Turing Scheme changed our lives, say students

Since the scheme began in 2021, the University has provided more than £3 million in grants to over 1,300 students.

Students from low-income households, ethnic minorities and first-generation university-goers were strongly represented.

Global opportunities

Carlos Santos e Sousa, International Opportunities and Exchange Partnerships Manager, said: "Over the past five years, the University of Bradford has successfully secured approximately £3 million from the Turing Scheme, providing more than 1,300 grants that have allowed students from widening participation backgrounds to gain invaluable overseas experiences.

"The University consistently champions the access and participation of students in international placements. We are determined to elevate both academic achievement and employability prospects for all our students though international experiences."

Life changing

Students who took part in the most recent 2024/25 Turing Scheme trips described them as life changing.

Jubeda Farz

Jubeda Farz, BEng Chemical Engineering, who took up an overseas placement at Tanta University, Egypt, said: "We were taken on a field trip to visit a fertilizer plant, where I saw a lot of what I learned as a chemical engineering student being used in real life. I was able to appreciate a new culture and new way of living. I visited the Pyramids, cruised the Nile River and visited other beautiful places in Egypt."

Matthew Spears

Matthew Spears, MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, spent a month at Zhejiang GongShang University, China. He said: "My research focuses on ethical AI and data protection, so being in China gave me a unique chance to see how these issues are handled from a completely different perspective. It was fascinating to observe how technology is used in everyday life, how data is treated, and how public attitudes differ from what I'm used to. On a personal level, the trip pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. Navigating a new culture, trying new food, and getting by with limited language skills helped me grow a lot more confident and open-minded."

Amaan Munir

Amaan Munir, who MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, took up a placement at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, said: "South Korea was the perfect country for me to develop my IT skills. This opportunity certainly improved my chances of working abroad - I can now hold a conversation in Korean. This experience is one I will cherish for the rest of my life and I am forever grateful and thankful for this opportunity."

Alia Hussain

Alia Hussain, BSc Nursing (Children's), who took up a placement in Tanzania with Work the World, said: "My overseas placement was an eye-opening experience. Being here and having the opportunity to experience a place like this, has meant so much to me and is something that I will never forget. It has really helped to shape me into the nurse I hope to be and I am forever thankful."

Breaking barriers

How Overseas Placements Shape Student Employability research report by Carlos Santos E Sousa evaluates the University's participation in the Turing Scheme 2021 to 2024, drawing on data from 640 student surveys and 28 in-depth interviews. The research has directly informed the development of the new Global Mindset Development Programme, introduced for 2025/26, created to better prepare students for overseas placements. The programme is a mandatory requirement for all students undertaking a funded international study or work placement.

The report found that:

• After their placements, students gain clarity regarding their professional aspirations and goals, believing that their experiences transform their perceptions of future work.

• Students feel empowered, knowing that their employability prospects have greatly increased because of the skills they acquire and develop during these journeys.

Previous awards

Students undertaking a two-week placement can receive a Turing Scheme grant of around £1,000, while those on a nine-month placement can secure approximately £6,500.

Previously grants include:

2021/22 - £363,015

2022/23 - £478,919

2023/24 - £763,925

2024/25 - £852,748

2025/26 - £537,530

An internal call for applications will be launched in October2025.