Essex Abroad
Funding your time abroad
Budgeting and funding your study abroad experience is important, but studying abroad is not necessarily an expensive option. The Essex Abroad team is here to provide support as you consider your budget for your time abroad.
Planning a Budget
It’s worthwhile to note the cost of living in many countries is often lower than the UK (with a few obvious exceptions). We advise students to consider the following when preparing a budget for their time abroad:
· Travel Costs
· Local Travel
· Accommodation
· Food and General Consumables
· Clothes
· Medical Costs
· Holiday Travel/Tourism
· Visa application costs (if applicable)
· Miscellaneous items
www.numbeo.com is a great place to start researching the average cost of living in certain countries!
Tuition Fees
The University of Essex is one of very few UK universities that won’t charge you tuition fees during your full year abroad! Students who go on a full academic year abroad at one of our partner universities will receive a tuition waiver at their host university (applicable for study abroad students). For students spending only one term abroad, tuition fees are payable to the University of Essex, but no tuition fees are payable to the host university.
Student Finance England – Maintenance Loan
Most students continue to be eligible for any funding you would normally receive from Student Finance England, including the Maintenance Loan. For 2015-2016 students were eligible to apply for a Maintenance Loan of up to £6,820.00. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/loans-and-grants
Similar arrangements are in place for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish students who are receiving support from their national funding councils.
Student Finance England – Travel Grant
You may be eligible for a travel grant to cover some of your travel expenses if you normally live in England and you’re studying abroad as part of your course, or on an ERASMUS+ study or work placement.
There are rules on eligibility and how much you’ll get, but unlike a Student Loan you don’t have to pay back a travel grant. www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england. You can apply for:
· Up to 3 return journeys between your home and the overseas institutions during a full academic year abroad.
· Help with essential expenses such as medical insurance and travel visas
Similar arrangements are in place for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish students who are receiving support from their national funding councils.
External Scholarships and additional funding
In addition to the funding opportunities listed above, there are other scholarships, grants and bursaries for which you can apply to support yourself during your time abroad. Funding may come from embassies, cultural and language centres, charities or trusts, or commercial enterprises and Essex Abroad strongly encourages you to search for and apply for any external scholarships for which you may be eligible. We have a list on the Essex Abroad website, but please note that this list is not all-encompassing and you should continue to identify additional options.
University of Essex Scholarships and Bursaries for International Activities
ERASMUS+ Grant - Europe
The European Commission’s flagship programme, ERASMUS+, generously provides funding for students of any nationality, who are studying (3-12 months in duration) or undertaking a traineeship (2-12 months in duration) within the ERASMUS+ zone in Europe. No application is required; student will be notified if they are eligible.
Value for 2015/16: Up to €250-300 per month*
*Please note that this can change yearly and is just to be used as an indication. Additional support available for Widening Participation students.
ERASMUS+ Grant – outside of Europe
The European Commission flagship programme for Erasmus+ outside of Europe has now started. The University of Essex can now offer a limited number of Erasmus grants to students visiting selected partner institutions in Uruguay, Argentina, Canada, USA, Macao and Israel. No application is required; students will be notified if they are eligible.
Banco Santander Scholarship
For eligible students studying abroad in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, UAE. Uruguay, USA, Venezuela. Allocated based on students first year grade average. No application is required; student will be notified if they are eligible.
Value: Up to £1500.00 per year
Essex Abroad Bursary
Students visiting selected partner institutions in Mexico, Botswana, New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam will be considered for this bursary. The bursary will be allocated to students with the highest grade average over their first and second year, no application is required.
Value: Up to £1000 per year
University of Essex International Experience Bursary
Students who are UK citizens and participating in a 4-12 week programme abroad over the summer are eligible to apply for the International Experience Bursary. Students are required to apply for the International Experience Bursary.
Value: Up to £750-£1000 per year
Travel Grants
The following travel grants require an application:
National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Travel Grant
The grant will be available annually to full-time students following programmes of study leading to first or higher degrees of the University of Essex - http://www.essex.ac.uk/essexabroad/study/funding.aspx
Value: £75.00
Blomfield Memorial Travel Grants
These travel grants are awarded to full-time students following programmes of study leading to first or higher degrees of the University of Essex – http://www.essex.ac.uk/essexabroad/study/funding.aspx
Value: £1000
Sir Eric Berthoud Travel Grants
These travel grants are awarded to full-time students following programmes of study leading to first or higher degrees of the University of Essex - http://www.essex.ac.uk/essexabroad/study/funding.aspx
Value: £175.00
Essex Rotary University Travel Grants
These travel grants are awarded to full-time undergraduates of the University who submit the most interesting proposals for spending time abroad -http://www.essex.ac.uk/essexabroad/study/funding.aspx
Value: £300.00
These funding opportunities are not guaranteed and can change each academic year so please be aware of what is available when applying and do not rely on any additional funding.