AQW 17353/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 24/10/2024
Answered On Date: 01/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any (i) guidance; and (ii) financial support his Department has in place to support international and cultural exchanges for students in further and higher education in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

Study USA is my Department’s flagship international mobility programme, giving participants distinct academic and personal benefits, as well as equipping them with the skills to compete in a global economy. Eligible students studying at one of our local higher education institutions or further education colleges can apply for the opportunity to avail of a full academic year placement at a US college.

Successful applicants benefit from free tuition fees, accommodation, food and travel. I have recently approved an expansion of Study USA, committing £1m of funding per annum, to enable 60 students to participate each year. In addition, I have waived participation fees and approved a bursary of £1,000 to help reduce the financial barriers for students from lower income households.

Whilst not funded directly by my Department, eligible students may also be able to avail of The Turing Scheme, which replaced Erasmus+ and is the British government’s programme to provide funding for students to undertake periods of mobility in another country. My Department does provide eligible Turing Scheme participants with financial support in the form of the Disabled Students' Allowance and universities with funding to allow them to waive tuition fees for any Turing Scheme student undertaking a full year study or work placement as part of their undergraduate degree course.