Turing Scheme Overview

Turing Scheme Overview

The Turing Scheme is the UK Government's global funding programme for studying and working abroad. It provides students and recent graduates in the UK with funding to support international education opportunities across the globe. Unfortunately we do not receive enough to fund opportunities for all Newcastle University students and not all students will be eligible for funding. 

Eligible for funding

• School of Modern Languages study and work placements
• Combined Honours students studying a language with a compulsory year abroad
• International Business Management BA study and work placements
• Optional study and work placements for students who meet our Turing Widening Participation criteria 

Conditions of the Turing Scheme

• The duration of your placement must be at least 28 days and no longer than 12 months (depending on the activity) and must take place between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024
• Study placements can start before and finish after these dates, but the funding will be limited to within this period only
• Regrettably, work placements are not eligible for Turing Funding if they start before 1 September or finish after 31 August 2024

How the Turing grant is calculated

The grant rate you receive will be calculated based on the length of the placement, location of the activity, cost of living at the destination, and whether you meet our Turing Widening Participation criteria. Please expand the tabs below to see the Widening Participation Criteria and detailed funding rates. 

Turing advice

Don't rely exclusively on a Turing grant to fund your time abroad

You must consider the grant a contribution. Travelling and living abroad often involves unexpected costs. If you need a visa, you will likely need to prove you have a certain amount of funds in your bank account.

Budget for your time abroad without relying on Turing funding and consider that you may not receive your grant before you need to pay for flights or accommodation. Students who receive support from Student Finance will usually remain eligible for loans and grants during their time abroad.

The Turing Scheme encourages students to go abroad by making the experience more affordable, but their grants are not designed to pay for everything. If you are relying on this funding to go abroad, you should start a conversation with the Student Financial Support Team to discuss how you can best manage your finances during your placement.

Wait to book flights and accommodation

We recommend you wait until you have your acceptance, your visa, and confirmation of your Turing grant before making financial commitments. Make sure you think and plan carefully if you do make financial commitments, such as choosing accommodation, before you have more information about your grant.

Bear in mind that if you change your placement, it will likely not be funded

Turing Funding is limited each year, and the University has less flexibility than in previous years. If you choose to change an approved placement for example changing a study placement to a work placement, or extending from one semester to a full academic year, we cannot guarantee you will receive Turing funding.

If circumstances beyond your control force you to make a change, we will support you as much as we can. Students going abroad through the School of Modern Languages must contact year.abroad@newcastle.ac.uk before making any changes. Other students may contact global.opportunities@newcastle.ac.uk for assistance.

Turing Scheme Rates

Turing Scheme funding rates

This information is for students travelling abroad between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024. The rates for 2024/25 are subject to change.

How much funding can you get from Turing?

All eligible students will receive a standard cost of living stipend based on the duration of their placement and the destination. Countries are split into country cost of living groups.

• If your placement lasts between 4 weeks (28 working days) and 8 weeks, you will receive £545 per month for Group 1 destinations, or £480 per month for group 2 and 3 destinations

• If your placement lasts between 9 weeks and 12 months, you will receive £380 per month for Group 1 destinations, or £335 per month for group 2 and 3 destinations

Students meeting our Turing Widening Participation criteria will receive an additional £110 per month. The total cost of living grant funding provided to students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be as follows:

• For placements with a total duration of four (28 working days) to eight weeks £654 per month (equal to £163.50 per week to Group 1 countries or territories) or £590 per month (equal to £147.50 per week to Group 2 and 3 countries or territories).
• For placements with a total duration of nine weeks to twelve months £490 per month (equal to £122.50 per week to Group 1 countries or territories) or £445 per month (equal to £111.25 per week to Group 2 and 3 countries or territories).

Students who meet our Turing Widening Participation criteria will also receive a contribution towards travel costs. The travel distance is calculated from Newcastle to your destination. 

• 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

Turing Widening Participation Criteria

Turing Widening Participation Criteria

The Turing Scheme provides additional financial support for students who come from underrepresented groups. This may include a top-up of the standard cost of living stipend and a contribution towards your travel costs. Below is the criteria for additional Turing support: 

• students with an annual household income of £35,000 or less
• 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
• care leavers and students who are care experienced. This refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after or those who access the Care Experienced Bursary in Scotland
• students who have caring responsibilities. A carer is anyone who has a commitment to providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without their support
• estranged students. Those who are irreconcilably estranged from their parent(s). To be considered irreconcilably estranged, the student won’t have had any written or verbal contact with either parent – usually for 12 months or more - and this is unlikely to change
• refugees and asylum seekers.