Students to benefit from £1.2m grant to travel abroad

Holly Ditchett used the Turing Scheme to travel to Bali in 2023 to volunteer with the North Bali Reef Conservation

Students will have access to "life-changing opportunities" thanks to extra funding, a university manager has said.

Bournemouth University (BU) has been awarded a £1.2m grant for the 2024/25 academic year to send students abroad.

The money, from the UK Turing Scheme, offers students of all levels the chance to undertake exchanges, work placements and volunteer around the world.

Meghan Ellis, from BU, said the scheme was a "vital" way of giving students a "global outlook" during their time at university.

The £1.2m in funding will mean around 500 BU students can go abroad for curricular and extra-curricular activities.

The Turing Scheme, named after the mathematician Alan Turing, is a government programme which the university has previously used for students like Holly Ditchett.

In 2023, she travelled to Bali to volunteer with the North Bali Reef Conservation, an organisation co-founded by former BU PhD student Dr Zach Boakes.

Ms Ditchett explained: “This experience has shown me the value of cross-cultural collaboration and the unique perspectives it brings."

Placements through the scheme last a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 12 months.

James Aram, another BU student, previously used the scheme to fund a marketing placement in Amsterdam.

“It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to grow in ways I never imagined, and has left me with memories and skills that will last a lifetime,” he added.