The Turing Scheme

The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global programme for studying, working and living abroad and offers you once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for personal and professional development.

 It gives you the chance to develop new skills, gain vital international experience and boost your employability, as well as developing a wide range of soft skills, language skills and a better understanding of other cultures. 

What is the Turing Scheme?  

The Turing Scheme aims to contribute to the UK Government’s commitment to a Global Britain by helping us to enhance existing international ties and forge new relationships around the world.  

Funding from the Turing Scheme will be available until at least 2024-25. The University will submit bids annually and will update this page with any new details about funding amounts and activities. 

Activities funded by the Turing Scheme for the 2022-23 academic year  

The University of Leeds has been granted a fixed amount of funding to offer cost of living grants to students on eight overseas activities in the 2022-23 academic year:  

  1. Study placements abroad (for compulsory placements and URB students)

  2. Work placement (for compulsory placements and URB students)

  3. Postgraduate study abroad 

  4. Recent graduates (work-related opportunities only) 

  5. Summer Schools (with one of the agreed partner organisations) 

  6. Medical electives 

  7. Volunteering (with one of the agreed partner organisations)

  8. Internships  (with one of the agreed partner organisations)

Although the University of Leeds did not receive sufficient funding from the Turing Scheme, the University has taken the decision to award institutional funding. This will enable students who are on a compulsory study or work placement year abroad, and students on an optional study or work year abroad who have been designated as coming from underrepresented backgrounds, to acquire the equivalent Turing funding to support their international experience.

Funding 

The Turing Scheme offers two types of grants: 

  • Standard Cost of Living Grants 

  • Underrepresented Backgrounds Grants (including a Travel Grant) 

The grant amounts listed below are for placements in the 2022-23 academic year and are subject to change in the future. 

Standard Cost of Living Grants 

The Standard Cost of Living grant amount provided depends on the destination of your host country and your length of placement. The Turing Scheme funds projects that are a minimum of 4 weeks and maximum of 12 months.   

The Turing Scheme bands countries together by cost of living:  

  • Group 1 (high cost of living)  

  • Group 2 (medium cost of living)  

  • Group 3 (low cost of living)  

The full list of destination countries within each group is available on the Turing Scheme website.  

For 2022-23 placements lasting 4-8-weeks, students in Group 1 destinations will receive £136.25 per week and students in Group 2 or 3 destinations will receive £120 per week. 

For 2022-23 placements lasting 9 weeks-12 months, students in Group 1 destinations will receive £380 per month, and students in Group 2 or 3 destinations will receive £335 per month.  

Underrepresented Backgrounds (URB) Grant 

The Turing Scheme is particularly keen to support students from backgrounds that have been underrepresented in the uptake of global opportunities. If one or more of the following categories applies to you, you may be able to receive an additional £110 per month (or £27.50 per week) to cover living costs, as well as a contribution towards your travel costs: 

  • Students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less

  • Students who have access to the Plus Programme

  • Students who have access to the Disability Services at the University of Leeds

  • Students from UK Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups

  • Mature students

  • Students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner   

  • Students who are care-experienced or care leavers

  • Students who have caring responsibilities in a formal capacity, for example caring for a disabled parent or sibling

  • Neither of the students’ parents can be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them, therefore they are considered estranged students

  • Refugees and asylum seekers

We will ask you to declare if you believe that you are eligible for the Underrepresented Background Grant on your Turing Scheme Application Form. The Funding Team, Educational Engagement Team or Disability Services will then verify your status. We may ask you for further information if your University record cannot verify your eligibility.  

Travel Grants 

If you qualify for an underrepresented background grant, you will also receive a travel grant. Travel grant amounts are fixed and depend on the distance in kilometres between Leeds and your host country:  

  • 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 Turing Scheme does not allow for dual funding, i.e., funding from multiple sources to cover the same costs. Therefore, students in receipt of the SFE Travel grant will not be eligible to receive the Turing Travel grant OR the higher Cost of Living grant (additional £110 p/m) for Underrepresented Backgrounds.  

Students applying for the Standard Cost of Living grant from the Turing Scheme can apply for the SFE Travel grant in addition to the Turing Scheme as these grants do not conflict with one another. 

Additional Funding for Students with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities  

Students with special educational needs or disabled students who receive DSA support, such as mentoring sessions, may be eligible to receive funding to continue this support whilst on placement abroad. Funding to support SEND-related costs will be in addition to underrepresented background funding, if students are eligible to receive both.  

Funding will be paid to students directly or to the organisation providing the support (e.g., Disability Services, an external provider or your host placement provider). We will work with each student independently to support individual needs.   

Student Experience  

“Without the Turing Scheme I would not have been able to have a wonderful summer learning new things and embracing a new culture. This will always be my fondest memory of my time at University of Leeds!” Maryum Ahmad 

“I am so thankful and glad that there is a financial scheme such as this that aims to support students from underrepresented backgrounds to experience opportunities that we would otherwise could have struggled in financing. Thanks Turing!” Faith Soriano 

“The Turing Scheme was great and provided me with additional funding for my placement abroad. This helped massively to cover the hidden expenses of living in a different country, fees, visa application and accommodation costs. The process was simple to apply for and the payments came quickly. For any students travelling abroad and eligible, applying for the Turing Scheme grant is a must.” Aimee Titheradge 

“The Turing Scheme made a huge difference to my study abroad! It gave me the opportunities to network with students at other universities, travel around and experience different cultures, and enhance my employability and career prospects!” Gabriella Mack 

“The Turing Scheme has helped me do my placement abroad without having to worry about whether I can afford everything, and the staff are so helpful and responsive. A very easy experience!” Emily Hobson 

“I am grateful for the Turing Scheme because it enabled me to create memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life.” Kinga Glasek 

Contact details  

Email: TuringScheme@leeds.ac.uk 

Please communicate with the Turing team using your Leeds email account and provide your Student ID number in all communications.