What is the Turing Scheme?
The Turing Scheme, introduced in 2021 to replace Erasmus+, aims to enhance skills, promote social mobility, and ensure value for money by funding international study and work placements for UK students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to improve employability and cultural understanding. The scheme is the UK’s global programme for studying, working and living abroad and offers transformational opportunities for students’ personal and professional development.
The scheme promotes social mobility by ensuring that students from underrepresented backgrounds can access international opportunities, preparing them for successful, globally oriented careers.
How does it work?
In 2024/25, the Turing Scheme has supported students undertaking a compulsory study or work placement abroad, and students from underrepresented backgrounds undertaking an optional year or term abroad. The scheme supports an array of international activities, including postgraduate research, summer schools, medical electives, internships,volunteering and leadership programmes abroad.
How has it impacted students at Leeds?
The Turing Scheme has had a significant impact at the University of Leeds. According to the latest Graduate Outcomes survey, students who studied or worked abroad through the scheme saw a 10.5% increase in graduate-level employment compared to those who did not. This effect is even more pronounced for underrepresented students, who are 14.5% more likely to achieve positive graduate destinations.
Feedback from Leeds students highlights the benefits of the scheme:
- 87% felt their international experience increased their chances of getting a new or better job.
- 98% reported improved cultural awareness.
- 97% noted enhanced problem-solving skills.
- 94% experienced better independent learning.
- 92% improved their planning and organization skills.
- 87% saw increased job prospects.
- 88% developed better teamwork and analytical skills.
- 85% felt more capable of handling high-responsibility tasks.
- 82% improved in developing and executing ideas.
- 76% had clearer career aspirations.
The Turing Scheme at Leeds collaborates with over 300 partners worldwide and has exchange partnerships with 39 of the QS top 100 Global Universities.
Isabel’s story: summer placement in Fiji
Isabel Candir, a medical student at Leeds, recently completed a summer project with ‘Think Pacific’ via the Turing Scheme:
“What motivated me was the fact that it gave the opportunity to do something I’d never thought I’d be able to do or even afford. I come from quite a low-income background and I'm one of the first to go to university, so I didn’t think anything like this would be possible. I’ve worked since I was 16 as well, so it’s been quite hard to… finance university itself. I think just having the opportunity there, that there is a funding towards an opportunity abroad and to do something that impacts the world was definitely a highlight for me. And it made me want to apply.
“I did the Youth Empowerment Programme in Fiji, which was really different because it aims to help and inspire 18 to 35-year-olds, which I thought was quite niche.
“When you hear of volunteering opportunities abroad, it’s always younger people like children or kids in school, but these were people who had kids and families.
“When I got to the village we taught about mental health and public health, and they didn’t really get the concept at first. It just showed me that no matter what age you are talking to, you can spark people, inspire people to go for a different career – a lot of people we spoke to had some ideas of what they wanted to be, but they just didn’t have the concept or inspiration to go for it, but the opportunity to have a conversation with them, encourage them to do certain things and improve their English – that had a big impact on me.
“I really loved it. It was really nice because we basically had no service the first few days. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I'm not going to call my parents. It's going to be the worst thing ever.’ But I actually loved it because I just wasn’t on my phone. It felt like a big disconnect and - especially after having just finished my third year of medical studies - it was really nice just to be able to decompress. Usually, in the summer, I’d normally work and so being able just to decompress and have that release from social media and even just from university, it was really nice. You were so focused on being there and in the moment.”
Mohima’s story: elective in Malaysia
Mohima Begum, a final year medical student at Leeds, used the Turing Scheme to complete a 4-week elective in Malaysia.
“The Turing Scheme allowed me to travel abroad in med school. We finish really late in the year, and we start really early so we don’t get much time off. This allowed me a big chunk of time that I finally got to go on holiday, to explore, and to learn. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to afford anything outside of Europe if it wasn’t for the Turing Scheme so I’m super grateful for the opportunity.
“I went to one of five university hospitals in Malaysia. It was called Hospital UKM and I did a four-week placement there in Orthopaedics, which was incredible. Also, during that time, on the weekends, we were able to travel around, explore Kuala Lumpur and nearby cities, and sightsee on nearby islands. I went to Singapore for two days as well which was lovely, I truly made memories for a lifetime. After that, I did a two-week nonclinical elective which was just more for my own well-being. I went to Bulgaria and Turkey where I learnt a new language including some medical terms, did some sightseeing and spent time with some other students there, which was really nice.
“And it has helped me plan my career too. We don't get time to visit abroad to work overseas during the degree - we'd have to do our two years of foundation training before we even thought about going abroad to work, so it’s a good experience academically as well to see what they offer abroad or what the lifestyle and working is like. I absolutely loved it, and it helped me grow as a person - I am a lot more confident now and I’d see myself solo travelling a lot more in the future, hopefully.”
To find out more about the Turing Scheme at Leeds, please email the Student Success Team at studentsuccess@leeds.ac.uk.