What is Turing funding?

The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global funding programme to study and work abroad. It provides grants (a “Turing grant”) as a contribution towards the cost of living whilst undertaking a period of mobility abroad. Further overall information about the scheme can be found here: GO Turing - Durham University

Who may be considered for funding?

This page is only for students undertaking a Year Abroad in 2024/25. This includes:

• Full-year study abroad students on the European and Non-European Exchange programmes (all degrees)
• MLaC semester/full-year abroad work/study abroad students.

Other short term opportunities (such as summer internships or volunteering) supported by Turing will be advertised at a later date or via different channels. 

Am I eligible to be considered for funding?

All students on a full-year abroad, regardless of nationality, may apply. Two key eligibility factors are: with whom and when.

With whom: we may only fund students studying at a partner with whom the university has a formal agreement to teach Durham University students. 

• Examples of what is fundable:

1. full year or semester-long studies at one of Durham's partner universities (e.g. Heidelberg University or Tokyo University).
2. other study providers with which Durham has an agreement for them to teach our students (such as Qasid Institute for Arabic Studies students).
   

• Examples of what is not fundable:

1. Private language courses arranged at a course provider that is not a Durham partner, or where Durham does not have a contract for them to teach Durham students.
2. TEFL placements.
3. A year abroad that has been privately arranged and paid for by the student at a university that is not a Durham University partner and/or where no formal exchange agreement exists between the two universities.
   

We may also fund MLaC work placements abroad. 

When: the minimum duration of a placement is 28 days within the 'eligibility period'.

• The eligibility period is 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025 between which placements must take place.
• A placement may start before the start date of eligibility period or end after the end date of the eligibility period as long it has a minimum of 28 days within the eligibility period. Only the period within the eligibility period will receive a grant.

How much funding is available?

The University has applied for as much Turing funding as possible, however, it is unlikely that this funding will cover all international placements in 2024/25. Consequently allocations will be made via the process outlined below and students should not assume that they are guaranteed funding. Successful students will receive between £335-£380 per month, with some Widening Participation students receiving additional support funding (a definition for which is given in the expression of interest form). The level of grant will depend on your location, duration and personal circumstances.

How is funding allocated?

Turing funding is not unlimited and not guaranteed for all students or placements. In line with the government's priorities for the Turing scheme, Durham will means test funding. This will mean that the University will prioritise and allocate funding to Widening Participation students in the first instance. The online form contains a list of Widening Participation criteria, including (but not exclusively):

• Students with a household (e.g. combined parental, if not estranged) income assessed at less than £47,200. 
• 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.

In awarding funding, the government stipulates which universities can fund which activities and where. Therefore, after making Widening Participation allocations, we will match the funding for each activity in each country with students who will be undertaking placements there. This will be done working our way up combined household income banding until a level is reached where no further funding is available for student grants.

How will income be banded?

The Expression of Interest form will ask you to upload evidence of your combined parental household income and a document setting out a case of what you believe it is. Evidence may take the form of P60s, payslips etc. This question is optional, however, the University will assume the highest combined income band (and thus least likely to be funded by means testing) for any students who make the choice not to upload evidence.  

The income data will also be cross-referenced with any information you have provided for the purposes of Student Finance (loans).

What is my likelihood of funding?

This will depend on the number of applications received. Students with the lowest combined parental household income are most likely to receive funding. Students with the highest combined parental household income (or who refuse to submit income data) may receive no grant. In previous years the University's Turing award from government covered activities in c.50 countries. No single country is more or less likely to receive funding than others.

Why is it called an Expression of Interest form?

This form is the first part of the process. The form allows the University to:

• see how many students wish to be funded;
• match this data with the level of funding we receive from the government to support activities in each country.

Thereafter, we will means test and invite successful students, to whom we have matched funds, to make an application for a grant. This second stage is the formal process in which we gather and process the information required to issue a grant, in line with the government's legal framework.

What will I need to fill out the Expression of Interest form?

Since the form is restricted to Durham University students only, you must fill the form out using a device that you have linked to Durham University systems. The form will ask you for:

• Personal details (name, email, College, course etc)
• Placement details (start date, end date, location, placement provider name etc)
• Financial background details. You must upload evidence of your combined parental income (otherwise we will assume it is in the highest income band).

I'm a MLaC student doing more than one placement?

MLaC students doing more than one placement must fill the form separately for each anticipated placement (i.e. fill the form out more than once) by the deadline below.

I'm a MLaC student and I do not know the full details of my second or third placement?

Exact details are not required at this stage, however, the way in which the government has structured funding allocations, means an educated guess from you will be required on the form. This will include:

• Approximate start and end dates of placement
• Country of placement
• Placement type (work (incl. including volunteering) or study).

If you do not fill out the form for anticipated placements, you will not have the opportunity to apply for funding for these later in the year.

When is the deadline?

Midnight (UK) at the end of 14 July 2024. The form will not re-open this academic year as funding will have already been allocated on the basis of the expressions of interest received during this call.

What if I experience technical difficulties?

Please ensure you complete the form as a priority. If you experience technical difficulties please: a) check that you are using a device that you have linked to the Durham University systems and b) contact exchanges.studyabroad@durham.ac.uk before the deadline. Emails and submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Further general information about Turing?

This can be found on the university's main Turing page: GO Turing