Turing Scheme: Costs

(asked on 11th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Turing Scheme will cover the (a) tuition fees, (b) travel costs and (c) cost of living for participants in that programme; and whether those costs will be means-tested.


Answered by
Michelle Donelan Portrait
Michelle Donelan
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
This question was answered on 16th March 2021

The £110 million Turing scheme will provide funding for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges and schools to go on placements and exchanges overseas, starting in September 2021. This global scheme will have levelling-up at heart so that this life-changing educational opportunity is opened up to more students and pupils across the country.

The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global programme to study and work abroad. We are funding UK-based providers so that their students, learners and pupils can go on mobilities abroad and we expect overseas partners to do the same in return thereby facilitating international exchanges. The UK is a very attractive destination for international students, the most attractive in the world after the USA. It is clear that we have considerable appeal as a destination and partner in international mobilities and exchanges, not just within the EU, but across the world.

For all students participating in the Turing Scheme, we expect tuition fees to be waived by host institutions, as is typical under Erasmus+ and other exchange programmes. This is a matter for individual institutions to agree, and something that universities do as a matter of course when they form exchange partnerships with international providers.

All participating students will receive grants to contribute towards their cost of living, which will be dependent on the destination country. Under Erasmus+, HE students can receive a maximum of 540 Euros per month for cost of living in programme countries, including the disadvantaged supplement. For an Erasmus+ study placement, this includes 370-420 Euros per month for cost of living plus 120 Euros per month disadvantaged uplift. Under the Turing Scheme, participants can receive the equivalent of a maximum of 573 Euros per month. This includes equivalent to 392-445 Euros per month for cost of living plus 129 Euros per month disadvantaged uplift. These rates are based on an exchange rate of 1.17 Euros to 1 Sterling Pound. Students can continue to apply for student finance.

For schools and colleges, all participants will receive travel funding. For disadvantaged students in HE, the Turing Scheme will provide travel costs to all destinations. Disadvantaged participants in all sectors can receive additional funding for visas, passports, insurance and other travel-related costs. We would cover up to 100% of actual costs. More information on funding available can be found at www.turing-scheme.org.uk.

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