Students taking part in the government’s post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme were forced to drop out because places were confirmed too late, while others failed to receive funding until after their return, according to analysis.
The first official analysis of the Turing scheme, which was announced by the then prime minister Boris Johnson and launched in 2021, found that four out of five universities (79%) had difficulties with the application process, which was overly complex, repetitive and “tedious”.
They also complained that the window for applications was too short and even after efforts were made to streamline the process, few thought there was any real improvement.
The number of participants in the first year of the scheme fell short of the government target – just over 20,000, compared with the original aim of 35,000, partly because of the impact of Covid at the time.
The analysis by IFF Research, which focused on the first year of the programme, also found that inadequate funding and problems with delivery had a disproportionate impact on students with fewer resources to fall back on, potentially creating barriers to participation.
It said: “There was a general view that some delivery issues raised had a greater impact on participants from a disadvantaged background and may have created barriers to many participating.
“Providers said that the timing of when application outcomes were confirmed [ie after many participants would have had to commit to their placement] meant some who could not afford the upfront cost or the risk of funding not being available down the line dropped out.
“Likewise, from the participant perspective, many described receiving the funds while already on placement, or even after they had returned.”
