To be eligible for Turing funding, you must be a: 

• Current Student: must be a minimum of 18 years of age, officially registered and enrolled on a recognised degree or qualification with the University of Cumbria and studying full time or part time.
• Recent graduate: Students who have graduated within the last 12 months from the University of Cumbria

Students are not eligible if they are:

• Located overseas and studying a University of Cumbria award remotely
• Are registered as students with our collaborative partners.

• Students can undertake study, voluntary and work placements abroad subject to approval checks
• Students can choose to travel with one of our travel partners (see details in FAQ below) who offer a range of experiences which align with the Turing Scheme objectives.

• Placements can last for a minimum of two weeks (14 calendar days abroad) up to a maximum of 12 months and must take place between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026. 

Students meeting the Widening Access criteria below will receive an uplifted grant rate for their cost-of-living grant and are eligible for support towards travel costs and costs associated with travel such as passports, visas, vaccinations etc.

To be eligible for Widening Access on the Turing Scheme, we ask that you meet and can evidence at least one of the criteria below:

• Students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less
• Students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner
• Care leavers and students who are care-experienced. This refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after or those who access the Care Experienced Bursary in Scotland.
• Students who have caring responsibilities. Caring responsibilities refers to a child or young person up to the age of 25 who provides (unpaid) care or intends to provide care for another person in, or outside of, the family home for someone who is physically or mentally ill, disabled, or misusing drugs or alcohol.
• Estranged students where neither of the student’s parents can be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them.
• Refugees and asylum seekers

If you would like to discuss any additional support you may require, please email Turing@cumbria.ac.uk

Additional funding is also available to cover costs for support directly related to the additional needs of students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

This would include students who identify as having a disability, special needs or a medical condition as categorised below: ​

• Social/communication impairment such as Asperger's syndrome/other autistic spectrum disorder​

• Blind or have a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses​

• Deaf or have a serious hearing impairment​

• A long-standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy​

• Mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder​

• Specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D​

• Physical impairment or mobility issues, such as difficulty using limbs or using a wheelchair or crutches​

• Disability, impairment or medical condition that is not listed above.

If you would like to discuss any additional support you may require, please email Turing@cumbria.ac.uk

How do I find out about travel partners and projects?

We currently work with a range of travel partners whose projects align with the objectives of the Turing Scheme. These include:

Play Action International - Home - Play Action International

Think Pacific - Think Pacific | Award-Winning Volunteering & Internships

Travelteer - Volunteer Abroad - Ethical Volunteer Programmes & Responsible Travel | Travelteer - Travelteer

The Mighty Roar - The Mighty Roar - Structured & Affordable Volunteer Abroad Programmes

Work the World - Work the World | Healthcare Elective Placements Abroad

Please discuss the project you are interested in with the provider to ensure that it meets your requirements. Once you have secured a provisional place on your chosen project, you may apply for Turing funding. Please note that Turing funding will not cover the full cost of these programmes.

Can I use Turing funding to support course related placements?

Yes, Turing funding can be used to support students on course related placements subject to the placement being approved by the Placement Team and the required paperwork being in place.

If I have received external funding to support my placement, can I still apply for Turing funding?

Students cannot receive double funding so if you have received funding from another source, you would not be entitled to Turing funding for the same costs although you may be eligible to apply for funding for different costs associated with your placement.

Can I apply for funding for multiple placements?

Yes, if you and the placement meet the eligibility criteria, you may apply for multiple placements.

How will I be notified if I have been successful?

You will receive an email to your student email address (or for graduates, the email provided on your application) asking you to sign and return a Formal Grant Letter and instructions on next steps.

When will I receive my grant?

We aim to pay your grant into your bank account 2 weeks before you travel although for students entitled to support with travel and readiness to travel costs, this can be reimbursed earlier if required. Students on year long placements will receive their grant in staggered payments as per the terms of the Formal Grant Offer Letter. Shorter placements will receive their grant in full.

What happens if I don’t complete my placement or if I leave my placement early?

Turing Funding is provided to support you to complete an overseas placement. If you don’t complete your placement or leave your placement early, you will be required to repay the funding either in part or in full depending on whether you have met the minimum placement duration. You should contact Turing@cumbria.ac.uk before you make any decisions about altering your placement arrangements.

What happens after my placement?

Whilst on placement, you are required to complete a log, reflecting on your experience against your learning goals and submit this on your return to Turing@cumbria.ac.uk. You will also be required to complete a short questionnaire about your experience. This is a condition of you accepting your grant and is a requirement of the Turing Scheme.

Who do I contact if I have any further questions?

If you have any further questions, please contact Turing@cumbria.ac.uk