The Turing Scheme

Get information on the Turing Scheme.

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Turing Scheme

The Turing Scheme is operated by the UK government. It provides funding for students in higher education. It allows them to pursue international opportunities in education, work or training.

You could be eligible for a cost-of-living grant. You must be studying, working or training abroad for a period of at least four weeks but no more than a year.

The Turing Scheme is in addition to any funding you receive from Student Finance England. This might include as:

  • maintenance loans
  • tuition loans
  • Disability Support Allowance (DSA).

Cost of living 

The Turing Scheme provides an amount of funding towards your cost of living. This varies depending on sector and your destination country or territory.

The scheme divides destination countries or territories into three groups.

  • Group 1 — high cost of living
  • Group 2 — medium cost of living
  • Group 3 — low cost of living.

Students on a higher education placement will receive:

1. For placements lasting between four and eight weeks:

  • to Group 1 destinations: £136.25 per week
  • to Group 2 and 3 destinations: £120 per week

2. For placements lasting over eight weeks:

  • to Group 1 destinations: £380 per month
  • to Group 2 and 3 destinations: £335 per month

Find out which countries or territories are in each group.

Extra support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

You can receive a higher cost-of-living grant if you are:

  • from a disadvantaged background, and
  • are on a higher education placement.

The amount of funding you'll receive depends on:

  • your destination, and
  • the length of your placement.

For placements lasting between four and eight weeks:

  • to Group 1 destinations: £163.50 per week.
  • to Group 2 and 3 destinations: £147.50 per week.

For placements lasting over eight weeks:

  • to Group 1 destinations: £490 per month.
  • to Group 2 and 3 destinations: £445 per month.

If you're from a disadvantaged background, there's also funding toward direct travel costs. This will support the expense of the round trip. How much you get depends on:

  • the distance between the home and destination organisations.

All the amounts available are:

  • 10 to 99km: £20
  • 100 to 499km: £165
  • 500 to 1,999km: £250
  • 2,000 to 2,999km: £325
  • 3,000 to 3,999km: £480
  • 4,000 to 7,999km: £745
  • 8,000 to 12,000km: £905
  • 12,000km+: £1,360

The scheme will provide financial help towards expensive travel by exception.

You might be eligible to receive a contribution towards travel expenses. These could include the costs of things like:

  • visas
  • passports
  • travel insurance.

Find out more about how the Turing Scheme defines a 'disadvantaged background'.

Extra support for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

If you're a student with SEND, the scheme will fund up to 100% of actual costs for support directly related to your additional needs.

Turing Scheme funding also covers preparatory visits by the sending organisation. This allows it to carry out risk assessments. These help ensure you can equally access and take part in all elements of a placement. Pre-visits can be for a maximum duration of three days. The funding can be used for both learners and accompanying staff. Pre-visits are not available for any other purpose.

The term SEND refers to learners with special educational needs (SEN). This includes those:

  • who are in receipt of Disabled Student Allowance, or
  • whose SEN arise because they have a long-term disability.

This disability must have a substantial and long-term effect on the ability to do normal everyday tasks. This includes learners who identify as having a disability, special needs or a medical condition as categorised below:

  • social or communication impairment such as Asperger's syndrome or other autistic spectrum disorder
  • blindness, or a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses
  • deafness or serious hearing impairment
  • a long-standing illness or health condition such as:
    • cancer
    • HIV
    • diabetes
    • chronic heart disease
    • epilepsy
  • a mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder
  • a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D
  • physical impairments or mobility issues, such as:
    • difficulty using limbs
    • using a wheelchair or crutches
  • a disability, impairment or medical condition that is not listed above.

You may not meet the criteria for extra support as detailed above. If so, you may still get a grant to cover some of your travel expenses. To find out more, visit:

Application information

Grants are subject to availability. They're based on the actual mobility dates and the destination.

All participating students must submit learning and grant agreements. Unless they have approval to do so retrospectively, they must do this:

  • before departure, and
  • by the deadline.

The student must:

  • complete the learning and grant agreements in full
  • sign them
  • upload to mobility online and/or email them to NTU Global along with all the risk assessment forms NTU requires
  • submit all these documents to NTU Global before the commencement of travel.

Some students may undertake two separate periods of study and / or work abroad. If so, they must complete two separate grant application forms. For example:

  • students spending two semesters in two different countries
  • students doing a study exchange followed by a traineeship or vice versa.

When to apply

  • For Semester One and full-year opportunities, the deadline is 31 August
  • For Semester Two, the deadline to apply is 30 November.

How to apply for funding 

You'll get the Turing forms via Mobility Online once you've applied to study abroad.

When I get my grant

Turing funding comes in two instalments:

  • 80% before you travel, upon completion of the required paperwork
  • you will receive the remaining amount when you return to the UK and you have submitted the required end of placement paperwork and survey. The amount is calculated using your actual mobility dates.

Repayment of grant

You may have to repay part of the grant if:

  • you've received Turing Scheme funding, and
  • you return from your placement early.

Bear this in mind if you make any changes to the dates you're studying or working abroad. Get in touch with NTU Global to find out how these changes might affect your funding.

You must complete the risk assessment forms required by the University. If you don't:

  • we won't allow you to travel
  • you won't receive a grant.

We'll send you the forms after you apply for a period of study or work abroad. Other conditions may also apply.

  • Last updated: 19/12/2023