The Turing Scheme 2026/27: Fully Funded Global Learning Opportunities – Supported by SLT Tours
What is the Turing Scheme?
The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s global student mobility programme that provides grant funding to UK and British Overseas Territories schools, colleges, and universities to support their students in taking part in international study, work placements, cultural exchanges, and educational trips.
The scheme focuses on widening participation and improving access to international opportunities, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Turing funding can be used to contribute towards travel costs, accommodation, and living expenses, helping to remove financial barriers and ensure more students can benefit from learning and personal development beyond the UK.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the UK Government confirmed that the Turing Scheme funding will continue, meaning schools and education providers can apply for funding again to help make international trips more accessible and impactful. Turing Scheme applications can be made from 12:00 (noon) on Monday 26 January 2026.
Important: Applications for the 2026 Turing Scheme are now closed. The scheme will return for a new round of applications in 2027.
Turing Scheme Countries: Where Students Can Go
The Turing Scheme opens up a world of international opportunities for UK students. Schools, colleges, and other eligible institutions can use Turing Scheme funding to plan study visits, international work placements, and cultural experiences across a wide range of countries.
Eligible Countries
The programme is designed to give students exposure to diverse educational, cultural, and professional environments. While most countries are eligible, placements must comply with safety, visa, and risk management requirements. High-risk destinations may require additional approval or could be excluded.
Turing Scheme trips have been successfully delivered in countries such as:
- Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Netherlands
- North America: United States, Canada
- South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia
- Asia: China, Japan, India
- Africa: South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
This flexibility allows schools to choose destinations that align with curriculum goals, language learning, cultural studies, or professional development objectives. Most countries are eligible, but high-risk destinations may need additional approval.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Country
When selecting a destination, institutions should consider:
- Student safety: Ensure the country meets safeguarding and health requirements.
- Educational value: Choose locations that enhance learning outcomes and skills development.
- Visa and travel logistics: Some countries may have more complex visa processes or higher travel costs.
- Cultural exposure: Destinations should offer opportunities for intercultural understanding, teamwork, and global awareness.
By carefully selecting eligible countries, schools and colleges can create Turing Scheme-funded trips that deliver high-quality, inclusive, and meaningful international experiences for students.
Who Can Apply For Turing Funding?
Turing Scheme funding is open to UK and British Overseas Territories organisations in the education and training sector, including:
- Schools (primary, secondary, sixth form)
- Further Education (FE) providers
- Higher Education (HE) providers
Applications for the turing scheme are submitted by the institution, not individual students.
Students do not need to be UK nationals to benefit from the scheme. To be eligible, they must be enrolled at a participating UK or British Overseas Territories institution and meet the programme’s criteria. This inclusive approach helps ensure that a wide range of learners can access international education, training, and overseas work placement opportunities.
Turing Scheme 2026/27 Funding Amounts
Understanding Turing Scheme funding amounts is essential for UK schools, colleges, and other eligible education providers looking to plan fully funded international trips. The scheme is designed to make study visits, international work placements, and cultural experiences accessible to all students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs.
Turing Scheme Grant Rates
The Turing Scheme provides grant funding amounts to cover key costs such as travel, accommodation, living expenses, and additional student support. Turing Scheme grant rates vary depending on several factors:
- Placement duration: Longer trips may qualify for higher funding.
- Activity type: Study visits, overseas work placements, and professional development programmes attract different grant levels.
- Student needs: Extra support is available for SEND learners, students from underrepresented groups, or those requiring additional supervision.
These flexible grant rates ensure that every eligible student can benefit from international learning opportunities, regardless of financial or personal circumstances.
Turing Scheme Funding Bands
To simplify budgeting, the Turing Scheme uses funding bands that group placements by cost and distance. These bands give schools and colleges a clear idea of the funding available per student and help plan trips more effectively. Common funding bands include:
- Short-term placements: Typically 1–2 weeks, focused on study, work experience, or cultural exchange.
- Medium-term placements: Up to a few months, often linked to extended study or professional development.
- Long-term placements: Semester-long programmes or large-scale collaborative projects abroad.
Each funding band has a maximum grant per student, allowing institutions to plan the budget and identify any extra resources needed to deliver high-quality experiences. In 2026, schools can receive funding of up to £50,000 for a single application, with consortium applications capped at £50,000 per school up to a maximum of £300,000.
2026/27 Turing Scheme Funding Structure
- Schools Funding
- Schools can request up to £50,000 per Turing Scheme application, with a maximum of £300,000 for consortium applications.
- Cost of Living Groups (HE/FE):
- Group 1 (Higher cost): Countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and USA.
- Group 2 (Lower cost): Most other countries and most of Europe.
- Grant Rates (2025/26 data, indicative for 2026/27):
- 14–56 days: £19/day (Group 1), £17/day (Group 2).
- 57+ days: Higher rates are provided for longer placements, and additional funding is available for travel, SEND, and disadvantaged students.
Turing Scheme 2026/27 Eligibility
The Turing Scheme eligibility criteria are designed to ensure that both institutions and learners can fully benefit from international education and training opportunities, while maintaining safety, inclusivity, and measurable outcomes.
Institutional Eligibility
To qualify for the Turing Scheme, organisations must meet specific requirements:
- Be a recognised UK or British Overseas Territories education or training provider, including schools, further education (FE) colleges, and higher education (HE) institutions.
- Demonstrate the capacity to plan, deliver, and manage international placements safely, including safeguarding procedures and risk management policies.
- Commit to inclusive participation, showing how barriers for underrepresented or disadvantaged learners will be removed.
- Provide a clear plan for monitoring outcomes and impact, ensuring the scheme funding delivers tangible educational benefits.
- Be able to manage financial and administrative responsibilities, including reporting and auditing requirements.
Learner Eligibility
Students benefiting from the Turing Scheme must also meet certain criteria:
- Be enrolled at a participating institution during the placement or programme.
- Meet any programme-specific requirements, such as age range, level of study, or duration of the placement.
- Comply with any safeguarding and health & safety guidelines set by the hosting institution or partner organisation.
- Be supported by their institution to fully participate in the international experience, including access to SEND support if required.
Overseas Placement & Programme Eligibility
The Turing Scheme also sets standards for the types of projects and placements it funds:
- Eligible activities include study, international work experience, or professional development placements abroad.
- Overseas placements must be structured, goal-oriented, and of sufficient duration to deliver meaningful educational outcomes.
- Projects must demonstrate value for money and measurable impact for both learners and institutions.
- Activities should aim to develop skills such as intercultural understanding, employability, independence, and resilience, complementing formal study.
By meeting the Turing Scheme eligibility requirements, institutions and students can ensure that funding supports high-quality international experiences that are safe, inclusive, and educationally valuable.
What Does the Turing Scheme Fund?
The scheme provides contributions towards the costs of international educational placements. Funding typically covers eligible costs such as:
Travel & Logistics
The Turing Scheme funding helps cover the practical costs of getting students to and from their international placement.
- Return travel between the UK and international placement destination
- Transfers, visa fees, passports, vaccinations, travel insurance (especially for disadvantaged students)
- Organisational support and staff accompaniment where needed
- Additional travel-related support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Living Costs
Students receive support towards daily expenses to ensure they can fully participate while abroad.
- Contributions to daily living costs while abroad
- Additional language learning support for FE students
- Additional language learning support, particularly for Further Education (FE) students
Inclusion & Widened Inclusion Support
The scheme prioritises students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with additional needs.
- Enhanced funding for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Specialist support for students with SEND (including ALN/ASN) to ensure accessibility and participation
- Funding to support reasonable adjustments and accessibility needs
- Support for carers or additional supervision where necessary
Preparation & Support Activities
Funding can also be used to prepare students and staff for a safe, successful placement.
- Pre-departure preparation, including cultural awareness and safeguarding training
- Health, safety, and risk-management measures
- Ongoing pastoral support during the overseas placement
Why the Turing Scheme Matters
The Turing Scheme isn’t just about funding trips – it’s designed to deliver tangible educational outcomes:
Enhancing Skills for Life and Careers
International placements booked on the scheme gives students opportunities to develop practical and transferable skills that are highly valued in both further education and the workplace. Participants often enhance abilities such as:
- Communication & problem-solving: Learning to convey ideas clearly across language and cultural differences and tackle challenges independently.
- Teamwork & adaptability: Collaborating in unfamiliar environments, navigating new social and academic settings, and adapting to different ways of working.
- Intercultural understanding: Gaining awareness and appreciation of diverse perspectives, fostering empathy and global citizenship.
- Confidence, independence, and resilience: Managing travel, study, and work experiences away from familiar support networks.
These experiences broaden perspectives, boost employability, and complement formal study.
Widening Opportunity
The Turing Scheme tours are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that international experiences are accessible to all learners, regardless of background. Its structure:
- Encourages schools and institutions to remove barriers: Ensuring financial, social, or logistical obstacles don’t prevent participation.
- Opens doors for underrepresented students: Giving opportunities to learners who may not otherwise have the chance to study or work abroad.
- Supports SEND learners: Providing tailored funding, support, and guidance so that learners with special educational needs and disabilities can fully engage with international experiences.
By prioritising inclusion, the Turing Scheme helps create a more equitable educational landscape while enriching the learning community as a whole.
Driving Value for Money
The Turing Scheme focuses on funding projects that deliver tangible impact and maximise outcomes for students and institutions. Funding is awarded to initiatives that:
- Are planned and delivered safely: Ensuring student welfare and risk management are prioritised.
Strengthen international partnerships: Encouraging long-term collaborations between schools, colleges, and organisations across borders.
Demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes: Projects are assessed based on their educational value, skills development, and benefits for both learners and the participating institutions.
Through careful investment and oversight, the Turing Scheme funding ensures every pound spent contributes to enriching educational experiences that can have a lasting impact on learners’ futures.
Inspiring Lifelong Learning & Global Citizenship
Finally, 2026/27 tours booked with Turing funding nurtures learners who are prepared to engage with the wider world:
- Encouraging curiosity and exploration: Students develop a mindset of enquiry and discovery.
- Promoting civic responsibility: Understanding global challenges and the role they can play as active citizens.
- Creating networks for the future: Students form lasting international friendships and professional connections.
Through these outcomes, the scheme doesn’t just enhance education- it shapes learners into confident, culturally aware, and socially responsible global citizens.
How Schools & Colleges Can Apply
Applying for Turing Scheme funding is a structured, institution-led process designed to ensure international placements deliver meaningful educational outcomes. Schools, colleges, and other eligible providers follow these steps:
Step 1: Reviewing Eligibility & Identifying Placements
Institutions first confirm that they meet the Turing Scheme eligibility requirements and identify suitable international placements for their learners. This ensures that the proposed activities are viable, safe, and aligned with the programme’s objectives.
Step 2: Preparing a Detailed Application Outlining Educational Value
Applicants must submit a comprehensive application outlining:
- The educational value of the proposed placement or project.
- How learners will develop skills such as intercultural understanding, confidence, and employability.
- Measures to promote inclusion and accessibility for all students, including those with SEND or from underrepresented groups.
- Plans for monitoring and evaluating outcomes to demonstrate impact.
Step 3: Submit Through the Official Portal
Turing Scheme applications are submitted via the Official Turing Scheme website, ensuring standardisation and compliance with government procedures.
Step 4: Demonstrate Inclusion, Accessibility & Measurable Outcomes
Submitted applications are independently assessed against set criteria. Successful institutions enter into a formal funding agreement, committing to deliver the planned placements and report on their outcomes.
Step 5: Delivery & Reporting
Once approved, providers are responsible for implementing the placements, managing learner support, and submitting progress reports. This ensures that every funded project contributes measurable educational benefits and value for money.
Funding applications are assessed independently against set criteria. If successful, providers will enter a funding agreement and must deliver and report on their planned placements.
Our team of specialists can help you apply – simply get in touch with us and we will guide you through the process!
How SLT Tours Can Help
Planning an international school trip that meets Turing funding criteria requires expertise in educational design, logistics, safeguarding, and outcomes measurement – and that’s where SLT Tours comes in.
Our Turing Scheme support includes:
- Scheme Application Assistance – strategy and wording that strengthens your submission
- Tailored Itineraries – designed around curriculum goals and placement outcomes
- End-to-end Planning & Logistics – transport, accommodation, excursions, risk management
- On-the-ground Support – staff briefings, cultural partners, and local expertise
- Monitoring & Reporting Support – help capture the evidence you need for reporting
Whether you’re planning language immersion, cultural exploration, study visits, or international work placements, we can help shape your vision into a Turing Scheme – eligible, high-impact project.
Proven Turing Scheme Success with SLT Tours
At SLT Tours, we don’t just understand the Turing Scheme – we actively deliver it in the real world. We’ve already supported schools and trusts across the UK in designing, funding and running fully compliant trips that bring learning to life.
Recent projects include:
- A history-focused trip to Washington DC with Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, giving students first-hand insight into American democracy through visits to the Capitol Building, Supreme Court, National Archives and Arlington Memorial, alongside cultural experiences such as a university tour and a Major League Baseball game.
- A fully funded ‘Pedagogy of Play’ educational visit to Billund, Denmark, home of LEGO, where students explored how creativity and play underpin learning. Highlights included time at the International School of Billund, engaging with innovative teaching spaces and global learning approaches.
These international education trips were delivered in line with scheme priorities:
- Clear educational outcomes
- Inclusive access for students
- Strong safeguarding and risk management
- Meaningful cultural and curriculum-linked experiences
Thomas Young, Turing Scheme Manager at Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, said:
“Linsey’s excellent planning ensured everything went smoothly, while Jake’s presence during the Washington trip was invaluable. The opportunities you helped to create for our students have had a lasting impact.”
And following the Billund visit:
“A special thanks for the outstanding support during our Turing Scheme funded Billund trip. Your ability to create such a positive and inclusive atmosphere was greatly appreciated by everyone involved. The experiences you provided for our students are ones they will not forget.”
These aren’t theoretical examples – they’re real, funded projects, delivered by our team, with real students and real outcomes. When you partner with SLT Tours, you’re working with a provider that already knows how to turn Turing Scheme funding into transformative educational experiences.
Ready to Start?
Unlock funded international opportunities for your students with a Turing Scheme 2026/2027 trip planned by SLT Tours.
👉 Book a meeting directly with our Turing Scheme Specialists
Turing Scheme 2026/2027 FAQs
When are applications for the Turing Scheme usually open?
Application windows vary each academic year. Schools and colleges should monitor the official gov.uk website for specific application deadlines.
How long does it take to get a decision on a funding application?
Assessment timelines depend on the number of applications and complexity of projects, but institutions are usually informed within several weeks of submission.
Can multiple institutions collaborate on a single project?
Yes. Schools and colleges can partner to deliver joint placements or shared international projects, as long as each institution meets eligibility criteria and funding is allocated appropriately.
Can funding cover staff costs?
Yes. Institutions can include certain staff costs if they are directly related to supporting student placements, such as accompanying staff on overseas trips or providing pre-departure preparation.
Are there restrictions on which countries students can travel to?
Placements must comply with safety, visa, and risk management requirements. While most countries are eligible, high-risk destinations may require additional approval or be excluded.
