Deciding what to do during a gap year requires identifying your interests and checking into available options. The resources listed below offer a place to start. They are not, however, the only sources of gap-year information.
A listing here does not mean that VIS endorses these programmes.
You are strongly advised to conduct your own research.
Also, please be aware that some of these programmes might require a minimum age, please double check.
WORKING AS A GAP YEAR STUDENT
Many private schools worldwide take gap year students to provide support for various administrative and student facing roles in return for accommodation and food. It’s a great way to transition to a new country.
Work as a Gap Year student at the Ecole d’Humanité
Gap Year Student roles at Ashfold School in Australia
Letz Live is an Australian company which specialises in placing students in boarding schools around the world.
SOME INTERESTING OPTIONS
AIESEC - https://aiesec.org/
AIESEC is the world's largest youth-run organization. It is an international non-governmental and Not-for-profit that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural any internships, and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe.
Workaway.info - https://www.workaway.info/
A huge database of organisations and individuals offering work opportunities in return for food and accommodation across every country in the world. Perfect for filling in the time in between bigger projects.
LEARNING A SKILL/LANGUAGE
All Tracks Academy (01794 30177; www.alltracksacademy.com)
Ski and snowboard instructor courses in Whistler. 11-week courses are priced between £7,250 and £9510 dependant on dorm size and self/catered accommodation. The internship programme, consisting of a four-week course followed by four to five months instructing, costs £4,300.
Art History Abroad (01379 871800; www.arthistoryabroad.com)
Study Art History in Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples, Siena or Rome. A six week course starting in either October or January costs £9,870.
Cactus Language (0845 130 4775; www.cactuslanguage.com)
Offer language courses in over 120 destinations around the world. Learn Mandarin in Shanghai - £397 for 30 lessons a week - or prepare for university by partaking in one of their 'Language plus' courses. An Italian language plus cooking course in Florence costs £261 per week.
Camp America (020 7581 7373; www.campamerica.co.uk)
Offers nine-week work placements (12 weeks if you’re applying for Resort) in summer camps across the USA standard trip costs £778, split across three separate payments which cover flights, visa and medical insurance. Applications must be accompanied by two references. Referees must have known applicants in a professional capacity for a minimum of six months within the last 12 months.
CELTA (01223 553311; www.cambridgeenglish.org)
CELTA is an initial qualification for people interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Full time courses are typically four weeks. The Cambridge CELTA is accredited at Level 5 by Ofqual. Applicants must be post A-level.
CESA (01209 211800; www.cesalanguages.com)
Language courses from one week to 24 weeks available worldwide. Learn French in France or Guadeloupe or Spanish in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico or Peru. A one-week course in Seville with accommodation costs from €320.
Flying Fish (01983 280641; www.flyingfishonline.com)
Offers training, qualifications and jobs in winter and water sports including yachting, dinghy sailing and surfing. A four-week summer windsurf instructor course in Lefkas, Greece from £2,290.
Snow Academy (+43 664 5059933; www.skiweekends.com)
Offers water sports, and snowboard and ski instructor courses in Canada, France, Austria and New Zealand. A 7-week ski instructor course in Whistler including accommodation costs from £6,130.
Language Courses Abroad (01509 221199; www.languagesabroad.co.uk)
Runs language schools in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Canada, Egypt and the Middle East. An intensive German beginners course in Heidelberg costs £1322 including accommodation. Website provides contacts with experienced language travel advisors.
UKSA (01983 785228; www.uksa.org)
Provides training opportunities for people seeking new horizons on the water. Students can learn to become skippers, deckhands and watersports instructors through a range of courses, which guarantee job interviews upon completion.
OISE (01865 922522; www.oise.com)
Offers intensive language courses in French, German and Spanish. OISE schools are located in Paris, Heidelberg and Segovia. Intensive short courses and extended programmes for exam preparation are taught one to one or in small groups of no more than four pupils across all levels. Courses in Heidelberg from €1,695 per week.
Peak Leaders (0800 612 5079; www.peakleaders.com)
Offers ski, snowboard and mountain bike instructor courses in Europe, Canada, Argentina and New Zealand. A ten-week ski instructor course in Verbier, Switzerland costs £8,795.
YMCA Fairthorne Group (01489 785228; www.ymca-fg.org)
Gives school leavers the opportunity to train as activity leaders at their base in Southampton. There are various courses available – all of which are free and include food and accommodation – including a 12-month apprenticeship in activity leadership, which culminates in a Level 2 NVQ.
Sport Lived (0115 822 9999; www.sportlived.co.uk)
This company offer high-octane programmes across a range of sports. Play a 3-month tennis season in Melbourne for £6295 or throw yourself headfirst into a four-week rugby union programme in Brisbane - £2,595.
Tante Marie (01483 726957; www.tantemarie.co.uk)
An international Cordon Bleu cookery school offering 3 different gap year options: 11-week course from £7,950 and 4-week course from £2,750 (both of which are highly valued by ski companies and other gap year employers), and 1-week University Survival Skills course from £595. Class sizes never exceed groups of ten.
Ticket to Ride (020 8788 8668; www.tickettoridegroup.com)
Offers surf courses in South Africa, Mozambique, Costa Rica, Morocco and Indonesia, and Snowboard courses in Canada, France and New Zealand. A ten-week surf trip to South Africa in January costs from £5,195 including travel, surf tuition, community projects, and a host of extra activities.
Warren Smith Ski Academy (+41 79530 4549; www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com)
Runs ski instructor programmes in Verbier in the winter and short-term courses in Cervinia in the summer. A 9 week instructor course in Verbier with half-board accommodation costs £7,999.
VOLUNTEERING
Action Aid (01460 238000; www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/people-and-culture/actionaid-job-vacancies)
Community-building projects in Asia and Africa, including libraries and classrooms. Trips require a registration fee of £300, plus a sponsorship target of £2,999.
Africa & Asia Venture (01380 729009; www.aventure.co.uk)
Offers teaching and community placements lasting from five weeks to five months in Africa and Asia. A 12-week project in Kenya costs from £2,985, excluding flights.
African Conservation Experience (01454 269182; www.conservationafrica.net)
Working in rehabilitation centres with hands on animal care in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Their Care for Wild project - during which volunteers help care for and rehabilitate orphaned rhinos - costs £3490 for 4 weeks and £4700 for 6.
All Hands Volunteers (508-758-8211; www.hands.org)
A disaster-relief organisation which enables people to volunteer on projects which help those whose lives have been destroyed by natural disasters all over the world.
Big Beyond (0800 644 6203; www.volunteerforever.com/program/big-beyond)
Offer bespoke volunteer programmes in conservation and development projects in adventurous corners of rural Africa. Get involved with their Gender Empowerment Project in Tanzania or mix with the Maasai whilst helping to conserve wildlife in Kenya. 2 weeks to 6 months - from £1199 full-board excluding flights.
Blue Ventures (020 7697 8598; www.blueventures.org)
Specialises in marine conservation in Belize, Madagascar and Timor-Leste. A six-week volunteer expedition in Madagascar costs from £2,575, from £2,725 in Belize, and from £2450 in Timor-Leste. Accommodation is in eco-cabins shared by a maximum of four volunteers. A 1-2 week lionfish project in Belize costs £800-1,250.
British Exploring (020 7591 3141; www.britishexploring.org)
Organizers of expeditions to the most majestic wilderness. Discoverers of true remoteness in the Jungle, Desert, Arctic and Mountain. Example costs: Amazon: three week £3,000, five week £3,600; Himalayas: five week £3,500. Alternatively, embark on their 5-6 week trainee leader programme in either the Peruvian Amazon or the Canadian Yukon and qualify with a professional qualification in Expedition Leadership: £4,350.
BUNAC (033 3999 7516; www.bunac.org)
Offers worthwhile work, volunteer, intern abroad and summer camp programmes all across the globe ranging from 12 days to 23 months. Hang with the orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, go diving in crystal blue waters and hike Mount Kinabulu before volunteering in the Philippines and experiencing local life. A 6-week expedition costs £2488 and 10 weeks costs £3585.
Camps International (01425 485390; www.campsinternational.com)
2-wk to 3-month volunteering programmes for 18-25 year olds. Live alongside rural communities and within stunning biodiversity areas, whilst you contribute to sustainable project initiatives in Borneo, Cambodia, Ecuador, Peru, Kenya & Tanzania. Prices start from £865.
Changing Worlds (02081 238702; www.changing-worlds.com)
Offers a variety of opportunities overseas including volunteering in disadvantaged communities, paid work placements, internships, courses and qualifications and adventure tours. It's all hands on deck in Costa Rica where, for four weeks and from £1,000 upwards, you can assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of local marine life.
Chifumshi https://www.chimfunshi.de
Chifumshi is a home for Chimpanzees in need. Volunteering at Chimfunshi includes being surrounded by the native ethnic Chimfunshi community, and contributing towards educational projects while getting to know the people and culture of Zambia.
Climate Gap Year https://www.climategapyear.org/
A hands-on fellowship program for young people interested in exploring the world, and immersing themselves in climate impacts and solutions. Not only will you get a world class educational experience, you will also join a diverse alumni network that is already working on every climate aspect imaginable to accelerate solutions.
CREES (0207 581 2932; www.crees-manu.org)
Founded in 2002, volunteers live in Peru’s Manu Biosphere Reserve, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. Theory is taught on tropical ecology, climate change, sustainable agriculture and species recognition, followed by hands-on training in the field. 6 weeks costs $3,199. They also offer a 6-month conservation internship for $6500 and a 3-month multimedia internship for $4500.
Coral Cay Conservation (020 7620 1411; www.coralcay.org)
Award-winning specialists in coral reef and tropical forest conservation in various countries. Four weeks in the Philippines costs £1,695, including accommodation, food and PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water training.
Volunteering Matters (020 3780 5870; www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk)
Offers volunteering opportunities to more than 150,000 people each year, most within Britain. Action Earth Scotland offers green-fingered volunteers the opportunity to try their hand at landscaping and Help at Hand Befriending is a worthwhile scheme aimed to tackle loneliness amongst Britain's elderly. Accommodation, meals and an allowance provided.
Earthwatch Institute (01865 318838; www.earthwatch.org)
An international environmental charity dedicated to scientific field research and promoting sustainable development across the world. Help conserve rhinos in South Africa's Bushveld - £2,650 for 12 days.
Ecoteer (01752 426285; www.ecoteer.com)
Most placements are in ecotourism. Further volunteer opportunities are available within conservation, humanitarian aid and teaching. After registration, costs are usually limited to transport, insurance and spending money.
PMGY (01892 890473; www.planmygapyear.co.uk)
Volunteering opportunities in 11 countries across the world, PMGY placed 2,000 volunteers in 2014. Placements from two weeks to six months. Four-week Experience programmes that combine volunteer work and adventure travel available. Tanzania Medical Volunteers 2-24 weeks, costs from £360, excluding flights, visa and insurance.
Gap Guru (01635 285666; www.gapguru.com)
Community development, childcare and sports coaching. Teach English to Buddhist monks in Thailand from £975 for two weeks, excluding flights, visas and insurance.
Global Volunteer Projects (0191 222 0404; www.globalvolunteerprojects.org)
Projects in Ghana, Tanzania, China, India, Cambodia, Mexico and Romania which range in subject from medicine to journalism to conservation. Assist with government-sponsored schemes aimed at combating the spread of HIV in India and Uganda or those looking to break into journalism might consider joining the editorial team of a local newspaper in Mexico. A four-week turtle-conservation expedition in Mexico costs from £895. Language and culture courses are included.
Gapforce (0207 736 2769; www.gapforce.org)
Gapforce offer courses in conservation, environmental protection and global aid. Their law internship in Ghana promises to fully school participants in the Ghanian law system both by providing access to court sessions and giving young lawyers the opportunity to managing clients themselves. 4-12 weeks from £1,500.
Global Vision (01727 250250; www.gvi.co.uk)
Community, wildlife, marine and rainforest conservation expeditions, projects and volunteer holidays. Volunteer with Buddhist novice monks in Laos. Schemes can last between 2-24 weeks, prices from £950 including accommodation.
Hands up Holidays (020 7193 1062; www.handsupholidays.com)
Focuses on tailor-made volunteer-and-tourism experiences for families who want a break from their everyday routine. Staff consult with you to create tailor-made trips which account for your skills, interests and sightseeing preferences. The most popular projects are house building and wildlife conservation.
I-to-I (0113 205 4610; www.i-to-i.com)
Volunteer, language, teaching and work placements in 20 countries. A 2-month TEFL experience in Colombia costs from £1,195, excluding flights.
Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange (020 7681 0983; www.icye.org.uk)
Three-week to 12-month social, community and environmental projects available in countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Six months cost £4,500, 12 months £5,200. Projects vary from working with children in deprived areas of Mexico to women's rights work, disability support and HIV/Aids prevention work.
International Citizen Service (020 8780 7400; www.volunteerics.org)
Ten to twelve-week placements in 28 countries for people aged 18-25. Projects range from volunteer research with the deaf population in the Philippines to HIV awareness and business training for women in Malawi. Volunteers are required to raise at least £800.
Latin Link (0118 957 7100; www.latinlink.org.uk)
Sends teams to work with Christian missionaries in Latin America. This year they will send teams to 19 countries around the world. A four month Spring volunteer project costs from £2,900, including flights. Summer volunteer projects last around 3 weeks and cost from £950.
Madventure (0191 645 0888; www.madventurer.com)
School, College and University group-based projects worldwide, charity challenges and volunteering adventures for individual travellers from one to four weeks. Trips start at £750.
New York Times Gap Year Experience (https://www.nytedu.com/gap-year)
During this semester-long program, students interact with some of the NYT journalists who are covering areas like global affairs, politics, finance & economics, science & technology, arts & humanities, and more.
Outreach International (01903 746 900; www.outreachinternational.co.uk)
Offer projects that include working with street children in Ecuador, teaching English in Galapagos, working with victims of human trafficking in Cambodia, art therapy in Sri Lanka, elephant conservation in Nepal, and medical projects in Kenya and Tanzania.
Projects Abroad (01903 708300; www.projects-abroad.co.uk)
The leading global organiser of overseas volunteer placements, ranging from teaching and conservation to human-rights projects and journalism. Nine week placement working with children in Nepal costs £1,930, including food and accommodation.
Project Trust (01879 230444; www.projecttrust.org.uk)
Eight- and 12-month placements aimed at school-leavers, from community work – such as working in a children's home in South Africa – to teaching English in China. Volunteers must raise at least £5,500 for eight months and £6,200 for 12 months.
Quest (01273 777206; www.questoverseas.com)
Community and conservation schemes and adventure travel in Africa and South America. Trips range from four-week to three-month team expeditions that combine learning a language with volunteer projects and expeditions. Nine weeks in Bolivia, working with rescued animals, costs from £2,890.
Raleigh International (020 7183 1270; www.raleighinternational.org)
Community and environmental projects of five to 10 weeks, in Borneo, Costa Rica, Tanzania or Nicaragua. Five-week expeditions have a fund-raising target of £2,350 full - flights and visas are extra.
Restless Development (020 7633 3350; www.restlessdevelopment.org)
A youth-led agency that offers volunteer projects and training across Africa and South Asia, and the UK. The fundraising target is around £800.
Ripple Africa (01280 822891; www.rippleafrica.org)
A charity whose aim is to 'empower local communities by delivering a hand up not a hand out'. Get involved with their education, environment and healthcare schemes for which they recommend volunteers stay for a duration of 3-4 weeks.
TCV (01302 388883; www.tcv.org.uk)
No longer offer conservation trips, but organise environmental projects with volunteers within local communities in the UK.
The Leap (01672 519922; www.theleap.co.uk)
Offers trips for people aged 18-27, from 6 weeks or longer. Courses in Africa, Asia and South America include team volunteering, internships and equine courses. 10-week horse safari spent learning about horse conservation and welfare in South Africa, £3991.
The National Trust (0844 800 1895; www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
Conservation projects, such as dry-stone walling and reforestation, across Britain.
The Scientific Exploration Society (01747 853353; www.ses-explore.org)
Keen to encourage 'Pioneers With Purpose' who are combining adventure with innovative and valuable scientific research through their expeditions across the world.
Think Pacific (0113 253 8684; www.thinkpacific.com)
Travel to the islands of the South Pacific on a volunteer expedition that begins with a five-day castaway induction. All projects - during which volunteers teach and coach children in remote schools - run to the Fiji islands and are organised in partnership with the Fijian government. Courses run for one or two months and cost from £1,295.
Travellers Worldwide (01903 502595; www.travellersworldwide.com)
Courses, volunteering and internship opportunities all over the world. Volunteer on a women's empowerment project in Madagascar - primarily spent teaching English to women of all ages - for £875 for 2 weeks and £1,375 for 4 weeks, including accommodation, food and 24 hour emergency support.
GVI (01727 250 250; www.gvi.co.uk)
Offer over 150 different volunteer abroad projects in 25 countries all over the world, involving conservation, education and community projects. Construction or teaching projects in the Fiji islands lasting 2-24 weeks cost from £1,195.
The Book Bus Foundation (0208 0999 280; www.thebookbus.org)
The Book Bus literacy scheme offers the chance to volunteer as a Book Bus reading mentor and share the joy of reading with primary school children in Africa and South America. Two week placements in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador from £990, excluding flights.
Voluntary Service Overseas (020 8780 7500; www.vsointernational.org)
Voluntary Service Overseas is one the most distinguished and experienced charities in the world. With outposts predominantly spanning Africa and Southeast Asia, they offer opportunities to assist community projects across the fields of education, agriculture, engineering and more.
Volunteer South America (www.volunteersouthamerica.net)
A website that lists free and low-cost volunteer opportunities in South and Central America.
Worldwide Experience (01483 860560; www.worldwideexperience.com)
Specialises in unique and life changing volunteer experiences across Africa covering wildlife conservation, community & rural projects, hands on wildlife veterinary work.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms https://wwoof.net
WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms, (WWOOF) is part of a worldwide movement linking visitors with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange thereby helping to build a sustainable global community.
Step Together (0117 955 9042; www.step-together.org.uk)
A database of more than 3000 volunteer organisations and 1.9 million placements in 214 countries.
ADVENTURE
Across the Divide (01297 300504; www.acrossthedivide.com)
Across the Divide offer projects ranging from charity school projects in Brazil to Antarctic expeditions. Prices on request.
Dragoman (01728 861133; dragoman.com)
Overlanding and adventure travel company specialising in Asia, South America and the Middle East. Trips - which are carried out in specially adapted overland trucks - range in length from a few days to multiple months. A 96-day journey from Cartageno in Colombia to Rio de Janeiro costs almost £7,500 and includes travel, accommodation, food and all tickets/entrance fees.
Exodus (0203 811 5823, www.exodus.co.uk)
Adventure company specialising in walking, cycling, winter activities, photographic and wildlife holidays. A 30-day cultural and sightseeing tour of India from £2,399, excluding flights.
G Adventures (0344 272 2060; www.gadventures.co.uk)
Small group adventure holidays in more than 100 countries on all continents. Provides affordable cultural travel experiences and has a range of trip styles and durations.
Intrepid Travel (0808 274 5111; www.intrepidtravel.com)
1,000 trips across 100 countries which are organised and led by in-country leaders. Journey through the Amazon, trek Macchu Picchu and explore Lima's colonial past on their 21-day tour of Peru, from £2,726.
Trek America (0333 222 3083; www.trekamerica.co.uk)
Road trips across the American countryside, stopping off at iconic landmarks, cities and national parks en route. Their 21-day Southern Sun tour - from £2,099 including transport, accommodation and tour leader - starts in New York and ends in Los Angeles, stopping off at Las Vegas, Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and more.
Voyages SNCF (0844 848 5848, voyages-sncf.com)
Offers advice and tickets for European train travel, including Interrailing passes. An Interrailing Pass covers 29 countries, and flexi fares ensure you only pay for the days you travel. From £174, for 5 days of travel over a 15-day period.
Oasis Overland (01963 530 113; www.oasisoverland.co.uk)
Offers trips all over the world, including Egypt and Jordan, Peru and Bolivia, or its monster 40-week circuit of Africa (from £6,950, excluding flights, with an additional local payment of $2,950 to cover food and accommodation). On their monster 40-week circuit of Africa - sets off from Gibraltar and ends in Cairo, travelling via Cape Town - expect wild-camping, bungee-jumpng and white-water rafting.
Real Gap Experience (01892 277040; www.realgap.co.uk) Real Gap Experience offer over 160 trips ranging from adventure travel, volunteering and paid work. Kayak around the limestone crags of Railay Beach, snorkel in the turquoise waters of Koh Phi Phi, and party under the stars at one of Koh Pha Ngan's famous Moon Parties on their Ultimate Thai Beaches trip: 15 days from £599.
Kilroy (www.kilroy.co.uk)
From backpacking trips to working holidays, gap years to volunteering, KILROY specialises in youth, student and adventure travel.
Tour Dust (0203 733 9245; www.tourdust.com)
A handpicked collection of adventure holidays, nature and wildlife tours and cultural trips in a variety of exotic locations. An 8 day mountain trek in Ethiopia from £905.
KE Adventure (01768 773966, keadventure.com)
A long-established adventure travel company, with small group tours all over the world. Active trips are this company's speciality: think mountain climbing, trekking and winter sports.
World Challenge (01494 858198; www.world-challenge.co.uk)
Organises expeditions from one week to four weeks across sixty five destinations including a one month trip to Tanzania, including Kilimanjaro climb. Prices on request.
ADVICE
Gap 360 (01892 527392; www.gap360.com)
Offers more than 200 gap year trips in 50+ countries including paid work, teaching, volunteering & adventure travel. The Absolute Oz Jobs programme is an introductory package for working in Australia where you can earn £15 an hour.
Gapyear.com (0333 333 9923; www.gapyear.com)
A comprehensive site comprising more than 3,000 pages of ideas, contacts and advice for prospective gappers. The site’s most popular destinations include Australia, Canada, Mexico, Thailand and Peru.
Omprakash (www.omprakash.org)
Omprakash is focused on building educational relationships between grassroots social impact organizations and volunteers, donors & classrooms around the world who can learn from & support their work.
BUSINESS SKILLS
While Gap Years are traditionally about travel and independence many also include periods working in order to fund the travel. This can be a great opportunity to develop skills that will show your commitment to a business career or build your portfolio of skills for future job applications.
Silicon Valley Social Media Marketing Certification Course — $19.99
Social media is the new frontier in terms of marketing and advertising, and with this 38-hour class, you'll discover how to use it to build an online community while making sales.
The Complete Raspberry Pi Course Bundle — $19
This three-part bundle will show you how to use the mini-computer to build voice-automated electronic devices that are compatible with Alexa, fully functional gaming systems, and other fun projects on the Internet of Things.
Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course & Certification — $19
A 56-hour class with 22 modules in which you'll study professional photography techniques and tricks, and learn how to make a living off your work. Upon enrollment, you'll get a bonus five-year subscription to the Pro Article Database; upon completion, you'll receive a professional certification.