Am I Eligible for The Turing Scheme?

The UK is no longer a member of the Erasmus+ programme, due to Brexit. However, the UK Government has created a new funding programme in its place starting in 2021 called The Alan Turing Scheme which allows its students to travel abroad. The Alan Turing Scheme therefore replaces Erasmus+ projects. Schools, colleges, and higher education providers can apply for funding for projects on behalf of their pupils, students, and learners. If you are based in one of these organisations you may be eligible to take part. It doesn’t matter whether you are a full-time or part-time student.Participating in a Turing Scheme placement gives you the chance to develop new skills, gain vital international experience and boost your employability (Why Take Part in The Turing Programme?). You will also develop professional practice, a wide range of soft skills (10 Soft Skills That You Will Acquire With Your Experience Abroad), as well as language skills. Additionally, you will build relationships with international peers and gain fresh ideas along with a better understanding of other cultures.

Who Can Take Part?

• Higher Education (HE) Students - Study in another university or gain valuable international work experience through a traineeship in an organisation abroad, across the world. 
  
• Apprentices and Learners in Further Education (FE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Experience short or long-term traineeships abroad or learn at a partner FE or VET provider.
  
• Recent HE and VET Graduates (including former apprentices) - Complete a traineeship abroad within 12 months of graduating. 
  
• Those Not in Permanent Education or Training - If you are re-training or upskilling through a college or school, you can take part in a traineeship abroad.
  
• School Pupils - Study abroad in a partner school or organisation on short and long-term placements. Short-term placements are for pupils of any age, but pupils must be accompanied by school staff. Long-term placements are open to pupils aged at least 14.

Ask your education provider what funding is available. Funding varies, depending on the type of placement you take part in and the country you visit. Your school, education provider, college or university will soon be able to provide you with information about how they are using The Turing Scheme to give you opportunities to study and work abroad, including the countries that you can visit and how to be involved in the scheme.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to spend a period of their degree overseas than students from advantageous backgrounds. This was a feature of the landscape while the UK was a member of Erasmus+. When looking solely at graduates of non-language subjects, 7.6% of students from more advantageous backgrounds were mobile, compared to 4.6% of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Turing Scheme recognises widening access opportunities as a key priority, so in order to increase participation of disadvantaged groups the following has been put into place:

• When bidding, providers will need to demonstrate how their project will support widening access. The assessment criteria will be heavily weighted towards this criteria.
• Maintaining parity with Erasmus+ grant rates and existing student finance support as well as providing additional financial support for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, for example, by reimbursing travel-related costs.
• The Turing Scheme will actively target and promote the scheme in those geographical areas of disadvantage, thereby helping to level-up the country.
• The scheme reduces the minimum duration of a higher education placement to four weeks to make travelling abroad more accessible to a wider group of students, particularly those with other commitments
• The global nature of The Turing Scheme will remove the language barrier for students who are not studying languages by vastly increasing the opportunities in English-speaking countries

So if you are unsure whether you and your education provider are entitled to participate in a Turing Scheme mobility, this article has given you reassurance. Go ahead and start planning your Turing Scheme mobility. Should you have any questions, we are always there for help and guidance – just contact us.