Students who may benefit from Turing funding are students who are going abroad: 

• For a study placement, managed by the Study Abroad team 

• For a study or work placement, managed by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures  

• For a year in industry placement, if integral to their degree 

• For a volunteering placement, managed through the Volunteering team 

Cost of Living Grant 

Through the Turing Scheme, students at all levels of study will receive a basic cost-of-living grant to undertake study exchanges and volunteering programmes abroad that are between 28 days to 12-months in the Turing cycle year, from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.  

• This criterion is non-negotiable so please do ensure that your global experience meets these criteria and that you attend for the full duration of the opportunity as outlined in your agreement as you may be liable to repay any funds if you have not adhered to the T&Cs. 

• Remote studying/working does not fulfil these criteria and is therefore not eligible for funding. 

SEND 

Additional support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is available. SEND participants can claim extra funding for costs directly related to their additional needs that are not funded through the DSA. 

To request such funding, students must complete the application by the deadline for any global opportunity taking place in 2024/25. Students are required to provide a full breakdown of costs in the application. It is not possible to request this funding retrospectively. 

The grant will be reimbursement against actual costs; therefore, all receipts need to be kept and students will be compensated once receipts are approved. 

Additional Turing Funding for Widening Participation (WP) Students 

Additional Widening Participation (WP) Turing funding is available for undergraduate, UK domiciled (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland only) students who meet one or more widening participation categories as defined by the Department for Education: 

• Annual household income under £25,000 

• Students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting: 

- themselves  

- themselves and someone who is dependent on them such as a child or partner 

• Experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life 

• A carer, meaning anyone who both: Looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness frailty, disability, mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support and is not paid for this care 

• Estranged students – including anyone who has had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or the relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months.  

• Refugees or Asylum seekers

 These students will receive an additional uplift to their cost-of-living grant, as well as a Travel Grant to support with the cost of one return journey and 'Readiness to Travel Funding' to cover certain costs for: 

• New passport 

• Visa application fees and reasonable associated costs such as translated documents and police certificates 

• Vaccinations and medical certifications 

• Travel Insurance. 

 

 Study Abroad 

When you are made an offer for a place on a study exchange with one of our partner universities, you are automatically considered for a grant, and do not need to make an additional application for the Turing Scheme Grant. 

Volunteering 

Royal Holloway has an established priority group system for allocating all funding that is managed by the Global Experiences team. This ensures that available funding reaches students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds in the first instance.  

Royal Holloway students going abroad to participate in a global volunteering opportunity who complete the Global Experience Team funding application process for their relevant programme(s) are considered for funding based on the highest priority group for which they would qualify (with priority group (1) being the highest), even where they qualify for more than one group. The Global Experiences team may request supporting evidence/documentation from a student where information cannot be verified by internal teams at Royal Holloway. 

Priority Groups:

Group 1: SEND applicants

Group 2: Widening Particpation applicants

Group 3: All other applicants on a first come, first served basis

Any student who wishes to be considered for funding will have to submit an application to the Global Experiences team by the 13 March 2025 deadline.

To apply please fill out the application form here 

 

Yes, the Global Experiences team can give you a funding estimate based on the information you give them which must include your chosen destination, the duration of the opportunity, your details pertaining to SEND or WP status.

You can book an appointment to meet with a member of the Global Exeriences team on campus in the Careers Hub or online via Teams.

Please book here 

If you cannot find an appropriate time slot please do email turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk and we will organise a time to meet with you online.

Please see some funding information for the Volunteering Opportunties outlines below:

Turing Funding Grant Estimates for Volunteering Placements in 2024-25

 

	WP	Non-WP
Not SEND	Contribution to Cost of Living:  Placement of 28-56 days = £21 per day  Placement of 57-365 days = £16 per day     Plus, contribution to actual costs based on evidence provided:  One return flight including transfers*  Readiness to Travel needs**	Contribution to Cost of Living:  Placement of 28-56 days = £17 per day  Placement of 57-365 days = £12 per day
SEND	Contribution to Cost of Living:  Placement of 28-56 days = £21 per day  Placement of 57-365 days = £16 per day    Plus, contribution to actual costs based on evidence provided:  One return flight including transfers*  Readiness to Travel needs**  Specific SEND costs***	Contribution to Cost of Living:  Placement of 28-56 days = £17 per day  Placement of 57-365 days = £12 per day     Plus, contribution to actual costs based on evidence provided:  Specific SEND costs***

 

*  You will be reimbursed the actual cost of ONE return flight to the location to which you are travelling up to the maximum amount below, based on your submitted ticket receipt: 

Asia 

• Fiji £1360  
• India £745 
• Nepal £745 
• Sri Lanka £905 
• Thailand £905 

Africa

• Kenya £745 
• Morocco £325 
• Tanzania £745 
• Uganda £745 

South America 

• Peru £905 

 

** Readiness to Travel: 

Turing Funding is available to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare to travel.  

Applications for readiness to travel funding can only include actual costs for which evidence can be provided related to: 

• Passports 

• Visa applications and reasonable associated costs such as translated documents and police certificates 

• Vaccines 

• Travel Insurance 

• Medical certificates 

An application form will be provided to those who contact, turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk and evidence must be submitted along with the application form for actual costs to be considered and paid.  

 

*** SEND Costs 

Turing will provide extra funding for students with special educational or additional needs or a disability. 

SEND Students can claim support for additional costs that they may incur on international placements. 

An application must be sent to turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk with an estimate of the additional costs that will be incurred for approval. 

 

Turing Funding for Average 28 Day Volunteering Abroad Placements 

	Non-WP	Widening Participation
Not SEND	Cost of Living Allowance: £476.00	Cost of Living Allowance £588.00     plus:  One return flight including transfers (*)  An application for Readiness to Travel (**)
SEND	Cost of Living Allowance: £476.00     plus:  An application for additional SEND costs (***)	Cost of Living Allowance £588.00    plus:  One return flight including transfers (*)  An application for Readiness to Travel (**)  An application for additional SEND costs (***)

 For Study Abroad students we are unable to confirm if you will be able to recieve funding as Royal Holloway has to apply for funding each year which is not guaranteed. The Turing Scheme funding outcome is due in September so you may well be on your global experience when it is announced and be given the funding retrospectively. All Study Abroad students need not apply for Turing Funding we will automatically include you if the funding is awarded. 

If you meet the Department for Education's widening participation criteria (highlighted in the 'How much funding can I exect to receive?' section) you will need to supply us with some evidence as outlined below.

If you have any queries about the evidence you need to provide please do get in touch with us.

Evidence Requirements for Turing Applications:  

Income below £25k 

• Bank statement showing monthly income of parent/guardian 

• Payslip showing monthly income of parent/guardian 

• Document from Student Finance England proving highest level of maintenance loan being received 

Someone who received Universal Credit or income related benefits because they are financially supporting: 

1. Themselves 

2. Themselves and someone who is dependent on them, such as a child or a partner 

• A copy of your Universal Credit award notice  

• A proof of benefit letter from the Department for Work and Pensions 

Someone with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life. 

• A copy of your care records from the local authority or voluntary organisation that cared for you. 

• Evidence provided by the Duty Social Worker from the local authority where you were in care 

A carer, meaning anyone who both 

1. Looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support 

2. Is not paid for this care 

• You can register as a career with your GP and provide the Turing Scheme with this evidence. 

• You can contact the social services department of the council covering the area where the person you care for lives. Once registered you can provide the Turing Scheme with this evidence.  

Someone who is estranged, including anyone who has had no contact with their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months or more, or the relationship with their parents has broken down within the last 12 months 

• A copy of a Confirmation of Estrangement Form signed by a suitable independent person 

 A refugee or asylum seeker 

• A copy of an Application Registration Card that certifies you are an asylum claimant  

• A copy of a biometric residence permit (BRP) proving your refugee status 
  
  

SEND Students

• Evidence of your registration with the Royal Holloway Disability and Neurodiversity Service 

• A copy of a Statement of Special Educations Needs 

• A letter from a medical professional or Social Services to evidence special educational needs and/or a disability 

• Any proof of benefits you receive as a result of being SEND 

• A copy of a blue badge or disabled bus pass 

• Evidence as registered as deaf, or blind or partially sighted 

• Copy of a disability proof card 

Yes! So long as you are a current Royal Holloway student and will be at the time you participate in the scheme, you can receive funding.

No - that's why it is important for you to apply for your funding as soon as possible to find out how much you are set to receive before commiting to an opportunity and/or paying a deposit. 

Everyone is eligible for basic funding towards daily living expenses and travel costs; this amount increases depending upon your eligibility criteria.

Other costs such as programme fees for volunteering are not covered although support for fundraising is provided by partner organisations. In addition some partner organistions have incentives and extra support available so it is worth checking with them.

 

Do check if your chosen partner offers any incentives or discounts - please contact them directly to see if this applies to you.

 

Additional financial support from Royal Holloway:

1. Short Term Loan

Royal Holloway can provide loans of up to £500 if you end up in short-term financial difficulty and to assist in cash flow problems. 

It is an interest-free loan, which is repaid by an agreed date.

(Please note, loans usually take a minimum of three working days to be credited to your bank account.)

If you would like further information please contact the Financial Wellbeing Team

2. Study Support Grant (previously Hardship Fund)

The Study Support Grant is available to all students with an additional financial need.

If you have already received your maximum entitlement of student loan, parental support, home government loan etc, you may be eligible for help.

Please note, the Study Support Grant is cash limited and demand is high. 

Applications will be considered throughout the academic year while funds are still available. Priority is given to mature students, those with childcare costs, disabled students and those from a low income background.

If you would like further information please contact the Financial Wellbeing Team

External Funding Support 

If your Turing funding does not cover all of the cost for your trip there are various funding bursaries and grants for which you can apply, click on the links below to view what is available:

1. The Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Awards Trust
2. Jack Petchey Foundation
3. Studying abroad: travel grants for students (England)
4.  BUTEX  offers scholarships of £500 for students studying abroad. Applications for 2024/25 will open in the spring and students apply retrospectively. 

5. Successful applicants will be paid once they have arrived and registered at their host university. The scholarship is open to all undergraduate students and includes students who are also applying for a Turing award. 

   Further information about the scholarships and application process can be found on the BUTEX website. 

   There are also eight scholarships available for undergraduate students currently registered at a UK University through BUTEX (British Transnational Exchange Association). To be eligible to apply you must have been offered a 

   1. place as a Study Abroad or exchange student in a USA or Canadian university. Full details can be found on the BUTEX website. Any eligible student applying for a BUTEX scholarship is requested to inform the Study Abroad team in advance of any application.  

      6. John Speak Language Scholarship  

      The John Speak Languages Scholarship offers funding to support travel overseas to British Citizens aged 18+ who will study a language. Further information can be found from the John Speak Language Trust website. 

      7. Ann Dodgson Foundation 

      Specifically aimed at advancing the education of young people in the subject of France – its people, its language, its history and its culture. Further information can be found at the Ann Dodgson Foundation website. 

       

   You can also try crowdfunding or fundraising which can be an enjoyable experiece and lets you share your plans with others, such as bake sales or sponsored events.

   Our volunteering team and charity partners can support you with this - please do get in touch with the volunteering team to discuss this further. 

 Postgraduate students can only apply for volunteering abroad opportunities with partners.

Foundation year students will have the opportunity to get involved with Royal Holloway Global experiences when they progress on to their degree programme. 

This is possible however,  

1. You must book your flight in and out of the same country
2. Your return date must be before 31 August
3. You must fully participate in the programme meaning that you must complete all dates set out in your agreement

Please do email the Turing Team turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk to get further clarification if you are unsure.

No. You can do your own thing after the programme is complete but you must book your flight in and out of the same country and ensure that you return before 31 August.

Please do email the Turing Team turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk to get further clarification if you are unsure.

For more information or to ask any questions around funding, please contact turing-scheme@rhul.ac.uk.

For any questions around specific opportunities including destinations,what to expect when abroad, pre or post departure information and durations please speak to the relevant volunteering or study abroad teams.