There are a range of bursaries and grants which you can access to support your period abroad, to assist with travel costs, accommodation fees and general day-to-day expenses. The funding available will depend on where you are going and the duration of your time abroad. Full details of each bursary can be found below. Please note that bursary amounts may vary each year.
Funding and Finance for global opportunities
Year or Semester Abroad Funding
You can apply for any or all of the following bursaries (but you can only be awarded ONE). All bursaries are subject to availability and a successful year/semester abroad application:
Erasmus KA103 bursary - for Erasmus participant countries
For students studying or working in EU member states and Erasmus participating countries
Grant rate varies by host country and placement type
Study placements must be at least 90 days duration, work placements must be at least 60 days duration.
Enhanced bursary rates for eligible students as assessed against the WP criteria described below
Full details of funding eligibility and restrictions as per handbook provided by UK National Agency
Erasmus KA107 bursary
For students studying at University of Houston (up to 10 full year students). Study placements must be at least 90 days duration.
Full details of funding eligibility and restrictions as per handbook provided by UK National Agency
Turing programme bursary
For students studying or working abroad for 4 weeks to 12 months.
Enhanced bursary rates for eligible students as assessed against the WP criteria described below
Global Opportunities Bursary
Students studying at one of our non-Erasmus partners are entitled to apply for this bursary (excluding Texas, see below)
£1000 (payable in 2 instalments, £750 plus £250)
Texas Strategic Partnership (TSP) Bursary
Students studying at one of the Texas partner universities
£1200 (payable in 2 instalments, £900 plus £300)
The Go Global team will check all students’ eligibility for widening participation (WP) supplements. If you are eligible to receive WP funding, you can also apply for either:
Widening Participation supplement
integrated into Erasmus KA103 and Turing grant rates
or additional bursary alongside any of the bursaries detailed above.
or
Santander WP supplement
Additional bursary alongside any of the bursaries detailed above
Competitive, limited funding.
Eligibility criteria for widening participation supplements
Widening Participation supplement criteria
To be considered for additional WP funding or an enhanced bursary rate where applicable, students must meet at least one of the following criteria. This criteria is checked against existing University systems and records.
Annual household income of less than £25,000* (checked against 21/22 Student Finance application or NHS Bursary Application, based on family household income. Consent to share must have been granted as part of the Student Finance application)
Care Leaver status
Care Giver status
Estranged student status
Refugee status
Asylum seeker status
First generation of your family to attend university
First international experience (for Santander WP supplement)
First professional/graduate level work experience (for Santander WP supplement)
*increases to £30,000 for Erasmus, Global Opportunities and Texas Strategic Partnership Bursaries
Tuition Fees, Student Loans and Travel Grants
Tuition Fees
If you are spending a year abroad as part of your degree, then you will pay a reduced rate of your usual tuition fees to Swansea University for that year (15% for study placements and 20% for year in industry placements). If you are spending a semester abroad, you will pay your usual tuition fees to Swansea University. Visit https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/ for current rates
Student Loans
You can still apply for your student loan as normal through the relevant Student Loan Company. It is important that you are enrolled on the correct degree scheme which reflects your year or semester abroad, and that you inform your Student Loan Company that you are going abroad. You may be asked to submit a course abroad form, which the Go Global team can sign and stamp for you. it is your responsibility to apply for any loans and grants.
Travel Grants
If you currently receive finance through Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland and plan to during your year/semester abroad, you may able to apply for a reimbursement of your travel expenses for your time abroad. Please follow the relevant links below for further information and application details. If you are eligible, please note that this reimbursement is not paid for by Swansea University, the Go Global team are simply directing you to this information. If you have any further questions, please contact your Local Authority.
Student Finance Wales
Student Finance England
Student Awards Agency Scotland
Student Finance Northern Ireland
College Field Trips and Medical Electives
Swansea University currently has restrictions in place regarding international travel. Please contact your college for further information.
External funding sources
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) - $5,238
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) was established to help provide financial assistance and educational opportunities to academically-gifted students in the United Kingdom and the United States. It offers a dedicated scholarship programme to Swansea University students participating in the university's reciprocal exchange programme with Texas A&M University in 2021/22. It is only available for students who are studying STEM or Business subjects and who can demonstrate academic excellence and financial hardship. The closing date for BAFTX applications is March 31st and you will be invited to a dedicated online session to guide you through the application process in due course. For more information and including a link to the application form, please visit: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/texas/student-mobility/baftx/
BUTEX Scholarship - https://www.butex.ac.uk/scholarships/ £500
The closing date for applications is 31 July 2021.
Each year BUTEX awards a number of scholarships to students studying abroad for either a semester or for a whole academic year. The value of each scholarship is £500 and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university. BUTEX will also make a special award in honour of our late Treasurer, the Tony Emmerson Award. This scholarship will be awarded in the event of an American Studies student being successful in the competition. This award will also be for £500.
Applications for students studying abroad during academic year 2021/22 are now open. To be eligible to apply students:
- Must have been offered a study abroad or exchange place.
- Their study abroad or exchange placement must be for the UK academic year 2021 / 2022 i.e. studies should fall between July 2021 and August 2022.
- The exchange place must be for either one semester or one year.