Turing Scheme

Aston University is participating in the UK Government’s Turing Scheme for the 2025/26 academic year.

Aston University is supporting students undertaking international study, work, and placement opportunities abroad. The current project runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, and funding for this academic year has now been fully allocated to students in line with programme requirements.
Aston University has also submitted an application for the 2026/27 Turing Scheme. The outcome of this application will be confirmed by the UK Government in due course, and this page will be updated once it has been announced.

What is the Turing Scheme?

The Turing Scheme is a UK Government programme that provides funding to support students in gaining international experience through study, work, or voluntary placements abroad. It is designed to help students develop valuable skills, broaden their perspectives, and enhance their future opportunities.

Funding is provided as a contribution towards the cost of undertaking a placement overseas and is not intended to cover all expenses. Students should be aware that they may need to make their own financial arrangements to support their time abroad, and that funding is limited.

Turing Scheme funding applies to international mobility only and is not available for UK-based placements.

Who can apply?

Applications for Turing Scheme funding for the 2025/26 academic year are now closed. The information below outlines the general eligibility criteria for the scheme.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be enrolled as a student at Aston University (from undergraduate to doctoral level)
• Be undertaking a placement that mostly falls between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026. 
• This is open to any nationality - you do not need to be a UK national.
• There is no upper age limit.

You can apply for funding whether your placement is for study, work, or volunteering. Please note that your placement must be approved by Aston's Careers+Placements team for single-semester or full-year mobility, or by your School for summer school opportunities.

At Aston University, we are committed to widening access to international opportunities. Where funding is available, priority is given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Where can you go?

Turing Scheme placements can take place in a wide range of destinations worldwide. However, all destinations must be considered safe to travel to at the time of the placement.

Aston University follows the official travel advice issued by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), alongside internal risk and safety policies. Funding cannot be provided for destinations where the FCDO advises against all travel, or all but essential travel. Similarly, placements will not be approved where Aston University’s internal risk and safety assessment determines a location to be unsuitable.

Approved placements may take place across a broad range of organisations globally, including:

• Higher Education providers 
• Small, medium or large enterprises, including social enterprises 
• Local, regional or national public bodies 
• Social partners or other representatives of working life, including chambers of commerce, craft, professional associations, trade unions, and research institutes 
• Foundations 
• Schools, institutes or educational centres at any stage, from primary to upper secondary education, including vocational and adult education 
• Non-profit organisations, associations, and non-government organisations 
• Bodies providing career guidance, professional counselling, or information services

How long can your placement be?

Placements can last between 14 days and 12 months and must take place within the project period, from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026. The duration includes weekends, public holidays, and travel days to and from the destination.

Funding for Living Costs

Where funding is available and applications are approved, students may receive financial support to contribute towards daily living costs during their time abroad.

The amount awarded is based on:

• The cost of living in the destination country 
• The duration of the placement 

Destinations are grouped by cost of living:

• Group 1 – higher cost of living 
• Group 2 – lower cost of living 

These groupings and funding rates are set by the Turing Scheme. Further information on destination groupings is available via the official Turing Scheme guidance.

Funding is calculated on a daily rate. For placements of 57 days or more, a single daily rate (57 to 365 days) is applied to the full duration of the mobility period.

If you meet certain criteria (see below), you may qualify for higher funding rates:

Support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds

At Aston University, we are committed to supporting students who may face financial or personal challenges in accessing international opportunities. Students who meet one or more of the criteria below may be considered for additional support through the Turing Scheme. Eligibility will be assessed in line with Turing Scheme guidance and Aston University processes.

 

• Students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less, as verified by Student Finance England
• Students who receive Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves, or themselves and someone dependent on them (such as a child or partner)
• Students with experience of being in care or who are a care leaver, including those who have been in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life
• Students with caring responsibilities, meaning those who provide unpaid care to a family member, partner or friend who requires support due to illness, frailty, disability, a mental health condition, or an addiction
• Students who are estranged, including those who have had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or whose relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months
• Students granted refugee status  

Where eligible, students may be considered for:

• Higher daily living cost funding (see “Funding for Living Costs” above) 
• A contribution towards travel costs (see “Travel Funding” below) 

Additional funding for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may be available, subject to eligibility and funding availability at the time of allocation.

Travel funding

Students who meet specific eligibility criteria relating to disadvantage may be considered for support towards the cost of one economy return journey to and from their placement destination, including necessary transfers.

The amount of funding available depends on the destination, with grant rates determined by the Turing Scheme. Further information on destination bands and funding levels is available in the official Turing Scheme guidance.

Travel funding is subject to eligibility and availability at the time of allocation.

Support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Aston University is committed to creating inclusive and accessible international experiences for all students. Where funding is available, support is provided in line with the Turing Scheme’s commitment to widening participation, including for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Students may be invited to share information about any specific needs or adjustments that may be relevant to their placement, in order to support appropriate planning and provision.

Subject to eligibility and availability, additional funding may be available to support students with SEND. This funding is intended to contribute towards any additional costs associated with undertaking a placement abroad, helping to ensure students have the necessary support in place.

When can I apply?

Applications for Turing Scheme funding for the 2025/26 academic year are now closed.

Aston University has applied for funding for the 2026/27 academic year. If funding is awarded, further information on how to apply will be shared in due course.

How can I apply?

Applications for Turing Scheme funding for the 2025/26 academic year are now closed. The information below outlines the typical application and funding process for the Turing Scheme.

Where funding is available, students will be invited to apply through Aston University. Following submission of an application, the following steps typically take place:

Application Review
Your application will be carefully reviewed, and you will be notified of the outcome once the process is complete.

Learning Agreement
If successful, you will receive a Learning Agreement by email, along with guidance on how to complete it. This document sets out the aims of your mobility, such as the modules you will study, learning objectives, and/or any credits you are expected to gain (if relevant).

Once complete, the Learning Agreement must be signed by:

1. You
2. A responsible member of staff at Aston University. Contact details of the appropriate member of staff will be included within your Learning Agreement.
3. A responsible member of staff at your host organisation. This must be someone who is qualified to assess the agreed objectives of the mobility and confirm that they have been successfully completed.

Grant Agreement
After your signed Learning Agreement has been received, you will be sent a Grant Agreement by email. This document outlines the terms and conditions of your placement, including:

1. The duration of your mobility
2. Your total grant amount
3. Your responsibilities under the scheme. 

You will be required to review, complete, and sign the Grant Agreement. It will then be countersigned by a responsible member of staff at Aston University.

Initial Payment

Once both the Learning and Grant Agreements have been fully completed and signed, you will receive an initial payment of 80% of your total Turing grant within the timeframe specified in the Grant Agreement. 

Final Payment

After you complete your placement and submit the 'After Mobility' section of your Learning Agreement, you will receive the final 20% of your grant.

If your placement duration is shorter than originally planned, your grant amount will be adjusted accordingly, and any reduction will be reflected in your final payment. If the initial 80% payment exceeds the total grant allowance due to changes in your placement duration, you will be required to return the difference to Aston University.

Important deadlines

Applications for Turing Scheme funding for the 2025/26 academic year are now closed. Where funding is available in future, applications must be submitted before the start date of the mobility period. Late applications will not be considered.

All Learning and Grant Agreements must be completed and signed before the start date of your mobility. In exceptional circumstances, where this is not possible, a maximum of 30 days from the official start date of the placement may be permitted to finalise documentation and obtain the required signatures, subject to approval by Aston University. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete all documentation in advance of their departure to avoid delays. If the required documents are not submitted within the permitted timeframe, funding may be withdrawn and the placement may no longer be eligible for Turing Scheme support. 

What's next?

While funding for the 2025/26 academic year has now been allocated, students may still wish to begin planning future international opportunities.

Aston University has applied for funding for the 2026/27 academic year. Further information will be shared once the outcome of this application is confirmed.

In the meantime, you may wish to:

 

• Start exploring potential placements
• Consider how an international experience could enhance your academic and career goals
• Speak with Aston University’s Placements Team for support or advice

If you would like to express your interest in future opportunities or have any questions, please contact Aston’s Turing team.