We always strive at BU to give you a wide range of options which is why we encourage students who want to volunteer to look beyond the UK too.

There are a whole host of opportunities to take part in volunteering overseas which will help you not only to broaden your skills base but also to broaden your mind as well. The links below provide a whole of host of organisations that may be able to help you.

Funding available for volunteering overseas

If you decide to undertake an opportunity abroad you might be able to benefit from funding to contribute towards some of the costs of your activity

  • BU Turing Scheme funding is available to all BU students and recent graduates undertaking mobilities globally with a duration between 4 weeks and 12 months, between September and August.
  • If you would like to know more information about the Turing Scheme funding and the eligibility and quality assessment requirements, please visit the relevant web pages or email the team at: [email protected].

For further advice

If you have any queries regarding international activities at BU, please email the Global Engagement Team at [email protected].

Want to drop-in?

Our drop-in sessions are every Monday (virtual/in-person) and Wednesday (in person) afternoons during term time. The sessions are open to all students wanting to find out about opportunities to study and work overseas during your degree and the funding available to support you

  • Mondays, 1pm - 5pm: Join us online via Microsoft Teams (MS Teams), search “BU Study and Work Overseas Drop-in” in MS Teams or access the session in MS Teams
  • Mondays, 1pm - 3pm: Visit us in person in the Opportunity Hub, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Lansdowne Campus. Study abroad | Bournemouth University
  • Wednesdays, 1pm - 5pm: Visit us in person in The Hub, Poole House, Talbot Campus.
  • Outside term time – you can also arrange a meeting with the Global Engagement Team during vacations by emailing [email protected].

Opportunities around the world

  • Play Action International - volunteering in Uganda and Kenya
  • Wildlife Sense - conservation placements in Greece
  • Think Pacific - volunteering projects in Fiji
  • Travelteer - volunteering projects in Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Nepal and Morocco
  • Work the World - medical placements in Asia and Africa
  • Hamba Africa - conservation placements in South Africa
  • Projects Abroad - overseas volunteer work placements
  • USA Summer Camp - work and travel organisation in the USA, they offer paid summer jobs to students
  • Operation Wallacea - biodiversity and climate research organisation
  • BUNAC - volunteering and summer camps in the US, Canada and Australia
  • European Solidarity Corps - volunteering projects in Europe
  • Gapforce - adventure travel programmes, volunteer projects, conservation placements, outdoor training courses conservation, wildlife volunteering
  • Global Vision International - marine and wildlife conservations, virtual internships
  • Green Force - NGO volunteering organisation
  • Help Argentina - a non-profit organisation whose mission is to strengthen Argentine civil society
  • ICYE (Intercultural Youth Exchange) - an ethical International Volunteer organisation which sends volunteers throughout Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Our focus is on responsible volunteering and a cultural immersion, which includes volunteering for a local community-led project, local partners, living with a host family and receiving language lessons and extensive training
  • Mafanikio Organization - a Kenyan community based organisation set up to fight poverty in the marginalised regions of Kenya
  • Project Trust - Scottish-registered educational charity providing young people in the UK and Europe with international volunteering experiences. Project Trust Volunteers are based in mainly teaching, Social Care and Outward Bound projects in Africa, Asia or Latin America for 12 or 8 months
  • Pod Volunteering - ethical, sustainable and supported volunteer placements at animal sanctuaries, conservation projects and community initiatives around the world
  • Real Gap Experience -  gap year and travelling ideas in over 40 countries round the world
  • Responde - an Argentine NGO which works for the recuperation of small communities in risk of extinction
  • Restless Development - worldwide volunteering  projects in health, education and the environment - partnered with ICS (International Citizen Service)
  • Sadhana Forest - experience sustainable living though reforestation, water conservation, food security and community development
  • TEFL (i-i.com) - international volunteering projects and paid internships in teaching
  • Tru Experience Travel - gap year travel and volunteer work abroad from two weeks to a year round the world
  • Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) - international volunteer programme for 18-22 year olds
  • Volunteer Society Nepal - volunteering in Nepal

Please note: All of the opportunities above have been provided in good faith and BU is not responsible for the content of the websites or any of the activities these organisations are running. Students are also responsible for any financial costs which they may incur.

When choosing a volunteer project do your research carefully to make sure the organisation/project you are intending to work with is ethical. This is particularly important when choosing wildlife volunteering projects due to numerous unethical issues that surround it.