As of August 2023, DMU Global have introduced the Green Global Grant to encourage students to travel to their overseas exchange or work placement by more sustainable means of travel.
What is the Grant?
The Grant offers every student who will complete a study exchange or work placement overseas funding to cover the full cost of their journey from their home to their destination. There is a maximum of £500 available per student to help cover the costs of taking a more sustainable travel option (e.g., train, bus or ferry).
Grants are currently available to all students spending a year abroad studying or working, with no limit on those who can access it for the 2023-24 academic year.
Why has it been introduced?
We recognise the negative impact that flying has on the environment, primarily due to the carbon emissions from air travel. By introducing a travel grant that encourages greener modes of transport we aim to reduce emissions, whilst also positively contributing to DMU strategic aims related to Sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
International travel, especially by rail can be expensive and this funding is being offered to ensure that there is no financial disincentive for students not to travel by more sustainable modes of transportation. The Grant will help all students make more climate-conscious decisions.
DMU Global Sustainability & Travel Online Module
Before you go abroad, remember to complete this training which gives you the opportunity to learn more about the impact of travel on the environment.
Read the information and terms and conditions below to find out how you can access the funding….
Who can apply?
Students who have been selected to study at a European partner university for a full academic year exchange.
Students who are going abroad to a European destination for a work placement for a full academic year.
Conditions
All student mobilities must have been approved by the relevant Faculty Placement Team and the Global Mobility Office.
Students already in receipt of the Turing Scheme Disadvantaged travel bursary are not eligible to claim the bursary, unless proof is provided of additional costs beyond the original travel. (If the overall cost is higher than bursary amount towards travel).
Students in receipt of the Grant cannot claim costs related to overseas travel through Student Finance (Travel Grant).
Students need to have completed the DMU Global Sustainability & Travel Online Module.
Students in receipt of the Grant will be required to submit a brief (300-500 word) case study about their sustainable travel experience during or after their time abroad.
How to apply?
All students need to contact the Global Mobility Office at dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk to request the financial support. Expressions of interest should be submitted prior to you booking your travel, as funding cannot be approved retrospectively.
The deadline to submit requests for funding for mobilities in 2023-24 is Monday2 October 2023.
Travel planning resources
The Man in Seat 61– Website explaining the best routes, train times and fares from London to major destinations across Europe.
Railplanneris a free offline train timetable app that you can download onto your phone to check train times & train calling points on the move
EcoPassenger – Compare the energy consumption, the CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts for planes, cars and trains in passenger transport
Rome2Rio – Route planning to travel by train, bus, ferry and car.
RouteRANK – Find the best, fastest, cheapest, greenest way to get to your destination.
Travel booking
Rail Europe– Rail passes and tickets across Europe. Carbon calculator to show how much carbon is being saved by taking the train versus flying.
Eurail and Interrail – Passes to travel flexibly across Europe.
OMIO– Plan and book travel using trains, coaches and ferries.
Eurostar– Booking portal for trains to France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Claiming your grant
Send receipts showing proof of costs after you have completed the outbound journey. This should include a copy of the travel booking and ticket.
Upon receipt of the claim, an outcome will be communicated by email within 2 weeks.
The maximum claim of £500 for a return journey from your home to the destination is permitted.
The Grant will be paid into your designated bank account, as per the details on the DMU Hub.
In line with the CANIE accord, DMU Global is taking a number of steps as part of the call to strengthen and accelerate the response of the international education sector to the climate crisis, guided by SDG 13: Climate Action.
The aforementioned action is aligned to Article 6. 31 (travel) of the CANIE Accord – ‘Adjust, or introduce, climate conscious travel policies to incentivise lower carbon means of travel and reduce emissions-intensive business and academic travel’
