The Department for Education has unveiled its new educational exchange scheme, called Turing, which will replace the European UnionÔÇÖs Erasmus programme.┬á
With the UK having formally left the European Union (EU) last year, British students are no longer permitted to join Erasmus. 
The replacement scheme is named after British mathematician Alan Turing, who was an integral part of the UKÔÇÖs code-breaking efforts during the Second World War.┬á
Turing will ÔÇ£enable up to 35,000 students throughout the UK to work or study across the globeÔÇØ, said the universities minister, Michelle Donelan.┬á
The UK could have continued to participate in Erasmus post-Brexit but choose not to do so. 
How do the schemes compare?
The aim of the new scheme is to provide funding towards international placements and education exchanges. 
Unlike the Erasmus scheme, which is EU-focused but has partner institutions as far away as Mexico, the Turing programme aims to be a global replacement.
ItÔÇÖs not just university students who are eligible, either. Those who find themselves in vocational training, an apprenticeship, or those retraining at a college or school are eligible.
The UK Government will provide grants to help cover travel expenses and living costs. How much is paid will depend on where students are going, and for how long.
However, different to Erasmus, the government will not pay tuition fees for UK students that are studying elsewhere, nor will it cover the cost of students studying in the UK. Instead, the UK Government expects fees to be waived by the partner universities that choose to take part. 
ThereÔÇÖs a large focus on providing opportunities for disadvantaged students, too. Turing aims to help disadvantaged students with expenses associated with the exchange, again dependent on where and for how long they are travelling for.┬á
So far, more than £100m has been allocated to support 35,000 students, but no funding has been guaranteed after the first year. 
End of the line for Welsh students
Kirsty Williams, the Welsh Education Minister, had previously expressed an intent for Welsh students to continue accessing the scheme, though this proposal was rejected by EU leaders. 
Scottish ministers had also expressed hope that Scottish students could continue to access the scheme. 
It was dismissed by Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, who argued that for Wales to participate in Erasmus, the ÔÇ£wholeÔÇØ of the UK would need to rejoin the Union.┬á
Mark Drakeford previously called the decision of the UK Government to withdraw from the scheme as ÔÇ£small-mindedÔÇØ. He added that the Welsh Government was continuing to discuss the possibility for bilateral educational exchanges with other countries, including Ireland and Germany.
Students in Northern Ireland, meanwhile, will be able to access both Erasmus and the new Turing scheme. This is because of an arrangement agreed between the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Irish Government. 
Doesn’t “live up to reality”
The response to the scheme has been somewhat lacklustre, not least because Erasmus helped to cover tuition fees (which are often heavily inflated for international students), and Turing only provides travel cost support to disadvantaged students. 
Given thereÔÇÖs no guarantee partner institutions will offer to cover the cost of tuition, itÔÇÖs not yet clear how students from disadvantaged backgrounds will find themselves in a position to afford the scheme.┬á
LabourÔÇÖs shadow education minister, Kate Green said the scheme ÔÇ£did not live up to realityÔÇØ.┬á
“Boris Johnson broke his promise when he committed to ensuring the UK would remain part of Erasmus+ after Brexit, and he is subjecting the Turing scheme to future spending review decisions creating financial uncertainty for organisations and young people,ÔÇØ she added.
The National Union of Students, meanwhile, said the replacement scheme will ÔÇ£damageÔÇØ the prospects of many students to study abroad.┬á
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