Short-term opportunities
Discover a variety of exciting short-term study abroad experiences, ranging from two to four weeks.
These programmes are an excellent way to enhance your global outlook, build new skills, and immerse yourself in another culture - without committing to a full semester or year abroad. Please note that short-term opportunities are not credit-bearing.
Our opportunities for 2025/26 are currently being finalised. New programmes will be added to this page as details are confirmed by our international partners.
To keep up-to-date with short-term study abroad opportunities, please join the GCU Learn Outgoing Student Organisation.
Upcoming opportunities
Previous opportunities - applications have now closed for 25/26.
Turing Scheme funding
The Turing Scheme is a UK Government funding initiative that supports UK learners studying abroad.
Support for students taking part in short-term study abroad opportunities may be available through the Turing Scheme.
The Turing Scheme prioritises students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might face particular challenges meeting the cost of an international placement.
Funding is limited and subject to availability. Student eligibility will be assessed as part of the application process and confirmed by the International Partnerships Office.
The amount each student can receive depends on the group the destination is in.
Groups are based on an assessment of the general cost of living in those destinations:
- Group 1 – higher cost of living
- Group 2 – lower cost of living
Information on the destinations in each group is available in the list of destinations and grant rates.
Placements for students from non-disadvantaged backgrounds
| Placement duration | Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 to 56 days | £19 per day | £17 per day |
Placements for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
| Placement Duration | Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 to 56 days | £23 per day | £21 per day |
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds can receive extra funding for readiness to travel, travel, and higher rates for living costs in higher education.
Examples of students eligible for extra funding include:
- Someone with an annual household income of £40,000 or less (including parents/guardians)
- Someone who receives Universal Credit or income-related benefits because they are financially supporting themselves/themselves and someone who is dependent on them
- Someone who is estranged from their parents/guardians
- A refugee or asylum seeker
- Someone with experience of being in care or who is a care leaver – including anyone who is or has been in care, or from a looked after background, at any stage of their life
- Carer or have caring responsibilities
- Home address located in SIMD Quintile 1 or 2 zone.
Readiness to travel
Funding to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare to travel, including the costs of:
- Passports
- Visa applications and reasonable associated costs such as translated documents, travel to appointments and police certificates
- Vaccines
- Travel insurance
- Medical certificates
Travel funding
Funding towards the direct costs of travel for HE students from disadvantaged backgrounds, for one return journey to the destination where the placement takes place, including transfers.
Students with Additional Support Needs can apply for extra funding to help with the additional costs linked to taking part in a study abroad programme.
You can apply for funding to help with costs that are linked specifically to your participation, such as:
- Additional travel or accommodation costs
- Specialist equipment or support
If you receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
If you currently receive Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you should not apply for funding for anything that is already covered by DSA.
However, you can still apply for additional support for any costs linked to your placement that are not funded by DSA, such as pre-mobility visits or other placement-specific needs.
While the scheme prioritises widening participation (WP) students, it also aims to maximise overall cohort reach. To ensure as many students as possible benefit, funding will not normally be provided for multiple placements by the same student within a single academic year. Students are therefore eligible for only one Turing Scheme grant per academic year; for example, a student funded for a semester-long exchange will not be eligible for additional funding for a Summer School in the summer.
Additional sources of funding
GCU periodically offers Travel Awards through its scholarships and funding service.
Please see the GCU Scholarships and Funding page for more details.