Since the UK left the EU , the UK government were looking for ways to compensate for the EU Erasmus scheme which promoted affordable and easy travel for UK students.
In 2020, the Turing scheme was introduced which provided grants to make overseas work experience and placements more affordable, These grants are awarded to organisations and educations settings (in this case universities), to facilitate affordable and accessible travel experiences that can enrich your CV.
Grants are awarded on an annual basis, if you would like to study abroad or work abroad on a university programme it is worth getting in touch with your study abroad/global opportunities team.
However, if you have found an alternative programme from an external provider they may secure their own Turing funding, or your university may support you with their Turing funding. It is therefore important that you contact your university to see what funding is available and whether this is means tested.
How do I find organisations that are Turing funded ?
Each year , the Turing scheme publishes a list of organisations that receive funding with some organisations appearing in the list every year. These organisations provide discounted international work experience or in rarer cases free work experience.
A list of recurring organisations can be found below:
- Challenges Abroad ( Challenges Abroad - Overseas Programs for Students) - This organisation works in Central/South America , Asia and Africa providing educational , health and environmental workshops to students in disadvantaged communities. Countries can include Peru , Panama , India , Thailand , Vietnam , Cambodia and Tanzania. The organisation is a regular recipient of funding, and provides discounted fees to challenge abroad ambassadors who assemble teams of people to go onto their projects.
- Play Action International - Home - Play Action International - Is an organisation based in Uganda and Kenya which promotes education through playing in disadvantaged communities particular areas may include schools or refugee camps etc. Whilst they are a recipient of Turing funding they also offer discounted experiences to team leaders who assemble teams at their university to embark on a project.
- Gotoco - Gotoco - FUNDED and FREE TEFL Adventures overseas (go-to.co) - Is an organisation that provides teaching workshops in Europe and East Asia which at the end of the course will provide student with a TEFL or TESOL qualification. The organisation is a large recipient of Turing funding which enables it to provide heavily subsidised trips to East Asia including flights, accommodation and food.
Whilst these three organisations have been recipients in previous years it doesn’t mean they will be every year.
Nearly all UK universities receive Turing funding so it is always worth contacting your study abroad team about what funding is available for International work experience.
Find more information here : The Turing Scheme: what is it and who is it for? - The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)