Further details about Durham's Turing Funding

- Last updated 28/08/2023

I would like to go on a Turing exchange...?

It's great that you would like to go abroad. Turing is a type of funding and not an exchange programme. It will fund certain activities including work, study and volunteering that the University organises and advertises.

What should I do to get Turing funding?

Presently we are asking students not speculatively request funding from the International Office or colleagues. Durham University will:

• Directly contact those students on planned full-year opportunities abroad in academic 2023/24 who will be eligible for funding.
• Advertise any additional Turing funded short-term opportunities for academic year 2023/24 (with activities starting 2023) on the GO webpages.
• 2024/25: it is too early to apply, since government has not yet disseminated funding for this year. Do not attempt to individually apply directly to the Department for Education (DfE) for funding as you: are not an institution; are thus not eligible to apply; and will be rejected by them.

I am going abroad to do [insert activity], can I get funded?

The Turing Scheme will only fund officially sanctioned Durham University activities that meet specific requirements. The University has to pre-register these activities with the Turing funding body.  These activities will be advertised through the University's communication channels (such as emails, through Departments etc). Activities not officially sanctioned or supported by Durham University (such as private activities e.g. taking a language course during your summer holidays) will not be eligible for Turing funding.

• 2023/24: we have contacted eligible full-year students to express and interest. Announcements will be made at a later date to for shorter activities that we can fund and how to apply.
• 2024/25: it is too early to apply, since government has not yet disseminated funding for this year.

I am abroad and [insert different university] students have received funding, can I get funded?

No, not necessarily. Universities are not given a single pot of funding to support students at their own discretion. In awarding funding, the government stipulates which universities can fund which activities and where. Consequently:

• Just because one university has had a certain activity funded in a certain place, does not mean that the government has granted Durham University funding for that that- or similar activities. Durham will actively contact students that are eligible for funding.
• Just because one student has received funding for a certain activity in one country doesn't mean the government has funded the same activity in a different country.   

Can I bid directly to the Department for Education (DfE) / BC / the Turing Scheme Delivery Partner etc for funding myself?

No. The DfE, Government, Turing Scheme etc funds education establishments and not individuals.

I've been on the government's Turing Scheme website, can I bid there for funding?

No, as above. The DfE, Government, Turing Scheme etc funds education establishments and not individuals. 

Theoretically, what will I need to do if I am eligible for funding?

The University has already contacted eligible students on planned full year placements for 2023/24 to express an interest in funding. Allocations will be made once means testing has taken place and once the University receives actual funds from the Turing scheme. We will openly advertise any additional shorter placements openly.

In order to receive funding for these eligible activities students will be required to submit certain documentation within strict timeframes (set by Turing rules). Failure by students to submit documents in time will mean that they will not receive funding. This documentation is provided by Durham and entails: arrival and departure certification (to provide an audit trail to demonstrate the activity has taken place); learning agreements and a Grant Agreements. These are submitted via a portal that the International Office gives to students that are eligible.

How is funding prioritised?

Funding is not unlimited and there will not be sufficient funding to guarantee that every student undertaking an international activity abroad will receive Turing funding. Within the Turing [funding] Scheme, priority is given to Widening Participation students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

What about students where a year abroad is part of their degree?

This status does not, and has never guaranteed year abroad funding. For example, historically, Erasmus+ did not fund any students undertaking any non-EU placements (including e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, non-EU Francophone, non-EU Hispanic and Russian Studies placements). Under Turing, we fund a similar total number of students, but our funding covers worldwide placements (rather than just EU), and we prioritise our funding towards disadvantaged students.

How much funding could I theoretically receive?

This will depend on location and duration. The General Grant Amounts rate page sets out how grants are calculated.

Can I have Turing as well as other funding?

Not from Durham University. Turing rules do not permit double funding by us.

Who was Turing?

The Turing Scheme is named after pioneering UK war hero and father of modern computing Alan Turing, who studied abroad at Princeton University before going on crack the Enigma code in World War Two. Full information on the Turing Scheme can be found at: www.turing-scheme.org.uk.