Queen's Speech 2021 - Turing Scheme

● The Government has introduced the Turing Scheme, a new international educational exchange scheme that has a global reach. This represents an opportunity for young people across the UK, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to work and study across the world, as we build back stronger.

● The Turing Scheme is backed by £110 million of funding, and in its first year will support around 35,000 participants in universities, colleges and schools to go on placements and exchanges around the globe. The sector has welcomed this new global scheme.

● The Turing Scheme is UK-wide, with education institutions eligible to apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

● The new scheme will help level up opportunities by targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas which did not previously have many students benefiting from Erasmus+, making life-changing opportunities accessible to everyone across the country.

● The scheme will be global, with every country in the world eligible to partner up with UK institutions, unlike Erasmus+, which is EU-focused.

● This scheme will be a key part of our long-term ambitions for a Global Britain.

Key facts

● Eligible education and training institutions across the UK are able to apply for funding for international opportunities. Applications for the academic year 2021- 22 have now closed. Funding decisions are expected in July 2021, with funding placements starting from September 2021.

● Successful applications will receive funding for administering the scheme. All participating students will receive grant funding towards their cost of living, with grant rates in line with Erasmus+ grants and dependent on the destination country. For schools and colleges, all participants will receive travel funding. Disadvantaged university students will receive a supplement to their grant and funding for travel and disadvantaged participants in all sectors can receive additional funding for visas, passports, insurance and other travel-related costs.

● We have received over 130 applications from universities across the UK.

● All participating students will receive grant funding towards their cost of living, with grant rates in line with Erasmus+ grants and dependent on the destination country. Under the Turing Scheme, we will provide a living costs grant for university students of £335 - £380 per month plus a disadvantaged supplement of £110 per month.