Gap Year

Taking a gap year can be really beneficial - certainly in terms of your career and the experiences you can gain - but it has to be the right choice for you. The traditional view of a gap year being for students that were not ready for further study is no longer the case and increasingly employers are seeing it as a positive thing, however what you do in this year has to be productive and contribute something to your Future Self Profile - just working in the corner shop is not enough in itself, although this can be part of the year if it is done in order to facilitate the other parts of your gap year plan.

What even is a gap year?

Gap years used to be taken after completing your Sixth Form courses, but now they can happen at any stage and they can even be taken for varying amounts of time, not just a year. You can travel and experience different cultures or stay in the UK . Some examples of gap year activities include:

Conservation work - https://frontier.ac.uk/Volunteer/Gap-Year.aspx

Adventure travel programmes - https://yearoutgroup.org/ , https://www.realgap.co.uk/ , https://www.bunac.org/uk

Summer schools - https://www.campamerica.co.uk/

Teaching English - Teach English abroad

Volunteering - https://www.iwill.org.uk/young-people , https://www.volunteerics.org/

Internships - https://www.gapyear.com/internships 

What are the benefits of taking a gap year?

• Develop your transferable skills.You will develop your planning, organisational and resilience skills and many more. If you are considering going abroad for part of your year for work experience, you are going to gain many valuable skills employers will want in the future and you will be easily able to evidence these in the future.

• Raise your cultural awareness. The experience of living abroad will allow you to appreciate other cultures and expand your global network of friends.

• Increase your confidence and independence. Having to converse and interact with the people you meet can help you to build relationships and become more self-assured. Arranging travel, finding accommodation and surviving on your own money are great ways to show your independence.

• Gain work experience. The vast majority of jobs now see work experience as vital in order to be able to evidence your awareness of the World of Work and a gap year is a perfect for this. The more relevant it is to your course and future career, the better. For instance, if you want to be a teacher, seek out opportunities to work with children. 

• Save money for university . Another advantage to spending at least part of your gap year working is to earn money that can be used to fund your life as a student. While you may not be able to earn a lot, it can give you your first chase to experience budgeting. Some gap year programmes, such as summer camps, allow you to work for pocket money to put towards travelling a country once the activities have ended.

• Improve your language skills. Many organisations now trade globally and employing someone who can speak different languages is a huge asset. You may also wish to consider teaching English abroad, TEFL courses are invaluable for this.

• Give you some time before you commit to a course . If you are still undecided about whether you want to study for an undergraduate degree, a gap year can give you the breathing space to consider your options. https://www.theleap.co.uk/gap-year-advice/our-most-common-gap-year-faqs/

Will a gap year help me in my future plan?

Absolutely, it can make you stand out to your future employers. You will be able to use your experiences to evidence the skills that you have and why that makes you so unique.  The key thing is to use your year to show that you are taking your future seriously and what you learn in this time is seen as a positive thing. The main thing is to plan to ensure that this happens and that the year is a valuable addition to your CV in the end.

Should I take a year out before or after university?

This is completely dependent on the individual. Many people take a break straight after Sixth Form, however it is becoming increasingly popular to take a year out after completing a degree. It is entirely up to the individual, however as always the year has to be of some benefit to your CV.

If you do decide to take a gap year and you have already applied to university, you will need to inform your chosen institution of your plans. When contacting the admissions office, be sure to state why you want to defer and what you intend to do with your time. It is then up to the university to assess each case and make a decision as to whether you can defer.

“Admissions tutors know that some students may take a little time to adjust to studying again, but many former gap year students are generally more focused and responsible.” UCAS website. https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/when-apply/deferred-entry

It is vital that you can prove that your gap year is constructive and that you will gain something from it. Choosing to do something related to your course may also strengthen your case. If you are unsure whether this is right for you, do get in touch with the school’s Future Self Team or the Sixth Form Team for some advice.