Funding

Paris scene

Tuition fees

Students do not pay additional tuition fees to the host institution when studying abroad at an exchange partner institution.

Semester Abroad Fees

If you Study Abroad for part of the year (semester 1 or 2 ) the full tuition fee is payable to the University of Reading, as normal.

Year Abroad Fees (2026/7 and 2027/8)

If you study and/or work abroad for a full year (optional or compulsory), a discounted fee of 15% of the standard tuition fee is payable to the University of Reading for the year abroad (Home or International). No tuition fee is paid to the host University abroad. This applies only to situations where the full year is spent abroad.

This 15% discount is also available to students who study at the University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) in the second year of their three-year degree.

Summer School Fees

You do not pay tuition fees to the partner institution if studying abroad at one of the partners listed on the Summer School webpages.

Grants and Bursaries

A range of grants and bursaries are potentially available, depending on where you are studying, and whether you meet eligibility criteria. Funding might be competitive:

Turing Scheme 2026/7

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s global programme to support study and work abroad.

Turing can support international mobilities taking place between 01 September 2026 and 31 August 2027.

  • Minimum duration: 14 days
  • Maximum duration: 365 days

Funding levels depend on country, and duration.

Please note:

  • Turing Scheme funding is not guaranteed – it is a competitive process.
  • The allocation of Turing funding must prioritise Turing priority groups – the Study Abroad Office will be in contact with eligible students regarding application details and any further requirements.
  • The levels of funding and terms and conditions of any funding award is determined by the Turing Scheme not the University of Reading.
  • Students from households with annual income of under £35k could be eligible to be considered for a higher grant rate and contribution to costs of flights / travel.
  • Students will need to apply for funding to the Study Abroad Office, not the Turing Scheme. Details will be supplied on request, or direct to students known by the Study Abroad Office to be studying or working abroad.

Important: The UK Government has confirmed that there will be no Turing Scheme after AY 2026/7. Rather, eligible UK HEIs will be permitted to apply for Erasmus+ funding, which will primarily focus on supporting study and/or work placements to Europe. Details to follow.

Please contact the Study Abroad Office via studyabroad@reading.ac.uk for more information .

Erasmus+ (AY 2027/8 onwards)

UK universities that are awarded the European Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) will be permitted to apply for Erasmus+ funds that could support future mobilities from the UK to Europe from June 2027 onwards. ECHE application results are expected to be confirmed in October / November 2026. Details about funding opportunities for UoR students studying or working abroad for a semester or a year in AY 2027/8 will be published, once available.

Green Mobility travel grant

The Study Abroad Office will offer 20 x £300 (maximum) travel grants to students who study abroad in Europe and who travel to and from their study abroad destination using an environmentally friendly mode of travel (e.g., train, bus and / or ferry rather than fly).

The aim is to encourage students to choose more sustainable forms of international travel thereby helping to reduce CO₂ emissions incurred through participation. The Green Mobility travel grants do not include daily ion-country commutes to your host institution / organisation.

Funding is available for students planning to study / work abroad in Europe in either AY 2026/7, summer 2027, or AY 2027/8.  

To be eligible, students must be:

  • a full time University of Reading student
  • studying / working abroad in Europe for a minimum of 14-days (in AY 2026/7)
  • not claiming travel expenses from another source (i.e. no double claims).

The Study Abroad Office will liaise with eligible students direct about application details, and terms and conditions, post allocation of host institution.

University of Reading Placement Bursary

The Placement Bursary intends to support eligible students with additional costs associated with undertaking a placement or Study Abroad programme.

For information about the bursary, please refer to the Placement Bursary Page.

Please note that you cannot normally be in receipt of both a Placement Bursary and Turing funds if they are to cover the same costs.

Student Finance Study Abroad Funding and Travel Grant

During the period that you are abroad you could continue to receive funding which you might normally receive whilst you are at Reading, including via Student Finance. For further information please read

Student Finance have a video which explains a little more about what is available and what to do.

Additional Travel grants are also available to eligible full-time students who are studying abroad as part of their degree. All queries regarding eligibility should be directed to Student Finance; all reimbursements are at the discretion of the relevant Student Finance company.

NB: the responsibility for completing any relevant forms and for notifying the relevant Student Finance authority (e.g. England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) remains with the participant and not the University of Reading. The University of Reading cannot confirm if the relevant Student Finance company will accept any particular expense claims or not; as such students are advised to check any arrangements with their Student Finance company directly if they are unsure.

Julia Boorman Award (SEND students)

The Award intends to support disabled students from Theatre Arts or History to help with additional costs associated with undertaking travel abroad in connection with their programme of study. Please see Julia Boorman Award website for more information.

Other funding sources

Links shared for information purposes only. The Study Abroad Office has no responsibility or liability for these external funding awards. Please read information carefully if you decide to apply.

BUTEX

There are also eight scholarships available for undergraduate students currently registered at a UK University through BUTEX (British Transnational Exchange Association). To be eligible to apply you must have been offered a place as a Study Abroad or exchange student in a USA or Canadian university. Full details can be found on the BUTEX website. Any eligible student applying for a BUTEX scholarship is requested to inform the Study Abroad team in advance of any application.

BUNAC

Students who will be studying in the USA are also encouraged to apply for BEST Travel Award. The Travel Award will consist of an award of $1,000 to be used towards the cost of travel to the USA and is provided by BUNAC (British Universities North America Club). Further information can be found on the BUNAC website.

John Spean Language Scholarship

The John Speak Languages Scholarship offers funding to support travel overseas to British Citizens aged 18+ who will study a language. Further information can be found from the John Speak Language Trust website.

Ann Dodgson Foundation

Specifically aimed at advancing the education of young people in the subject of France – its people, its language, its history and its culture. Further information can be found at the Ann Dodgson Foundation website.

Insurance

Students who Study Abroad as part of their degree programme can be covered by the University of Reading’s Insurance policy for the duration of their study period. This coverage is for legitimate academic and living activity; for non-academic activities you may need to get extra additional insurance.

See the University Insurance guide (under ‘Business travel’ section) for more information. Reading will provide students with comprehensive details of the Insurance coverage prior to departure.

Many universities insist that students purchase their mandatory insurance coverage in order to join their Study Abroad Programme – particularly outside of Europe. This is certainly applicable for most partnerships in Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and the USA. Please make sure you are fully aware of any possible insurance related charges when considering possible destinations.

Further information about the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can be found on the GOV.UK website .

Additional Costs

This depends on country, and institution. However you should expect to pay for:

  • services which you would normally expect to pay for at Reading e.g. housing, food, travel, social activities etc.
  • entry / study visa to host country
  • insurance – most non-European universities insist that exchange students take out their mandatory insurance coverage in order to join their Study Abroad Programme. Eligible students might be able to retrospectively recoup some / all of the costs incurred for the Mandatory Medical Insurance claim from their Student Finance Authority (via the Student Finance Travel Grant).
  • a small application charge – details will be noted on the partner’s website (although this is very rare).
  • additional small charges not covered by the tuition fee waiver – e.g. Art consumables etc.  This should be comparable to what you would expect to pay if studying at the University of Reading.

Your host institution should advise you of any additional charges or costs to be incurred.