Full year study or work abroad funding
Financial support available from Student Finance England and the Turing Scheme for students studying or working abroad as part of their course in 2024/25.
This guidance is for students who are eligible for support from Student Finance England (SFE) and/or the UK Government Turing Scheme. The below figures are for 2024/25, we expect SFE to release information for 2025/26 in Spring 2025, and we will update the page accordingly after this.
If you are from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and have financial questions about a year abroad, email the Money Advice and Funding team: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk
Support available from SFE will depend on how many weeks you spend per academic year working or studying overseas as part of a year abroad.
Types of funding
Tuition fee and maintenance loans
You can receive your tuition fee and maintenance loan from Student Finance while you are abroad. The amount you will receive depends on whether you study abroad or undertake a work placement abroad.
For more information or to discuss funding, contact the Money Advice and Funding team: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk.
Travel grant
You may be eligible for a means-tested travel grant from Student Finance England if:
- you receive Student Finance England funding, and
- you are studying at an overseas institution for at least 50% of any term in the academic year, and
- your household income is below £39,796
Students on work placements are not eligible for the travel grant.
If eligible, you can apply to claim back study abroad related costs such as:
- flights
- visas
- health insurance
More details on eligibility and what you'll get:
If you are from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and have financial questions about a year abroad, email the Money Advice and Funding team: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk.
University of Bristol funding
You may be able to continue to receive any Bristol bursaries that you are eligible for in Bristol while abroad. This may depend on whether you study abroad or undertake a work placement abroad.
For more information visit the UoB Bursary webpages or email the Money Advice and Funding team: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk.
Turing scheme
The Turing Scheme is a UK government funding programme that supports students UK students undertaking international experience following the UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit). The Turing Scheme prioritises funding for students from under-represented and SEND backgrounds and allocates funding to universities on an annual basis.
Turing Eligibility Criteria for 2023/24 (due to be updated for 2024/25):
Any Home undergraduate student who has a household income of under £42,875.
- this includes recipients of the Access to Bristol / Bristol Scholars bursary, OR you receive Universal Credit; note that you must be the recipient, not a partner or family member.
And/or who meets several of the following criteria:
- you are care-experienced
- you have caring responsibilities
- you are an estranged student
- you are a refugee or asylum seeker
- you are a mature student
- your ethnicity is listed under Asian or Asian British; Black, Black British, Caribbean or African; Mixed or multiple ethnic groups; or the Other ethnic group catergory on the gov.uk list of ethnic groups.
- you have a disability or special educational need. Please note that the term disability is very wide; further details of what may be considered a disability are in this link definition of disability, and this will need to be registered with Disability Services.
All criteria, including household income, is taken from your official student record. It is your responsibility to check that the information stored is correct.
Other external funding
Scholarships and grants for studying abroad
- BUTEX Study Abroad scholarship.
- JASSO Scholarship for students studying abroad in Japan.
- DUO-Singapore Fellowship Scholarship for students studying abroad in Singapore.
- DUO-Korea Fellowship Scholarship for students studying abroad in South Korea.
Professional societies
Professional societies can offer travel awards to their members. Check with societies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or the Royal Aeronautical Societies for more information.
Other external organisations
Depending on your personal situation, you may be able to bid or apply for funds through organisations listed on Turn2Us.
Studying in the UK for 10 weeks or more - 2024/25 academic year
If you will be studying in the UK for 10 weeks or more, you are eligible for the same funding package as previous academic years, including the same support towards tuition fees.
If you are studying overseas for more than 50% of a term, you will get the overseas rate of loan in that term’s instalment. You may also be eligible for the travel grant, depending on your household income.
Studying in the UK for less than 10 weeks - 2024/25 academic year
Full year study abroad
If you are studying abroad for the full academic year, you can apply for:
- Tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fee (£1,385)
- Means-tested maintenance loan at overseas rate (minimum: £5,662 maximum: £11,713)
- Travel grant available for means-tested students
- University of Bristol Bursary available for those that meet the eligibility criteria.
Full year work placement abroad (paid or unpaid)
If you are completing an overseas work placement (including two separate placements) for the full academic year, you can apply for:
- Tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fee (£1,385)
- Non-means tested maintenance loan at the overseas rate of £3,098. If this will be your only income, you will need to source other income.
Students doing a full-year overseas work placement are not eligible for a travel grant.
You may be eligible for the UK Turing funding and an increased maintenance loan. Students who receive a maintenance loan will be prioritised. The University of Bristol will not be able to confirm this funding until July 2024 and all eligible students will be contacted by the end of July.
Year abroad: one semester study and one semester work placement (paid or unpaid)
If you are abroad for a full academic year and are spending one semester studying and one semester on a work placement, you can apply for:
- Tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fee (£1,385)
- Maintenance loan:
- For study: overseas rate of means-tested loan (minimum: £5,662 maximum: £11,713)
- For work placement: standard rate of means-tested loan (minimum: £4,767 maximum: £10,227)
Term 2 loan rate will be paid at the rate you are doing more of (study or work placement).
- Travel grant:
- For study: Available for means-tested students
- For work: Not eligible for work placements
- University of Bristol Bursary available for those that meet the eligibility criteria.
Your Student Finance England application
Tips on completing your application:
- Keep the institution as University of Bristol
- Enter Study Abroad or Work Placement under each term. If you are doing one semester study abroad and one semester work placement, and the change occurs halfway through Term 2, enter which you are doing the most of in Term 2.
- If you have any problems, email the Money Advice and Funding team: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk.
Course Abroad form
You do not need to complete a Course Abroad form, even if Student Finance England (SFE)/Student Finance Wales (SFW) ask you or the University to do so. The Bristol Abroad team will directly inform SFE and SFW that you are on your year abroad.
SFE/SFW will not be able to give you an accurate funding assessment until you are able to provide accurate study/work placement dates.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, email: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk