New funds for students wanting to study or work overseas

Essex students can apply for funding to experience study or work opportunities around the world thanks to the University securing a grant from the Turing Scheme Higher Education Funding.

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s new global programme to provide funding for study and work abroad programmes for the forthcoming academic year 2021-22.

The programmes, which can last from four weeks to one year, could include study abroad programmes, international work placements and summer abroad programmes such as volunteering, summer schools and internships.

As part of the new global scheme, Canada, Japan, and the United States are among more than 150 international destinations where UK students will be funded to take up opportunities – with 48% of places going to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has limited the number of longer outbound student mobility opportunities for 2021-22. However, the funding can be granted for shorter international experiences which means there is scope for students to get funding for international summer schools and student volunteering opportunities.

At Essex we can offer our students a growing portfolio of short-term international programmes for summer 2022 and the Turing Scheme funding can be used to support student cost of living expenses whilst they are abroad.

Welcoming the funding, Essex Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education Professor Madeline Eacott, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in securing funding from the Turing Scheme. At Essex we are proud to offer our students a transformational education where they can thrive and develop both personally and academically.

“This funding offers students the opportunity to gain invaluable experiences from around the world and broaden their horizons.”

Essex Abroad Manager, Rosie Bonny added: “We are very pleased to be able to award the funding from the Turing Scheme to our students. The funding provided by the Turing Scheme will open opportunities to many of our students and support them to have a significant experience abroad.

“These experiences will enrich their studies, enhance their future employability prospects, and provide students with valuable skills for life. We are thrilled that the funding will support students from the University of Essex to undertake a short term or summer abroad programme which can be more flexible that the traditional year abroad and therefore can appeal to a wider range of students.”

Essex Abroad will contact eligible students who are studying abroad in 2021-2022 regarding the Turing funding and how they can apply. For other students who are interested in finding out more, then they should visit the funding and finance Essex Abroad webpages at the start of the academic year.