There are a range of bursaries and grants which you can access to support your period abroad, to assist with travel costs, accommodation fees and general day-to-day expenses. The funding available will depend on where you are going and the duration of your time abroad. Full details of each bursary can be found below. Please note that bursary amounts may vary each year.
Year or Semester Abroad Funding
Students abroad in 2022/23 can apply for any or all of the following bursaries (but you can only be awarded ONE). All bursaries are subject to availability and a successful year/semester abroad application:
Erasmus KA103 bursary - for Erasmus participant countries
For students studying or working in EU member states and Erasmus participating countries
Grant rate varies by host country and placement type
Study placements must be at least 90 days duration, work placements must be at least 60 days duration.
Enhanced bursary rates for eligible students as assessed against the WP criteria described below
Full details of funding eligibility and restrictions as per handbook provided by UK National Agency
Erasmus KA107 bursary
For students studying at University of Houston (up to 10 full year students). Study placements must be at least 90 days duration.
Full details of funding eligibility and restrictions as per handbook provided by UK National Agency
Turing programme bursary
For students studying or working abroad for 4 weeks to 12 months.
Enhanced bursary rates for eligible students as assessed against the WP criteria described below
External funding
Such as the BAFTX scholarship, David and Christopher Lewis Foundation Bursary or Florence & Don McGregor Bursary. Additional criteria applies, priority is given to widening participation students.
The Go Global team will check all students’ eligibility for widening participation (WP) supplements. If you are eligible to receive WP funding and abroad in 2022/23, you can also apply for:
Widening Participation supplement
integrated into Erasmus KA103 and Turing grant rates detailed above.
Eligibility criteria for widening participation supplements
Widening Participation supplement criteria
To be considered for additional WP funding or an enhanced bursary rate where applicable, students abroad in 2022/23 must meet at least one of the following criteria. This criteria is checked against existing University systems and records.
Annual household income of less than £25,000* (checked against 22/23 Student Finance application or NHS Bursary Application, based on family household income. Consent to share must have been granted as part of the Student Finance application)
- Care Leaver status
- Care Giver status
- Estranged student status
- Refugee status
- Asylum seeker status
- First generation of your family to attend university (only applies to KA103 Erasmus funding)
*increases to £30,000 for Erasmus KA103
Different funding streams may assess different WP criteria
Summer Programme Funding
All summer programmes are offered subject to full travel approval. Students will be required to complete the university’s international travel approval process in order to participate in summer programmes and receive any associated funding. Swansea University’s travel cover is in place for students whose travel plans have been approved by the university. However, Swansea University’s travel cover does not cover any disruption arising out of Covid-19. Students are therefore responsible for any potential financial loss resulting from disruption caused by Covid-19. For full details of the University’s travel cover, please visit https://myuni.swansea.ac.uk/finance/insurance-information/travel-cover/.
Students enrolled at Swansea University can apply for funding through the Go Global team. The total amount of funding awarded to a student cannot exceed the total cost of participation. The cost of participation accounts for the programme costs plus additional costs such as flights and accommodation. All programme costs are subject to change and increases. Funding is available to all students enrolled at Swansea University, excluding final year UG students unless continuing to PG study. Additional funding is available for WP students*.
There are a number of bursaries available, listed below, and students may be awarded one or more bursaries. To apply for funding, download the Go Global Funding Application Form, complete and return to studyabroad@swansea.ac.uk. Please note, funding is limited, subject to change and subject to full travel approval being granted.
Taith bursary – open to all students
- All activity needs to be completed before 31 August 2023
- Programme must be a minimum 2 weeks duration
- Eligible destinations: Fiji, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Spain, France, Germany
- Priority will be given to Widening Participation students.
- Enhanced bursary rate and a travel grant are available for Widening Participation students.
- If you are awarded Taith funding, you cannot be awarded Turing Scheme funding also
Turing Scheme - open to all students
- All activity needs to be completed before 31 August 2023
- Programme must be a minimum 4 weeks duration
- In-person programmes only
- Eligible countries: Fiji, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong
- Bursary rate dependent on destination and duration of programme
- Travel grant available for Widening Participation students
- If you are awarded Turing Scheme funding, you cannot be awarded Taith funding also
Santander - open to all students - £500 bursary
- All destinations are eligible for funding
- Priority will be given to Widening Participation students
- Additional WP criteria for Santander includes if this will be your first international experience or first professional experience
- You can apply via the Santander Becas portal (you will need to register with your Swansea University email address)
David and Christopher Lewis Foundation - open to all students - up to £2000
- Eligible destinations: China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore
- In-person programmes only
- Programme must be a minimum 4 weeks duration
Florence and Don McGregor Bursary - open to all students - up to £2000
- Eligible destinations: Asia
- In-person programmes only
- Programme must be a minimum 4 weeks duration
Go Global Bursary
- Total amount awarded will be depend on your programme cost, programme duration and WP status
- x30 bursaries of £250 available
- x30 bursaries of £500 available
- x30 bursaries of £1000 available
- x30 bursaries of £1500 available
- Virtual programmes are also eligible for funding
Widening Participation criteria
- annual household income of £25,000 or less (rising to £30,000 for Go Global bursaries)
- students receiving Universal Credit or income-related benefits (for Taith and Turing only)
- care leavers and care experienced students
- care givers (excludes Taith)
- estranged students.
- refugees and asylum seekers.
- first international or professional experience (for Santander only)
Eligibility
- Students must be enrolled at Swansea University
- Students cannot be in the final year of study
- Postgraduate students can apply for funding but must provide evidence that their academic supervisor approves of their participation.
Tuition Fees, Student Loans and Travel Grants
Tuition Fees
If you are spending a year abroad as part of your degree, then you will pay a reduced rate of your usual tuition fees to Swansea University for that year (15% for study placements and 20% for year in industry placements). If you are spending a semester abroad, you will pay your usual tuition fees to Swansea University. Visit https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/ for current rates
Student Loans
You can still apply for your student loan as normal through the relevant Student Loan Company. It is important that you are enrolled on the correct degree scheme which reflects your year or semester abroad, and that you inform your Student Loan Company that you are going abroad. You may be asked to submit a course abroad form, which the Go Global team can sign and stamp for you. it is your responsibility to apply for any loans and grants.
Travel Grants
If you currently receive finance through Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland and plan to during your year/semester abroad, you may able to apply for a reimbursement of your travel expenses for your time abroad. Please follow the relevant links below for further information and application details. If you are eligible, please note that this reimbursement is not paid for by Swansea University, the Go Global team are simply directing you to this information. If you have any further questions, please contact your Local Authority.
Student Finance Wales
Student Finance England
Student Awards Agency Scotland
Student Finance Northern Ireland
College Field Trips and Medical Electives
Swansea University currently has restrictions in place regarding international travel. Please contact your college for further information.
External funding sources
BUTEX Scholarship - deadline to apply: 31st July 2022
BUTEX awards a number of scholarships to students studying abroad for either a semester or a full academic year.
The value of each scholarship is £500. This will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university, or confirmation of a placement already completed has been received.
BUTEX will also make a special award in honour of their late Treasurer, the Tony Emmerson Award. This scholarship will be awarded in the event of an American Studies student being successful in the competition. This award will also be for £500.
To be eligible to apply:
You must have been offered, or already completed, a study abroad or exchange placement
Your study abroad or exchange placement takes place in the calendar year in which you apply
Your placement must be for either one semester or one year
You must be enrolled in your undergraduate course when you apply for, and receive a scholarship. Once students graduate they are not eligible to receive a scholarship
Having a UK bank account may be required as part of the scholarship payment process
How to apply:
The theme is: What were the three top challenges preparing for or during your time abroad and how did you/do you plan to overcome them?
You can either:
- Design a poster
- Upload a YouTube Vlog
- Write a blog
Further details regarding how to apply and eligibility criteria can be found on the BUTEX Scholarship website: https://butex.ac.uk/scholarships/
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) - $5,238
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) was established to help provide financial assistance and educational opportunities to academically-gifted students in the United Kingdom and the United States. It offers a dedicated scholarship programme to Swansea University students participating in the university's reciprocal exchange programme with Texas A&M University in 2022/23. It is only available for students who are studying STEM or Business subjects and who can demonstrate academic excellence and financial hardship.
For Swansea students studying abroad in the 2022/23 academic year BAFTX is offering:
- 4 Scholarships each worth $5,238 (US Dollars) for students participating in reciprocal exchange with Texas A&M University
- Scholarships must be used to cover costs directly associated with study abroad (e.g. tuition fees, visas, travel, accommodation, books and insurance)
The closing date for BAFTX applications is March 31st and you will be invited to a dedicated online session to guide you through the application process in due course. For more information and including a link to the application form, please visit: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/texas/student-mobility/baftx/
The exact value of the Scholarship in £GBP will depend on the exchange rate at the time the funds are received from BAFTX.