Unis sugarcoating problems with year abroad at open days

[Marthamalteser]

i accompanied my granddaughter to a top uni today and sat at the back while she attended the subject talk. The degree includes a year abroad and although multiple parents said they had heard getting visas was very difficult post-Brexit, the lecturer tried to brush this under the carpet. They also refused to be transparent about year abroad funding - a young person asked if Turing funding would be means tested (unlike Erasmus) and they said it was all still in flux. Yet we know that this uni last year only awarded Turing to disadvantaged students (not ‘squeezed middle’ students like my granddaughter). They were also very vague about what help they gave to students to secure a study or work placement. My granddaughter says that they don’t seem to give much. To me this is a red flag or am I wrong? Which unis are good for year abroad help and are distributing Turing funding?

I think most universities are like this - they usually provide very little help, particularly when it comes down to work placements and they say it’s down to the student to find somewhere to work! Yes the uni might have connections but won’t necessarily help unfortunately!

i understand about work placements but they won’t be transparent on study opportunities (problems getting visas in Spain for example) or Turing funding.

In the nicest possible way, the person giving the subject talk was probably not the best person to answer such a specific question. Turing funding is very new - my DD was a recipient in 2021/2 - but all the specifics of the year abroad part of her course were handled by whatever the name was of the "studying abroad" office. She is not a linguist, most people studying her subject don't take the year abroad option, so there is no reason why any of the normal teaching staff would know.

There are some threads on here about study abroad, so wise MNers will almost certainly be able to help. Additionally, why doesn't your DGD email the admissions team for her subject with those specific questions? Hopefully staff can forward it on to the relevant people and you will get some answers.

The GoAbroad pages of the uni website will usually have the detail you need.

Looking at DDs it is clear Turing money only for widening access or compulsory year abroad. Good signposting for work placements but clear up to student to pursue. Although you might be lucky with your personal tutor (DDs was always on the look out for opportunities for her tutees).

Accepting what @Malbecfan and @SandyIrving say and their very helpful supplementary advice, the OPs central point is that universities are not adequately managing expectations on this and, I would say, other important issues like in-person teaching, accommodation pressures and costs etc. Yes, the information is there if you dig (and know to dig) or ask the right question at the right time of the right person (if you know to ask that question).

Many prospective students make uni selections without much support or input. Many parents did not themselves go to uni or did so when the whole landscape was very different. It is entirely understandable that they will take what is said at face value and not assume they need to be on high alert for omissions, hyperbole and dissembling as they might on a car dealer's forecourt.

Yes, the subject talk host might not have been best placed to answer that question but if a year abroad is being offered (and 25% of a four year course) then those preparing the talk should be anticipating, at the very least, that it is an issue likely to be raised.

Having said all the above, hats off to the staff and students who helped out at (the several) Open Days running yesterday in the very high temperatures. One of my DC attended one and said that everyone was very helpful and did give candid answers. However, those candid answers were only given because (through experience and a generally cynical mindset) they knew they needed to speak to staff and students on a 1-2-1 basis and that is my point.

In the nicest possible way, the person giving the subject talk was probably not the best person to answer such a specific question

Then the university should have ensured someone was there to answer questions if the year abroad is mandatory as it seems it is in OP's case.

OP - we had the same disappointing experience at Open Days. DD is joint honours and might have to drop her language after the first year if there isn't adequate funding for her year abroad. She's not an EU passport holder so her chances of working in a French speaking country after graduation are almost non existent.

Mychild is about to start their compulsory year abroad. The whole thing has been SO stressful. The uni have been no help at all. He has been told he will get Turing funding but not how much or when, the visa process was horrible, the accommodation situation difficult and painful and v expensive.
Having said all that I think he is going to have a blast.

If Dc are doing MFL as part of their degree then funding should be a priority. Of course you can work abroad post MFL degree! Why drop it? Makes no sense. Uni placements are easier to get than work now. Obviously leaving the EU has been catastrophic but even more dropping MFL is not the way forward. I’m wondering how many disadvantaged Dc actually do
mfl. Unis should prioritise MFL over anyone else.

I'm really sorry that others have had such a rubbish time. DD's (non-RG) uni was so helpful, even when the situation in the other country regarding Covid and visas changed regularly. They gave her the option of a weekly accommodation contract at her home uni until she could apply for a visa so she could be with other students even though she was studying online with the foreign university. Our terrible broadband at home meant that she took up that option for a term.

Perhaps if institutions are not clued up about core parts of the course, or unwilling to signpost sources of information, it's a bit of a sign to avoid them...?

We went to year abroad talk at Durham in June and they seemed very switched on. Don’t know specifics re Turing as we didn’t ask as not relevant to mine.

Hi, OP - I did a stont as the Study Abroad advisor for my School. All of the questions you list are completely reasonable, but they concern the logistical rather than the academic side of placement . They are beyond the School’s control. (The visas are sadly beyond anyone’s control).

I agree it is a poor look to respond to questions on such issues by sweeping them under the rug. I suspect that the lecturer didn’t know the answers to the questions and didn’t want to say that.

Obviously I don’t either. Visas can indeed be a mess post Brexit but almost always work out in the end. I’ve not personally heard of a failure. Placements are a different story: as PP have said the support provdef varies widely.

My university sadly does not offer the Turing Scheme to the squeezed middle classes. However those going abroad for a full year get a fees reduction of 85% and some on maintenance loans get an increase. This is typical.

I agree with @Malbecfan that your DGD could email the subject area admissions team with her questions.

My son's maintenance loan has been reduced!!

Oh, I am sorry to hear that @Highlyflavouredgravy ! Has he gone from London or another expensive city to a relatively reasonable place?

No he is doing his compulsory year abroad

Also don’t unis have to apply for Turing? They don’t get what they need and have to ration the funds to students. Largely by means testing. It’s poor. I think there’s also a difference between study abroad for MFL and going to the USA because it’s nice to do so. The former must take priority. However unis don’t seem to know the exact position for y3 in 3 years time. Who can blame them?

Of course you can work abroad post MFL degree!

How can you work in the EU without an EU passport? Do tell.

If Dc are doing MFL as part of their degree then funding should be a priority.

Agreed. But is it?

Of course you can work abroad post MFL degree! Why drop it? Makes no sense

Because I can't afford for DD to have a year in France without funding. And fluency in French won't necessarily improve her job prospects more than her History degree..

@AugustSippedAwayLikeABottleofWine Im not clear what you are saying. Is she doing History and French? Or does she just fancy going to France to learn a language? There’s a difference. Or is one year of the history degree in France? If she just wants to go to France then of course it’s down to you. Nothing to do with the uni. If she wants History and French, then she can go to France or French speaking country for the year abroad. It’s much easier now to study at a uni due to visas and jobs drying up.

A British citizen can work in France. Brits can work anywhere if they meet visa requirements. It’s nothing whatever to do with your passport! I don’t know why you think she’s barred. DD has French speaking friends working here with Swiss passports and has other Brit friends working in the USA with Brit passports . You just need to meet the visa requirements and get the job.

@Highlyflavouredgravy If your DS is working abroad he gets far less than going to a uni to study. I’ve just looked at the detailed info on DDs old uni web site. I have to say it’s quite clear!

Turing funding is in flux and there’s nothing any university can do about it. The funds are controlled by a government agency. And funds are disbursed on WP ( widening participation ) criteria so not all students will be eligible. The academic was probably trying not to be party political.

And as for visas - again since the UK people voted for Brexit, no universal can guarantee a student will get a visa. The awarding of a visa is up to the country the student is going to. Not the university!

All these things are beyond universities’ control and are matters of government policy (read political footballs). The academic was trying not to be political and was trying to be careful not to promise anything the university can’t control.

My university sadly does not offer the Turing Scheme to the squeezed middle classes.

Neither does mine. Because we’re not permitted to! IT’s government policy.

I gather from colleagues the Turing funding is managed by those paragons of management, Capita.

So we’re all stuffed.

I guess the issue is that visa decisions are out of the hands of the universities and even with the individual countries are changing all the time. Dd is currently trying to get a visa for a year of study in Europe and it’s a nightmare. Rumour has it that Italy are tightening up and even if you meet all of their requirements it does not mean you will get a visa.

She was at the embassy with all necessary paperwork last week as asked for on their website, they decided the paperwork wasn’t good enough so she’s going back next week. £150 train ticket every time she goes.

Even if next week they decide her paperwork is up to scratch it does not mean she will get a visa. They might decide her course isn’t considered worthy enough. Apparently they might just decide they’ve issued too many visas and aren’t doing any more for a few months. 🤷‍♀️. It’s nearly bankrupted me!

it must depend on the country. You can’t work in Italy unless it’s a skilled job which the company have to demonstrate can only be done by that individual and the U.K. person is not taking a job which an Italian person could do.

I suggest that if your DC have had issues with Turing, getting visas etc, to contact your MP. They have voted in this complete mess, so make them work for their money and do something. Apologies if you have a hard-working MP who puts their constituents first. Mine is only interested in his supporters.

@TizerorFizz I said in my first post DD is joint honours and might have to drop her language after the first year

A British citizen can work in France. Brits can work anywhere if they meet visa requirements. It’s nothing whatever to do with your passport!

Of course passport (citizenship) matters. Visa requirements can prevent Brits working in the EU now. It really isn't as simple as it once was.