The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s funding programme for current students and recent graduates to carry out approved placement(s) anywhere in the world, with an institution or organisation in the 2023/24 academic year.
Lancaster University has been awarded a grant from Turing Scheme towards living costs for specific global opportunities in the 2023/24 academic year with enhanced funding available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Turing Scheme grant is not intended to cover all expenses for mobility. The amount is based on the duration of the period work or voluntary placement. Duration is calculated from the first day an alumnus is required to be at their place of their placement until the last date they need to be present.
The grant will be paid in pounds sterling into a UK bank account. The grant is administered by the Global Experiences funding team and the specific amount an alumni will receive, as well as the terms and conditions, will be set out in a grant agreement signed by the alumni.
The application process for Turing Scheme 2023/24 is very competitive and therefore only fully completed applications will be considered. The Application Portal will open soon.
Read what past students said about the Turing Scheme. They share how it changed their lives. From discovering new cultures to learning cool things, their stories show how this program opened doors and made a big difference for them.
"The opportunity to fully immerse myself in a Fijian lifestyle whilst learning about their culture and living with a Fijian family in a Village. I also liked the fact that I had an impact on the village I lived in by building a dispensary in their village, which they will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. It was an amazing experience which I will not forget, and wish to return to Fiji in the future." Neemai Scotto Di Covella, 2022-23, Fiji, ThinkPacific
"Experiencing new cultures helps you become an open minded person and think/respond different to different situations. It helps you become a more understanding person and be able to see things from someone else’s perspective." Sam Doherty, 2022-23, Philippines, Cebu Doctors Hospital
"That extra bit of money to ensure I didn’t have to worry about not enjoying myself meant I could participate more in activities my friends were because I had that to fall back on." Poppy Budd, 2022-23, USA, Disney World
"The best thing is being able to immerse yourself completely in a new culture and therefore get to know new things of any kind. It is an everyday learning." Valentino Giglio, 2022-23, Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
“Young people are given the opportunity and support to travel to new places. The financial support gives us more time to think about our life goals without rushing with the university's support should anything go wrong.” Marie Ceesay, 2022-23, The Gambia, Starfish International
Eligibility requirements to apply for a Turing Scheme Alumni Grant
To be eligible for Turing funding participants must be either:
For current students, please visit the Turing Scheme Grant page for more details.
The alumni can undertake work or volunteer placements abroad. These placements can last for a minimum of four weeks (28 calendar days) and must take place from 1st January 2024.
Those not usually eligible for Turing funding this academic year:
The amount of funding provided towards the cost of living for each participant will vary depending on the sector and destination country/territory.
Destination countries/territories will be grouped into three categories:
Below you can find details of which countries/territories are in each group.
The rates that will be provided for the cost of living are:
|
Placement Duration |
Country Group |
Rates |
|
4 to 8 weeks |
Group 1 |
£545 per month (equal to £136.25 per week) |
|
Group 2 & 3 |
£480 per month (equal to £120 per week) |
|
|
9 weeks to 12 months |
Group 1 |
£380 per month |
|
Group 2 & 3 |
£335 per month |
Please note that placement(s) lasting 9 weeks to 12 months will receive the rates identified for this category for the full duration of the mobility and not the higher rate for the initial period of 8 weeks
Students from less advantaged backgrounds are less likely to spend a period of their degree overseas than students from more advantaged backgrounds. The Turing Scheme recognises widening access opportunities as a key priority, so in order to increase the participation of disadvantaged groups Widening Participation (WP) students who meet the following criteria may be eligible for an additional enhanced grant.
The information provided in the application in relation to the criteria below will be checked with the relevant Lancaster University central teams to confirm eligibility.
In order to be eligible for Widening Participation on Turing Scheme, we ask that you meet at least one of our widening participation criteria below:
Students meeting the disadvantaged background criteria outlined in the WP criteria section will receive an additional £110 per month for their cost-of-living grant. As such, the total cost of living grant funding provided to students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be as follows:
|
Placement Duration |
Country Group |
Rates |
|
4 to 8 weeks |
Group 1 |
£655 per month (equal to £163.75 per week) |
|
Group 2 & 3 |
£590 per month (equal to £147.50 per week) |
|
|
9 weeks to 12 months |
Group 1 |
£490 per month |
|
Group 2 & 3 |
£445 per month |
Students who meet the criteria will also receive funding as a contribution toward the cost of travel. This will be dependent on the distance between the University and the destination provider (the placement host) as outlined below:
Participants from disadvantaged backgrounds across all sectors will receive funding for exceptional costs. Exceptional costs are calculated on an actual cost basis and are specifically for any additional costs incurred to support the participation of disadvantaged participants. Funding covers costs such as passports, visas, and insurance, as necessary.
For students with special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities to access the Turing Scheme, such participants can have up to 100% of their actual costs met for support that directly relates to their additional needs and mobility.
Here are some frequently asked questions from applicants.
Unfortunatly, no. For Academic year 23-24, we only accept students who graduated in Summer 2023 and Winter 2023.
Unfortunatly, no. The Turing Scheme Alumni Grant can only support recent graduates in participating in a work or volunteer placement.
For 2023/24, funding is not guaranteed for all applicants. Successful applicants will be directed to complete the next steps. Please note, Turing Scheme is not intended to fully fund your placement overseas but to contribute to the extra costs involved in studying or working abroad.
Unfortunatly, no. To be eligible, you must undertake work or volunteer placement within an approved organisation or company. Your placement will also need to last for a minimum of four weeks (28 calendar days) from the 1st January 2024.
Absolutely! An international student who graduated from Lancaster is also eligible to apply. However, unless an exceptional case of hardship is made and approved, we usually do not fund recent graduates completing their placement in their home country.
Once you have read the information above and understood the eligibility of the Turing Scheme Alumni Grant, you may start your application. There is also an Initial Funding Application Guide here for your reference.
The application process for this Grant is very competitive and therefore only fully completed applications will be considered.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome within 6 weeks after the initial deadline. Please do not message or email for updates.
Access the Application Portal here.
Lancaster University Global Experiences Funding Team
Welcome Centre, Bowland College, Lancaster University LA1 4YT
E: globalexperiencesfunding@lancaster.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1524 592035
Please note the information provided above may be subject to change.
