Hundreds of students to be given opportunity to study abroad

Hundreds of Teesside University students are to be given the chance to study, work, or volunteer abroad as a result of increased funding for international opportunities

Teesside University has more than doubled its funding from the Turing Scheme and has received £531,000 to fund over 310 students to travel to more than 20 countries in 2023/24.

The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global programme to study and work abroad. It helps students to study, work, or volunteer in other countries to broaden their horizons.

Two groups of Teesside University students who have already taken advantage of the scheme by attending overseas universities in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates have spoken of the positive impact it had on their studies and their university experience.

Two of the civil engineering students who travelled to Dubai have already been offered jobs in the Emirates. The students were part of a group which worked on a research paper that carried out cutting-edge research on sustainability in building projects. In a reversal of the exchange scheme, students from the UAE will visit Teesside University in September.

The other group of students collaborated in Hong Kong on an immersive VR experience which will be exhibited at Teesside University’s next Animex festival.

Joe Tomlin, a Civil Engineering student from Teesside University said: “I had the great opportunity to visit Dubai. This opportunity helped me experience a different culture and gain more experience. It helped me gain skills and knowledge that I will use when I return.”

Mikey Reed, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming, said: “I’ve had a fantastic opportunity to come to Hong Kong. I’m hoping to have a strong grasp of the culture and make connections with individuals from other parts of the world. I’m extremely thrilled to be here because I want to learn more about different cultures and create some contacts that I can keep throughout my life and utilise to advance in my job.”

Dr Warren Harrison, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), said: “As a global institution, we strive to provide an excellent international student experience through our global connections.

“Internationalisation is woven throughout the student experience in a variety of ways, including the ability to study abroad and work on projects with peers and corporations from all over the world.

“We are delighted to receive this extra funding from the Turing Scheme which will enable our students to get a global perspective while also enriching the student and learning experience.”

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