What International Students Should Know About the Turing Scheme

What is the Turing Scheme?

The Turing Scheme is the UK government's new £100 million international study and work program allowing UK students to complete a part of their studies abroad. From September 2021, it will provide funding for international study and work placement programs for around 35,000 students. The new initiative will put a strong emphasis on attracting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. This is part of the Turing Scheme's goal to help level up existing socio-economic inequalities by empowering more young people with the soft and hard skills sought by employers through international study.

Gavin Williamson, the UK Education Secretary, says, "We now have the chance to expand opportunities to study abroad and see more students from all backgrounds benefit from the experience. These opportunities will benefit both our students and our employers, as well as strengthening our ties with partners across the world."

Better than Erasmus?

From the UK government's perspective, British students and taxpayers were not benefiting enough from the Erasmus Scheme. Within the last five years, the UK received twice as many Erasmus participants as the number of British students who took part in the scheme. Moreover, only 3% of the UK’s Erasmus students studied or participated in work placement programs outside of the EU. As such, the UK government felt it was getting a poor return on its annual £600 million contributions, one of the highest of any participating state. The Turing Scheme isn't necessarily any 'better' than the Erasmus program; it just provides more opportunities for British students, and fairer value to UK taxpayers.

Extracurricular benefits

The Turing Scheme focuses on education and work placement programs. However, it's also about getting students out of their comfort zone, experiencing new cultures, and growing as a people. Spending time abroad encourages independence, resilience, and adaptability; life skills you can't learn in the classroom. Plus, in today's increasingly globalized economy, having some international experience on your CV is a big bonus. More and more employers are looking for candidates with language skills and the ability to work alongside people from different cultures.

Becoming a global citizen

After living and studying in London for her entire life, May Burroughs decided to take part in an educational exchange initiative at a Chinese university in Shanghai. She says, "It wasn't easy at first, but I grasped a greater understanding of how differently Chinese people think compared to British people. Through speaking to local people and learning about their culture, I learned a whole new way of thinking about things. Studying abroad has made me a truly global citizen." The Turing Scheme should create more global citizens and foster a new generation of young Britons with a truly transnational outlook based on empathy, tolerance, and mutual success.

Building bridges

Dame Janet Beer, the vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, believes the Turing Scheme highlights the UK's renewed international outlook following its departure from the EU. She also thinks it will help British students and universities forge stronger relationships with their counterparts, especially in countries where exchange programs have been limited, such as Japan. Other priority countries include India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Nigeria. "By embracing [the Turing Scheme] and making the best of what it can offer, we can create short, flexible opportunities for students from a wider range of backgrounds," says Dame Beer. "At the same time, we can build reciprocal relationships on a truly global basis with incoming students."

Study at the best schools

Thanks to the Turing Scheme, Britain's brightest and most ambitious students will now have more opportunities to study at the best schools in the world. They include prestigious schools such as Yale, Harvard, the University of Toronto, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At the moment, some of these schools enroll less than 100 students from the UK every year. It means many more British students miss out on the chance to experience and participate in some of the biggest research projects shaping the future. "We've produced a UK scheme for students to go around the world," says British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "Now our students will have the opportunity not just to go to European universities but to go to the top universities in the world. It means our young people can experience the immense intellectual stimulation of the whole world."

What we don't know

The Erasmus Scheme covers tuition fees and provides a grant for living expenses. The Turing Scheme is yet to confirm if it will do the same. What's more, the scheme has to find a way to support those from less financially privileged backgrounds without putting an unfair burden on others.

There are also environmental and health aspects to consider. The Turing Scheme will involve lots of international travel, which raises questions about higher carbon emissions and vaccinations against COVID-19. Some people have suggested students should travel by train when possible, while the idea of mandatory vaccinations and quarantine for Turing Scheme participants involves all sorts of ethical considerations. Expect updates in the near future.

Who can apply?

Schools, colleges, higher education providers, and vocational training centers can all apply for Turing Scheme funding. Once accepted, the scheme is open to anyone who attends on a full and part-time basis. It's even available for people who aren't in permanent education or training. For example, former apprentices can carry out a traineeship abroad within 12 months of graduating, and anyone upskilling through a college or school can take part in a traineeship abroad. The exact type of funding will vary depending on the placement and the country you visit, so speak to your provider directly. You should also check if you're eligible for extra assistance.

The Turing Scheme may be the perfect opportunity if you are a British student who wants to study abroad!