Gap Years

"gap, gap year. Brit. A year taken off by young people between levels of education or between graduating and starting work, often used for extensive travel."

There are many options open to students who opt for a gap year, from working to help finance university to voluntary work on a range of different projects all over the world. This is a productive way to spend a year and is viewed as a positive experience by many universities and enhances the CV when seeking employment. However, the key is to use the year constructively, making clear that it was a worthwhile experience. If not properly prepared and planned good ideas fall by the wayside whilst the student enjoys the money that working brings and enjoys a lifestyle that does not support travel or saving for university.

Gap Year Opportunities

Travel

Backpacking, exploring South America, train trips across Europe, discovering Australia

Teaching Abroad

A whole range of opportunities exist, particularly teaching English as a foreign language.

Volunteering

There are many organisations offering opportunities from a few weeks to a few months, at home or abroad.

Working to Save Money for University

Can be organised by the individual but a year in industry combines salary with work experience.

Undertaking Unpaid Work Experience

Can prove very beneficial eg If students wish to take a degree in marketing, working unpaid with a marketing/advertising agency.

Gaining Additional Training

Could be done whilst working eg ski fitness instruction or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) equips students to teach abroad.

Pros and Cons

There is often vigorous debate amongst students on whether to take a gap year after Sixth Form, after university or indeed at all. Here are just a few pros and cons but ultimately it is a very individual choice.

Pros

A break from education re-energises and motivates students for their studies

The opportunity to work in an area related to the degree course

New experiences, different cultures, new places to see when travelling

Paid work to help finance a degree

Students are more mature, independent and socially adjusted after a gap year

A sense of personal achievement and the acquisition of new skills through gap year activities

Cons

A student finds it hard to study again after a year's break

The student will be a year behind friends who have gone to university

It can be difficult to regain some of the skills which have aided a student's education previously

If not prepared for properly, a year will be wasted

Travelling could actually mean that a student starts his studies in debt

The key to a successful gap year is simply

Careful Preparation

and

Detailed Planning

Students should decide what they want to do and ensure they fully understand the reasons behind the decisions they have made.

Research the opportunities thoroughly. A useful start is to look at some of the websites below.

There will be several options available plus many organisations that will be able to provide more information. Gap year organisations are helpful, but explore all the possibilities on offer.

Students need to clearly establish their objectives for the year ie what they want to achieve.

They should very carefully plan their finances and over-budget rather than try to do things as cheaply as possible. Running up debts in a gap year is really not an option.