RVC International Experience Scheme (IES) - 2022-23
The RVC International Experience Scheme (IES) is funded by the Turing Scheme.
The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. It supports Global Britain by providing an opportunity for UK organisations from the higher education, further education, vocational education and training and schools sectors to offer their students, learners and pupils life-changing experiences to study or work abroad.
The IES is open to RVC students and is supporting the following strands for 2022-23. Click here for more information.
1. UG Bioscience placement year
2. Semester abroad in Singapore for Bioscience
3. UG clinical placements in Hong Kong
4. UG clinical placements in Singapore
5. UG clinical placements in Canada
6. UG clinical placements in United States
7. PG clinical placement in France
8. PG clinical placements in United States
9. PG clinical placement in the Norway
10. UG Research placements (May 2023 start)
Students undertaking an overseas (outside of UK) in person study, work, volunteering or research opportunity of more than four weeks in duration, are eligible to apply for a Turing Scheme grant:
- Funding is available from £480.00 per month for 4 to 8 weeks, or from £335.00 per month for 9 weeks to 12 months
- Additional funding is available to students who meet the personal circumstances criteria
These rates are set by the Turing Scheme and could be higher depending on the destination - click here for more information
Please read the information provided below including our application process, and note our application deadlines:
14th November 2022 30th January 2023 2nd May 2023
ELIGIBILITY AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
To take part in a Turing Scheme mobility, participants must be:
- Registered at a UK or British Overseas Territories HE provider and enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree or another recognised tertiary level qualification (up to and including the level of doctorate)
- Recent HE graduates, who may participate in a traineeship and must carry out and complete their traineeship abroad within 12 months of graduating. Graduates do not need to be selected before they graduate Participants do not need to be UK nationals to be eligible for the scheme. For those participants under the age of 18, appropriate safeguarding rules must be adhered to.
Mobilities:
- HE students can undertake both study and work placements abroad. These placements can last for a minimum of four weeks (28 calendar days) up to a maximum of twelve months
- Turing Scheme funding is only available to students undertaking a placement in person in their host country, outside of the UK.
- It is not available to students undertaking a placement remotely from their home country.
- Placements must be through a host university or host organisation. Funding cannot be used for self-directed trips, general travel or independent research.
- Funding is provided as a lump sum based on the duration of placement as stated in the confirmation of placement formLink opens in a new window
- Funding is available to all full time RVC students, regardless of nationality
- A completed risk assessment must be submitted prior to travel and following approval of the placement
- Students are responsible for checking that they have sufficient insurance cover for the full duration of their trip
HOW TO APPLY
BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION FORM you must arrange for completion and signing of the following forms which you will upload on your application:
- Confirmation of Placement Form
- Grant Agreement Form
A physical or electronic signature is required, a typed name is not sufficient
THEN - Complete your Application Form where you will submit together with forms 1 and 2, as well as proof of travel booking.
- Send your documents to turing@rvc.ac.uk
- Submit your bank details to Finance using this online form
WHAT FUNDING WILL I RECEIVE?
TURING SCHEME GRANT RATES FOR 2022/2023 Country | One off payment for a total duration of 4 to 8 weeks |
One off payment available from 9 weeks to 12 months |
Group 1: Programme Countries with higher living costs American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North America (not otherwise specified), Papa New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela |
£545 per month |
£380 per month equal to £95.00 per week for Group 1 |
Group 2: Programme Countries with medium living costs Group 3: Programme Countries with lower living costs (any other country) |
£480 per month |
£335 per month equal to £83.75 per week for Groups 2 & 3 |
ADDITIONAL FUNDING AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO MEET THE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES CRITERIA |
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Group 1: Programme Countries with higher living costs | £655 per month equal to £163.75 per week for Group 1 |
£490 per month equal to £122.50 per week for Group 1 |
Group 2: Programme Countries with medium living costs Group 3: Programme Countries with lower living costs (any other country) |
£590 per month equal to £147.50 per week for Groups 2 & 3 |
£445 per month equal to £111.25 per week for Groups 2 & 3 |
An amount of funding will be provided to go towards the direct costs of travel for a placement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds only |
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This will be dependent on distance between the host and destination provider and will support the cost of the round trip. All amounts available have been listed in this here. Please use Google Maps to calculate distance. You will need to follow the below steps: 1. Right-click on your starting location 2. Choose ‘Measure distance’ Click on destination to create a path to measure. |
10 to 99km 100 to 499km 500 to 1,999km 2,000 to 2,999km 3,000 to 3,999km 4,000 to 7,999km 8,000 to 12,000km 12,000km+ |
£20 £165 £250 £325 £480 £745 £905 £1,360 |
IES will also consider financial assistance towards exceptional costs in relation to travel e.g. passport, insurance, visas. |
Click here for additional information and rates
ADDITIONAL FUNDING CRITERIA
Students who meet one or more of the following criteria, as specified by the Turing Scheme, are eligible to be considered for additional IES funding, to support with travel costs, and an increased grant to support cost of living expenses:
- Students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less
- Students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner.
- Care leavers and students who are care-experienced. This refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after or those who access the Care Experienced Bursary in Scotland.
- Students who have caring responsibilities. Caring responsibilities refers to a child or young person up to the age of 25 who provides (unpaid) care or intends to provide care for another person in, or outside of, the family home for someone who is physically or mentally ill, disabled, or misusing drugs or alcohol.
- Estranged Students where neither of the students’ parents can be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them.
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Students who have completed the RVC Gateway programme
- Students who have attended the RVC Sutton Trust Summer School
If you believe that you are eligible for additional funding because you meet one or more of the above criteria, please indicate this via the tick boxes on the IES application form.
Students must be able and prepared to evidence their eligibility for the criteria.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RATES
Cost of living
An amount of funding will be provided to contribute towards the general cost of living for each participant.
Destination countries are grouped into three categories: Group 1 (high cost of living), Group 2 (medium cost of living), Group 3 (lower cost of living).
The rates that will be provided have been outlined below. The full list of destination countries within each group is available on the Turing Scheme website.
HE student placements of four to eight weeks will receive:
- £545 per month (equal to £136.25 per week for Group 1 destinations)
- £480 per month (equal to £120 per week for Group 2 and 3 destinations)
HE student placements of nine weeks to 12 months will receive:
- £380 per month (for Group 1 destinations)
- £335 per month (for Group 2 and three destinations)
Additional support for participants from disadvantaged backgrounds
Participants meeting the disadvantaged background criteria from less advantaged backgrounds on an HE placement will receive an additional £110 per month to their cost of living grant. As such, the total cost of living grant funding provided to students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be:
For placements of two weeks to eight weeks:
- £163.50 per week (to Group 1 countries)
- £147.50 per week (to Group 2 and 3 countries)
For placements of nine weeks to 12 months:
- £490 per month (to Group 1 countries)
- £445 per month (to Group 2 and 3 countries)
An amount of funding will be provided to go towards the direct costs of travel for a placement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds only.
This will be dependent on distance between the host and destination provider and will support the cost of the round trip. All amounts available have been outlined below:
- 10 to 99km: £20
- 100 to 499km: £165
- 500 to 1,999km: £250
- 2,000 to 2,999km: £325
- 3,000 to 3,999km: £480
- 4,000 to 7,999km: £745
- 8,000 to 12,000km: £905
- 12,000km+: £1,360
Please use Google Maps to calculate distance. You will need to follow the below steps:
1. Right-click on your starting location
2. Choose ‘Measure distance’
3. Click on your destination to create a path to measure.
The scheme will also provide financial assistance towards exceptionally expensive travel.
This funding is specifically to support expensive travel if applicants can justify that the standard funding for travel under the Turing Scheme does not cover at least 80% of the travel costs of participants.
Assessors will reduce the expensive travel cost claim if the request is considered too large or a clear justification has not been provided. Applicants must therefore provide a detailed justification and breakdown of their claim in the application form.
Participants from less advantaged backgrounds can also be considered for funding in relation to exceptional costs.
Exceptional costs are calculated on an actual cost basis and are specifically for any additional costs incurred to support the participation of disadvantaged participants.
Funding covers costs such as passports/visa/insurance/appropriate clothes/luggage as necessary. For HE students who do not meet the above criteria for additional support, there may be other grants available to cover some travel expenses, depending on the normal place of home:
- England - https://www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england
- Scotland - https://www.saas.gov.uk/guides/funding-guide
- Wales - https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/new-students/what-financial-support-is-available/travel-grant.aspx
- Northern Ireland - https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/spending-part-your-degree-course-abroad
- Participants from British Overseas Territories should check with their government’s education department for the details of support available to them
Additional support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
The term SEND refers to learners with special educational needs (SEN), including those whose SEN arise because they have a long-term disability that has a substantial and long term effect on the ability to do normal everyday tasks or are in receipt of Disabled Student Allowance. This would include learners who identify as having a disability, special needs or a medical condition as categorised below:
- social/communication impairment such as Asperger's syndrome/other autistic spectrum disorder
- blind or have a serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses
- deaf or have a serious hearing impairment
- a long standing illness or health condition such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, chronic heart disease, or epilepsy
- mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorder
- specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or AD(H)D
- physical impairment or mobility issues, such as difficulty using limbs or using a wheelchair or crutches
- disability, impairment or medical condition that is not listed above
For participants with SEND, the Turing Scheme will fund up to 100% of actual costs for support directly related to their additional needs. This can also be used to cover pre-mobility visits by the sending organisations to carry out risk assessments and ensure participants will be able to equally access and take part in all elements of a placement. Pre-visits can be for a maximum duration of three days, and funding can be used for both learners and accompanying staff. Pre-visits are not available for any other purpose.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Application Forms shall be processed after the following deadlines for submission:
- The application deadline is 14th November 2022
- The application deadline is 30th January 2023
- The application deadline is 2nd May 2023
- It is anticipated you shall receive funds within 30 days of the relevant submission deadline.
- All payments shall be made in GBP Sterling
CONTACT US
If you have any questions, please get in touch at turing@rvc.ac.uk
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
RVC Emergency numbers:
+44 (0) 20 7387 8134
+44 (0) 1707 669900 (out-of-hours)
RVC Advice Centre - Monday – Friday 9:00-17:00 (GMT)
Email: advice@rvc.ac.uk Telephone:020 8051 3500
RVC Report + Support
RVC Travel Policy and Risk Assessment
Students are responsible for checking that they have sufficient insurance cover for the full duration of their trip.
British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
Local students should contact their British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in an emergency. If you are not a British National, you can contact your local embassy to see what support they can offer you in an emergency.