Careers
Funded global opportunities
Explore the world while you study abroad, work in summer camps or ski resorts, teach English as a second language, volunteer or take part in community projects.
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Global opportunities
From summer schools to international volunteering and summer camps, there is an extracurricular opportunity for both current students and 2024 summer graduates.
During your next university break, you could find yourself anywhere from Nepal to South Korea, from Uganda to Fiji. These short-term global opportunities start from just 4 weeks and there is something available for all students on any degree*.
You can read more about these opportunities in the booklet below, as well as read testimonials from students who have taken part in global opportunities and learn more about funding.
*Final year students and graduates are ineligible for the South Korean and Japanese summer school.
International volunteering and community engagement
You can choose from a range of volunteering and community engagement projects across the world. Find out more by expanding the menu below.
Volunteer in Fiji or Bali and experience the unique culture, customs, and way of life of these incredible locations.
You can join a traditional village, become a member of a Fijian family and work as a team to contribute to youth empowerment, community development, sports development, mental health projects and more.
Read more on the Think Pacific website.
Choose from a range of volunteering opportunities and locations to engage with local communities and schools to make a lasting impact overseas.
Projects include:
- Social Impact in the Community
- Health and Wellbeing Challenge
- Sustainability and Conservation
- Technology and Multimedia (to be confirmed)
- Sports Leadership Challenge
- Business and Finance in the Community
Find out more on the Challenges Abroad website.
Volunteer in Uganda or Kenya to develop children's learning opportunities by building playgrounds.
Projects emphasise the importance of play and arts in children's development, so you will help facilitate these as well within your placed school.
Find out more on the Play Action International website.
Volunteer with Travelteer where your work will help positively impact local communities.
Projects vary from marine and wildlife conservation to English and sports development and mental health projects.
Find out more on the Travelteer website.
Study in international summer schools
Travel to South Korea or Japan where you will have the opportunity to learn in a different country, experience cultural activities, and immerse yourself in language. These summer schools are designed for students to study for a short time in South Korea or Japan, all whilst getting an enriching view of the countries' culture.
This is open to all students from any degree type, excluding final year students and graduates. You will not be able to do this in the summer before a study abroad placement.
Train and teach English
Worldwide Teaching (Thailand)
Worldwide Teaching is one of the largest English language providers in Asia. Train and teach English abroad in Thailand for 6 to 11 weeks over the summer. Spend 4 weeks in-country earning a TEFL certificate and then for the next 7 weeks spend your time teaching in a local school whilst earning a salary!
This opportunity will enable you to interact with local people, help children to reach their potential, and open you up to an array of opportunities in the future. In your free time you can immerse yourself in Thai culture, explore the country and make lifelong memories.
Find out more on the Worldwide Teaching website.
Work in summer camps
Head over to the USA for a summer of a lifetime working at a children's summer camp.
Get immersed in American culture, teach a skill you're passionate about, gain experience of working with children, and even get paid.
"Don't visit, live it." Make travelling abroad work for you by earning as you go and gaining career-focused skills in the USA. Don't put off your career, start it on an adventure with BUNAC.
Find out more on the BUNAC website.
Work with JENZA (USA, Canada or Japan)
Whether you want to find a summer job abroad, fund your winter with a ski season, or get ahead with an international internship, JENZA does the work.
Setting you up with visa assistance, a pre-arranged job and the arrival support you need, work the world with JENZA's vetted employers for a 3 to 6 month opportunity.
- Canada: Open to graduates and current students
- Japan: Open to graduates
- USA: Open to full time university students only
Find out more on the JENZA website.
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Funding
Turing Scheme
The Turing Scheme is the UK government's programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world.
Find out more in the drop-down menu below.
To receive Turing Scheme funding, your travel abroad (including end date) must take place before Thursday 31 August 2025.
Funding is only available for trips of 4 weeks minimum (28 days).
Priority funding
The Turing scheme prioritises the following groups for funding:
- Students with an annual household income of £25,000 or less
- Students who have caring responsibilities
- Care leavers and students who are care experienced
- Estranged students
Please note that international students are not eligible for priority group funding.
If accepted, you will receive:
- Cost-of-living grant
- Travel grant
- Claimable readiness to travel costs such as visa, passports, insurance, vaccines and medicals
- Any costs associated with SEND may also be refunded
Please review the Global Opportunities booklet for specific funding for each opportunity.
If you do not fall within the groups mentioned above, you may still apply for funding.
If accepted, you will receive:
- Cost-of-living grant
- Any costs associated with SEND may also be refunded
Please review the Global Opportunities booklet for specific funding for each opportunity.
Please complete the survey through the link below to apply to York St John University for Turing Scheme funding. Please remember you will also need to apply to the programme that you are interested in directly (this does not pertain for the Japan and South Korea summer schools).
Early applications are strongly advised. Applications will be reviewed monthly until there are no funded places remaining.
Study Abroad
The Study Abroad programme is an enriching opportunity for you to experience living in another country while studying abroad at one of our partner universities.
This popular programme allows you to spend a semester or a year abroad and earn academic credits that count towards your York St John University degree, at no extra tuition fee or time.
Contact us
Please contact GO@yorksj.ac.uk for any queries or book a meeting with us via Handshake by selecting a Global Opportunities Appointment.
Follow us on Instagram: @ysjglobalopps
