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Funding to study, work, and volunteer abroad for at least a month

Details of funding opportunities for working abroad during your studies.

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Applying

You can apply for funding to complete a short work, volunteer, or study abroad placement over your summer holidays. Find a placement that suits you and meets the following criteria:

  • The placement must be hosted by an organisation
  • It should include a structured programme of activity
  • It should be relevant to your degree or future career
  • The placement has to take place outside of the UK
  • It must have policies in place to manage the risk of Covid-19

Common placements include international volunteering, teaching abroad, language courses, summer schools, training courses, or completing work experience. Check out our International Placement page for tips on how to find a placement.

This funding could also be used to support credit-bearing work placement modules.

Placements can take place worldwide

International students are not able to receive funding for a placement in their home country. To manage the risk of Covid-19 your placement will only be approved if the UK Foreign Office are not advising against travel to your destination country.

Who can apply

All full time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply.

If you meet our widening participation criteria, you have two options: apply for Turing funding for an opportunity lasting 28 days or more or apply for 1 of 5 Santander scholarships (£1,100 per student) for an opportunity less than 28 days in duration.

You must be in good academic standing and must not be in debt to Goldsmiths. We will prioritise students who have not received Goldsmiths funding previously.

I would tell other students at Goldsmiths who are thinking of attending a programme in another country to just go for it. The Go Abroad scheme gives disadvantaged students a wonderful opportunity to experience other cultures and institutions, as well as the chance to gain invaluable skills that will complement your academic profile.

Nicola McEvoy, BA Fine Art and History of Art

How to apply

You will be required to write a personal statement.

You must consider your motivations for applying for your specific placement, why you have chosen your host country, your goals, and how your placement will help you in your studies or future career.

Please note that this application to Goldsmiths is solely for funding. You will need to apply for the opportunity separately. You may well need to apply for the opportunity before securing Goldsmiths funding.

Please apply via this online form. Applications close at 11.59pm on 10 April 2023.

Once the deadline has passed the Global Opportunities team will convene a panel who will review all applications. The panel will consider:

  • Eligibility of the placement
  • Motivation for the visit and relevance to your studies and/or future career
  • No previous experience in the receiving country (e.g. not returning to a country of origin)
  • Ability to represent Goldsmiths favourably.

If you are selected, you will have to complete a series of paperwork to secure the funding. The Global Opportunities team will lead you through this.

Funding

Once your application is approved you will be asked to sign a grant agreement to receive your funding. This document confirms the total grant, dates of the mobility, and payment terms. You will receive 80% of the grant before your placement and the remaining 20% upon completion of your placement and of all paperwork.

If your funding application is successful, you will be notified and informed of the specific funding amount you will receive.

The Turing scheme has additional funds available for students with a disadvantaged background. This includes:

  • Students who have a household income of £25,000 or less.
  • Students in receipt of Universal Credit (or other income-related benefits)
  • Students with caring responsibilities
  • Estranged students, and
  • Refugee and asylum seeker students

Funding for these students is to cover costs of additional travel expenses including visas, passports, and health insurance to reduce the challenging costs faced with travelling. These students are also eligible for an additional £110 top-up per month.

Please note you may receive your grant after you have had to pay for your placement. Please let us know if this is an issue and we may be able to contact your placement provider.

Gold Award

To further enhance your experience, you could use your international placement as the main activity towards your Gold Award.

Participating in the placement and attending the pre-departure and reflection sessions would contribute towards achieving the award. Visit the Gold Award page for more information.