Turing Scheme: Fund Your Internship Abroad
The UK government programme that pays for international placements. Here is everything you need to know.
What is the Turing Scheme?
The Turing Scheme is the UK government's programme for funding international study and work placements. It launched in September 2021 as the post-Brexit replacement for Erasmus+, named after mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing.
Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the scheme provides grants to UK students for placements anywhere in the world. Unlike Erasmus+, which was limited to EU and associated countries, the Turing Scheme is truly global. You can use it for an internship in Bali, a placement in New York, or work experience in Cape Town.
The programme is open to students at all levels of education, from schools to universities. For higher education students, it covers work placements (internships), study abroad, and volunteering.
2025-26 budget
Students funded per year
Countries eligible
How much funding do you get?
Grant amounts depend on your destination group and placement length. Here are the rates for higher education students.
Standard living cost grants
All eligible students receive these rates to help with daily living costs abroad.
| Placement duration | Group 1 (higher cost) | Group 2 (lower cost) |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (2-8 weeks / 14-56 days) | £570/month | £510/month |
| Long-term (9 weeks - 12 months / 57-365 days) | £540/month | £480/month |
Enhanced rates for disadvantaged students
Students from widening participation backgrounds receive higher living cost grants, plus extra support.
| Placement duration | Group 1 (higher cost) | Group 2 (lower cost) |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (2-8 weeks / 14-56 days) | £690/month | £630/month |
| Long-term (9 weeks - 12 months / 57-365 days) | £540/month | £480/month |
Additional support for disadvantaged students
If you qualify as a widening participation student, you can also receive:
- Travel grant - covers one return journey to your placement destination
- Readiness to travel funding - covers passport costs, visa application fees, vaccinations, medical certificates, and travel insurance
- Enhanced living cost rates - higher monthly grant for short-term placements
What counts as "disadvantaged"?
Criteria vary by university but typically include students who: receive means-tested maintenance loans or grants, are care leavers, come from low-participation neighbourhoods (POLAR4/TUNDRA data), have a disability or special educational need, or are from an underrepresented ethnic background. Your university's international office can confirm your eligibility.
Travel funding
All Turing-funded students receive a contribution towards one return journey between the UK and their placement destination. The travel grant is separate from the living cost grant and is calculated based on the distance to your destination.
How to apply for Turing Scheme funding
You do not apply to the Turing Scheme directly. Your university applies for funding, then distributes it to eligible students. Here is how the process works.
Check with your university
Contact your study abroad office, international office, or placement coordinator. Ask whether your university has applied for Turing Scheme funding and whether work placements (internships) are covered. Not all universities participate, and some only use Turing for study abroad.
Confirm your placement is eligible
Your internship must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) and no longer than 12 months. It must take place outside the UK during the academic year (1 September to 31 August). Both paid and unpaid placements qualify, as long as your university approves the learning outcomes.
Secure your placement
Find and confirm your internship abroad. This is where we come in. We match you with a verified company, provide a formal placement confirmation, and prepare all the documentation your university needs. Your university may require a signed learning agreement before releasing funds.
Submit your application
Complete your university's internal Turing application. This typically involves providing your placement details, destination, dates, and any supporting documents. Each university has its own deadlines and forms, so apply early. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at most institutions.
Receive your grant and go
Once approved, your university will confirm your grant amount and payment schedule. Most universities pay the grant in instalments: a portion before departure and the remainder during or after your placement. You do not have to pay it back. It is a grant, not a loan.
Key timeline for 2026-27
January - March 2026: Universities submit institutional bids to the DfE
Summer 2026 (July - August): Universities receive funding decisions
Autumn 2026: Universities open internal applications to students
September 2026 - August 2027: Placements take place
We recommend speaking to your university 6-9 months before your planned start date.
Eligible placements
The Turing Scheme covers a broad range of international experiences. Here is what counts.
Duration requirements
- Minimum: 4 weeks (28 days) for higher education work placements
- Maximum: 12 months (365 days)
- Academic year: Placements must fall between 1 September and 31 August
Types of work that qualify
- Work placements and internships (paid or unpaid)
- Sandwich year placements
- Placement modules and work-based learning
- Voluntary work with a clear learning component
- Study abroad combined with a work element
How we help with documentation
Universities require specific paperwork to release Turing funds. We provide everything your institution needs:
- Placement confirmation letter with company details, dates, and role description
- Learning agreements co-signed by the host company and your local mentor
- Supervisor reports and performance evaluations
- Attendance records and placement completion certificates
- Risk assessments for your destination and workplace
Already have a placement confirmed with us?
Let us know you are applying for Turing funding and we will prepare all the documentation your university needs. We have worked with dozens of UK universities on Turing-funded placements and know exactly what each institution requires.
Which universities participate?
Over 150 UK higher education providers received Turing funding in recent years. Here are some confirmed participants for 2025-26 and applicants for 2026-27.
This is not a complete list. Over 150 institutions participate each year. If your university is not listed, check with your international office directly.
Your university does not participate?
It is worth asking. Many universities are not aware of the opportunity or have not had enough student interest to justify applying. You can point your study abroad office to the official Turing Scheme guidance for higher education providers on GOV.UK. Student demand is often the trigger for a university to apply.
Our destinations by Turing group
Every destination we offer is eligible for Turing Scheme funding. Here is how they are grouped and what that means for your grant.
Higher cost of living (higher grant)
These destinations attract the higher Turing rate: £570/month short-term or £540/month long-term.
Lower cost of living (standard grant)
These destinations receive the standard rate: £510/month short-term or £480/month long-term.
What does the Turing grant actually cover?
For Group 2 destinations like Bali, Bangkok, or Cape Town, the Turing grant can cover a significant portion of your monthly living costs. For example, in Bali, typical monthly expenses for an intern run around £500-700, meaning the Turing grant covers 70-95% of your costs. In higher-cost Group 1 cities like New York or Sydney, the grant covers a smaller share, but the higher rate helps close the gap.
Turing Scheme FAQ
No. Individual students cannot apply directly. Your university or education provider submits a single institutional bid to the Department for Education, and then distributes funding to eligible students. Contact your university's study abroad or international office to find out if they have received Turing funding and how to access it.
You can raise it with your study abroad office, international office, or student union. Many universities are unaware of the opportunity or have not had enough student demand to justify applying. Point them to the official GOV.UK Turing Scheme guidance. Some universities may join for the next round if students express interest early enough.
Yes. Turing Scheme funding can be combined with other sources such as university bursaries, hardship funds, and external scholarships. Check with your university whether any specific restrictions apply. Some universities also offer their own top-up grants alongside Turing funding.
Yes. The scheme provides a separate travel grant for one return journey between the UK and your placement destination. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds can also receive additional "readiness to travel" funding to cover passports, visa fees, vaccinations, and travel insurance. The living cost grant is separate from the travel allowance.
You will typically need a learning agreement signed by your university, a placement confirmation from your host company, and evidence of your placement dates and activities. Your university will guide you through their specific requirements. We provide all the documentation your university needs, including supervisor reports, learning agreements, and placement confirmation letters.
Possibly. In December 2025, the UK Government confirmed it will rejoin the EU Erasmus+ programme from January 2027. The Turing Scheme is confirmed for 2026-27, but Erasmus+ may eventually replace it. During the transition, both programmes could run in parallel. Students planning placements for 2026-27 should apply for Turing funding as normal.
The Turing Scheme is the UK's own programme, launched in 2021 after Brexit. It funds UK students to go abroad but does not fund incoming EU students. Erasmus+ is a reciprocal EU programme that funds movement in both directions and covers a wider range of activities including youth work, sport, and adult education. The UK will rejoin Erasmus+ from January 2027. For students, the practical difference is mainly in funding rates and administration.
Universities submit institutional bids in spring (the 2026-27 deadline was March 2026), results come in summer (July-August), and students apply through their university from autumn. We recommend speaking to your international office 6-9 months before your planned start date to avoid missing internal deadlines.
Yes. The Turing Scheme funds both paid and unpaid work placements, as well as study abroad and volunteering. The grant is specifically designed to make international placements accessible regardless of whether the position is paid. Many internships abroad are unpaid, and the Turing living cost grant helps cover your expenses.
No. Turing Scheme funding is a grant, not a loan. You do not have to repay it. The money is yours to use towards living costs, travel, and other expenses during your placement abroad. However, if you cut your placement significantly short without a valid reason, your university may ask you to return a portion of the grant.
Let us help you get funded
We have helped dozens of UK students secure Turing-funded placements abroad. We handle the documentation, your university handles the funding, and you get the experience of a lifetime.