Gap Year

A gap year doesn't just have to be travelling or volunteering abroad. A gap year can be an opportunity to develop yourself and your transferrable skills, an option to have some time away from studying and it can be chance to get some experience that is relevant to your career. If you have used your time wisely, a productive gap year can be a valuable addition to your CV. Gap years require as much planning as going to university or deciding on a career. Don't leave it to chance!

There are lots of different things you can do on a gap year, from travelling, to volunteering, to teaching and working. All of these things can be done both at home and abroad. If travelling abroad, you can learn about other cultures and languages, see the world, experience living and working in another country, meet new people, learn a language and experience new cuisines. If staying in the UK and working, you will develop your skills and knowledge, earn money, become more independent and gain experience. 

How much, and what kind of planning you'll need to do will depend on the type of gap year you are taking. 

• UCAS has some tips for planning a gap year. 

• National Careers Service also offer some practical tips for planning a gap year. 

Prospects has a list of gap year ideas here and links to further websites where you can get more information about travelling such volunteering, teaching English abroad, learning a language, doing a summer camp and working with animals.

Gap years don't have to involve going abroad. If you have a part-time job, it might be that you decide to ask your employer to increase your hours and you work to save money for university in the future or until you find an opportunity within your long term career goals. 

See here for some more information from other organisations who help young people undertake a gap year.