure
• not be a national citizen of the destination country (e.g. if you are a Spanish national, completing a placement in Madrid you will not qualify for funding)
• not be already in receipt of funding from a different source to cover specific activity costs (e.g. BRID fund, Mitacs etc.), as this would result in double funding
• be undertaking a study exchange or work placement abroad lasting between 28 days and 12 months
• be undertaking a study exchange or work placement between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024 (any dates outside this window are not eligible for funding).

What if some of my placement is outside of the eligible dates?

If your placement takes place outside of these dates, you can still apply for funding but will only be eligible to receive funding for activity within these dates. Eligible activity must still meet the 28 day minimum requirement.

Funding

Will the funding cover the cost of my whole placement?

An amount of funding will be provided to successful applicants to contribute towards the general cost of living abroad. Grants will NOT cover the full costs of the placement.

How much funding can I apply for?

The amount of funding available depends on the destination country and the length of placement.

Placements of four to eight weeks will receive:

• £545 per month (for group 1, high cost of living countries)
• £480 per month (group 2 and 3, medium and low cost of living countries)

Placements of nine weeks to twelve months will receive:

• £380 per month (for group 1 countries)
• £335 per month (for group 2 and 3 countries)

An additional £110 per month may be available for the cost of living grant for those students from widening participation backgrounds. A travel grant may also be available for these students.

How do I know if I meet the disadvantaged background criteria?

For the purposed of the Turing Scheme, we are defining participants as coming from a disadvantaged background if they meet one or more of the criteria detailed below:

• students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less
• students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or a partner
• care leavers and students who are experienced. This refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after
• students who have caring responsibilities. A carer is someone who has a commitment to providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without their support
• estranged students. Those who are irreconcilably estranged from their parent(s). To be considered irreconcilably estranged, the student won't have had any written or verbal contact with either parent - usually for 12 months or more - and this is unlikely to change
• refugees and asylum seekers.

If I am eligible and I apply, will I definitely get funding?

No. Funding is extremely limited and is NOT guaranteed. Students may be eligible to apply for the Scheme, but this does not mean that their application will be successful.

When will I get the money if I am successful?

If successful, we will process your funding as soon as possible upon receipt of required documentation. The issuing of funds will not be immediate. Students should not count on Turing Scheme funding when budgeting for a mobility abroad.

Students will be required to submit a number of documents to the IRO before funding can be released.

Travel Restrictions

If the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to your destination country then your application would NOT be eligible for Turing Scheme funding.