Many students were distraught with the news that, with Brexit, the Erasmus
programme that had provided so many with fun memories, invaluable learning
experiences, and important cultural cooperation, had come to an end for
Britain-based students.
After months of wondering if students from British universities could have
a similar international learning experience again, the government has
finally announced the
Turing Scheme
.
The government describes the scheme’s aim which is to
‘provide funding for?international opportunities in education and
training across the world.’
They have also confirmed that
over forty thousand students are already expected to participate in
the Turing Scheme next academic year, with projects in one hundred
and fifty different countries
.
So, what does this mean for university students?
The Turing scheme is available to British institutions and their students
or recent graduates (who have graduated in the last 12 months).
One of the key differences between the Turing Scheme and Erasmus is that it
is not necessarily education-focused. While Erasmus participants usually
attended classes, either during term time or summer at a foreign
university, Turing Scheme participants can choose from a range of available
placements that include education, work experience, or traineeships – which
can last between four weeks and twelve months.
Another big difference is that the Turing Scheme allows participants to
undertake global experiences, while Erasmus was an exclusive programme for
countries within the European Union.
While Erasmus covered expenses, learning planning, and other important
issues, the Turing Scheme is a funding scheme only, which means any other
organisation needs to be conducted between the partnering universities or
institutions.
For universities, the deadline for funding applications was on the 16th of
April 2021, so it is likely that your university has already applied on
behalf of its students and that you will get contacted about these
opportunities soon.
There will be additional financial support for participants from
disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities or educational special
needs, ensuring that the scheme is accessible and inclusive.
While the scheme sounds promising, students should contact their university
directly for more information on whether they are eligible, exactly how
much funding they will be offered and if they will have any personal
expenses, and whether or not they would be allowed to undertake a placement
in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
