Turing Scheme: What is the Erasmus+ Replacement of the UK?

A year and a half after the Referendum, the United Kingdom left the European Union we assist to many consequences that also affect new students. The UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus+ programme.

However, UK Government has created a new one that will allow its students to travel abroad starting in September 2021: the Alan Turing Scheme will replace Erasmus+ projects.

The government has begun inviting applications for the Turing scheme, which will enable UK students to study in other countries. The Scheme is named after the mathematician Alan Turing, and replaces Erasmus+ mobility, the European Union (EU) programme which UK students can no longer take part in.

What is the Turing Scheme?

The Turing Scheme grants funding for international educational and training opportunities around the world. The Alan Turing Scheme is beneficial to both students and organizations who choose to join. On the one hand, the mobility of the Turing Scheme gives its students an opportunity to have life changing experiences.

Specifically, it allows you to:

- develop new skills;

- gain international experience; or increase their employability.

In addition, they can develop language skills and learn about new cultures. On the other hand, institutions can improve existing partnerships and build relationships with other international organizations, getting new ideas. In this way, the Turing Scheme exchange contributes to the government's commitment to a global Britain, which wants to forge new relationships around the world.

How is it Different to Erasmus+ Experience?

The Turing scheme will provide placements across the world.

Erasmus+ programme covers placements across the EU and some non-EU countries that pay to be part of the scheme.

Both schemes are open not only to university students but also those in vocational training, apprentices or those who are retraining through a college or school. Erasmus offers placements for teaching and college staff and youth workers as well, but the Turing scheme will not.

How Much Money is On Offer?

The Turing Scheme is different from the Erasmus+ grant, because it will offer different amounts based on where you are going and for how long.

For example, a university student going to France for six months would get £335 (€390) per month under the Turing scheme, while the Erasmus scheme paid £317 (€370) per month in 2020-21.

UK students did not have to pay tuition fees when studying abroad under Erasmus because the scheme was reciprocal - it allowed EU students to come and study in the UK as well.

The Turing scheme will not pay tuition fees for UK students studying abroad or for students from other countries studying in the UK. Instead, it expects the fees to be waived by the universities that take part.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told the Today programme "The way it'll work is our universities will partner with another university and they will waive the fees because they will be exchanging students."

The government has allocated £110m for the first year of the scheme, which starts in 2021/22, but it is not currently funded after that.

The aim is to improve research through access to the data science installations and artificial intelligence facilities available at the Institute.

Who can participate?

1. Higher education (HE) students. They can study at another university or participate in Turing Scheme internships, gaining valuable international work experience.
2. Vocational education and training students (VET). They can participate in the work of the Turing Scheme and do internships abroad or study in an institution that offers these types of courses.
3. Recent graduates of HE and VET. They can carry out their Turing Scheme training abroad up to 12 months after graduation.
4. Primary school students. Incoming students can participate in the Turing Scheme and study abroad. They have two options: to stay for a short or long period, depending on the age.

If you are a student interested in Alan Turing Scheme, the first step to participate in the Turing Scheme is to meet the requirements mentioned above. However, for now, the responsibility for your participation in the Turing Scheme rests with the institution in which you are enrolled.

Funding is open to organizations from the UK and UK Overseas Territories from across the education and training sector. And it is the eligible organizations that must apply for the Turing Scheme starting in March 2021. However, to obtain grants for the Turing Scheme, your institution must be aware of the Turing Scheme: https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk/

There you will find both the application form and the programme guide.

Which Countries will Participate in the Turing Scheme Programme?

There is still no list of Turing Scheme countries. However, you should know that the programme will support mobility to countries around the world. As expected, the students who will be able to participate will be those from the UK. There will be the Turing Scheme Northern Ireland and the Turing Scheme Scotland, as well as England and Wales.

Turing Scheme vs Erasmus+

-Turing Scheme projects expand participation and support social mobility across the country. They must facilitate and promote equal access and opportunities for all students and pupils, regardless of their origin.

-The new program will also target students from more disadvantaged sectors, which were few in the Erasmus + program, making the opportunities accessible to all across the country.

-The program will offer students opportunities to study and work abroad similar to those of the Erasmus + program, but will include countries from all over the world.

- Students will also receive help to cover additional travel expenses, including visas, passports and health insurance. This is one of the key points of the new programme as travel expenses can often be a hindrance for potential participants.

In addition, there will be a division into 3 groups according to the cost of living of the countries:

Group 1 (high cost of living)

Group 2 (average cost of living)

Group 3 (low cost of living).

Finally, with the Alan Turing programme, participants from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive a higher subsidy. Aside from the Turing Scheme, the British Council and the government have introduced a new immigration regime for students. Until the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, UK universities will continue to host students through the Erasmus+ programme.

However, students from the UK and the EU will face new immigration regulations. On the one hand, UK citizens will only be able to stay in an EU country for 90 days out of every 180 without a visa. On the other hand, EU students, who travel to the UK thanks to the Erasmus programme, will only be able to stay for periods of less than six months. However, if they want to stay for a longer period, they will have to apply for a student visa, like those who want to study at university in the UK.

Will I Need a Visa?

Since Brexit, UK students have had to deal with immigration regulations in the EU.

UK nationals are only able to stay in an EU country for 90 out of every 180 days without a visa (except for Ireland, which will still have free movement with the UK).

The government has published guidance for UK nationals planning to study in the EU, and encourages students consider wider issues such as health and travel insurance.

You can find UK government advice on countries around the world here.