Taking a Gap Year
Not everyone wants to go straight to University after College. Lots of people choose to take a year out (usually called a ´Gap Year´) before starting their university course. Some people take a year out to go travelling and see the world before starting their course. Others choose to do voluntary work to gain more experience in an area of work, whilst others take on full or part-time paid work in order to save some money before going to university. Some people choose to do a combination of these activities!
Whatever you decide to do during your year out, you need to make sure that you have planned and researched it well in advance so that you get the most benefit from it. Universities value people who have taken a gap year and gained more experience during it, but not people who have done nothing during their year out!
You should be prepared to explain to the Universities you are applying for why you have decided to take a gap year, and what you think you will gain from it.
Beware! Some Gap Year opportunities such as volunteering abroad can cost lots of money - find out about the costs involved before signing up to any opportunities!
There are lots of websites to help you plan your gap year. Take a look at some of these:
Search gap year opportunities and book online.
Lots of advice on planning your gap year and making the most of your time out.
Search for gap year job opportunities in the UK and overseas.
Advice on taking a gap year and travel abroad.
You can search this website for seasonal work both in the UK and abroad.
BUNAC offers a range of exciting work abroad, volunteer abroad and teaching overseas programmes. You can search their website to find overseas opportunities
Camp America provide a vacancy matching service for students interested in working in a Summer camp in America. A popular way to spend your gap year!
Year in Industry provide paid placements in a variety of roles to help you gain more work experience before going to University.
NB: If you are looking for full or part-time work in the UK on your Gap Year, look on the ´Employment and Training´ section of this website for links to UK jobs websites.
Remember! There are lots of gap year resources available in the Guidance Centre - please call in for more advice about planning your year out.