Capita : Record 20,000 disadvantaged students to participate in 2022-23 Turing Scheme

The Turing Scheme, which has been designed by the UK Government to provide global opportunities for work or study for students, will see a record 20,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds participate over the 2022-23 academic year.

A total of 38,000 students, from 130 universities, 116 further education providers and 70 schools, will visit over 150 destinations around the world. 52% of the placements are for disadvantaged students - up from 48% last year. Destinations where students could work or study include the USA, Japan, Canada, Thailand and South Africa.

In 2021, Capita was appointed by the Government to promote and administer the Turing Scheme. Earlier this year, Capita supported 316 education providers through a competitive application process so their students could participate in the 2022-23 scheme. Students are now set to receive a combined £105m worth of grants over the coming year to fund their Turing placements.

Administration of the scheme is delivered through the Capita-developed digital grants management platform GrantIS. Capita is using its significant digital grants management, complex programmes and education expertise to deliver grants to tens of thousands of students.

The Department for Education (DfE) has reconfirmed that grant rates will be the same level as the first year and that additional support will also remain in place for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. This will enable them to fund the costs of travel, passports and visas.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is Capita's principal partner and is leading on the assessment of applications and supporting with monitoring and evaluation, building on decades of expert knowledge and experience in delivering major international mobility schemes.

Minister for Skills Alex Burghart said:

"I am delighted that following a successful launch year, the Turing Scheme will now be giving more disadvantaged students than ever before the opportunity to embark on their own journeys across the world.

"This Government wants to open these opportunities up to so many more students in regions that lost out under Erasmus+ so that students of all ages can embrace different cultures, make new friends and acquire new knowledge. I hope that next year's placements will be just as inspiring."

Costi Karayannis, Managing Director and Client Partner for Education and Learning at Capita, said: "We are proud that the 2022-2023 Turing Scheme will see a record number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds access overseas opportunities. We have worked hard with the Department for Education and our education partners, including the ACU, to offer lifechanging global work and education opportunities."

Dr Joanna Newman MBE, Chief Executive and Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), said:

"Furthering outward mobility for all students and widening access to international mobility is central to the ACU's strategic mission. We are proud to have overseen the assessment of 2022-2023 Turing Scheme applications, working with Capita and the Department for Education to deliver overseas opportunities to a record number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and help to ensure that every learner regardless of where or how they study, can access the life-changing benefits of a period abroad."