What funding is available?

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

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.

Please note that the duration of the period before and after your Global Opportunity cannot be longer than 50% of the programme i.e if you are taking part in a summer programme for 4 weeks you will only be covered for 5 days before your start date and 5 days after your end date.

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 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 15% of their normal fee from 2026/27 this will be £1430. 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.

Students who meet the Widening Participation (WP) criteria listed below will receive funding from the University of Liverpool 

WP Flag Criteria 

Students who are in receipt of one of the following bursaries with a household income of £35,000 or less:
- Liverpool Bursary
- Liverpool Scholars Bursary
- Young Adult Carers Bursary
- Care Experienced Bursary
- Estranged Family Bursary
- Migrant Bursary

Students who meet the above WP criteria with a household income of
below £25,000 will be eligible to receive:
£1500 for Year Abroad / Year in China
£1000 for Semester Abroad

Students who meet the above WP criteria with a household income of
£25,001 - £35,000 will be eligible to receive
£1250 for Year Abroad / Year in China
£750 for Semester Abroad

Students who do not meet any of the criteria listed above will not be entitled to any funding from the University of Liverpool

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.

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 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 least £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.

Learn more about how Turing funding works on the Turing Scheme website.