What funding is available?
The University and other organisations can provide funding that may help you to pay for your Global Opportunities experience.
Making sure the cost of your period abroad is covered is important and requires some careful planning. There are lots of funding opportunities available to study abroad students, both from the University of Liverpool and from other organisations. The information provided on this page is accurate for students going abroad in 2024/25.
The Global Opportunities team aim to check all documents and send your payment to the finance team within 2 weeks of receiving your documentation on Mobility Online. You should then receive your grant payment within the next 3 weeks, so 5 weeks total. If you're a student currently abroad, check Canvas to recap all funding information.
Students applying to take part in a summer 2024 opportunity can join our Global Opportunities Microsoft Teams channel to check the funding available for each specific programme. You can also use our search tool to get further information about each opportunity including eligibility for funding.
Costs to consider
Living costs
The cost of living will vary depending on the country and city you're in. Our search tool includes estimated living costs, including accommodation and food.
Travel
Be sure to factor in the cost of travelling to your chosen destination, which can vary significantly depending on the distance and mode of transport you're using.
Additional university fees
Many universities charge additional fees, most often in the form of compulsory health insurance. For example, in Australia and New Zealand, a certain type of health insurance is a visa requirement. These additional costs can range from £50 to £600, so it's important to do some research before you travel.
Although these cost considerations can seem daunting, it's important to remember there's lots of financial help available from Student Finance, the University and the Turing Scheme. There's further information about financial support for study abroad students in the sections below. You can also attend our Budgeting Basics sessions during Global Opportunities Week to help you plan your finances whilst abroad.
Travel insurance, tuition fees and Student Finance
Travel insurance
The University of Liverpool provides all students with free travel insurance that covers your stay in your host country. You will be covered for:
- Two weeks before you leave
- The duration of your visit or exchange
- Two weeks after you return.
This is the same policy that is used to cover University staff when they travel for business purposes, and is a very comprehensive policy.
Tuition fees
- For home students undertaking a semester abroad, your tuition fees will stay the same
- Home students spending a year abroad will pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,385. You can apply for a tuition fee loan as normal to cover this.
- International students spending a year abroad are entitled to a 50% tuition fee discount
- You won't pay tuition fees to your host university, with the exception of on some summer abroad programmes.
Student Finance maintenance loans
- You can still apply for a maintenance loan if you're studying abroad and should, as a minimum, receive the same amount you would be getting here
- You may be entitled to a slightly higher loan amount while studying abroad. Check the Student Finance webpages for further information.
- You'll still be able to apply for a tuition fee loan as detailed above.
Student Finance England travel grants
Students entitled to support from Student Finance England may be eligible for travel grants to help with the cost of studying abroad, including flights, medical insurance and travel visas.
Please note that students who receive funding via the Turing Scheme will not be eligible for these travel grants.
Liverpool Go Abroad Grant
Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and donors, we're able to provide funding to all students participating in one of our central global opportunities programmes.
These grants are means-tested and awarded as below:
- Students with a household income of £25,000 and under who also meet the University's Widening Participation criteria: £1,000
- Students with a household income of £25,000 and under who don't meet the University's Widening Participation criteria: £750
- Students with a household income of between £25,001 and £35,000: £500
- All other students: £250.
You will get the grant amount you're entitled to once during your studies with us, even if you participate in more than one study abroad programme.
BUTEX scholarships
In addition to the Liverpool Go Abroad Grant or Turing funding, students participating in global opportunities can apply for a BUTEX scholarship. The University of Liverpool is a member of BUTEX, which aims to promote study abroad partnerships between universities in the UK and around the world. Any Liverpool student studying abroad can apply for a £500 BUTEX scholarship. To find out how to apply, visit the BUTEX website.
Turing funding
Turing funding provides a weekly or monthly living costs grant (depending on the length of study abroad placement). Students from households with an income of under £25,000, along with some other eligibility criteria, will also receive funding towards their travel costs. In 2023/24, eligible students were awarded at east £335 per month.
The University will apply for funding on behalf of students, rather than students applying directly. We will then contact all eligible students to confirm details, depending on how much funding we receive.
For 2025/26, the University has agreed to underwrite Turing funding for students who meet at least one of the University's Widening Participation criteria:
- In receipt of the Liverpool Bursary
- In receipt of the Liverpool Scholars Award or Realising Opportunity Bursary
- From a POLAR4 Quintile 1 postcode
- Eligible under the Disrupted Education Programme
- Are care experienced
- Are a young carer for parents/siblings
- Are estranged from family
- Forced migrants
- Are from a Travelling community
- Are from a military family.
This means if we were to be unsuccessful in our bid for funding, the University will provide the equivalent funding that students meeting the above criteria would've received from the Turing Scheme.
If you receive Turing funding, you won't be eligible for the Liverpool Go Abroad Grant or Student Finance travel grants.
Learn more about how Turing funding works on the Turing Scheme website.