Gap Year / Working Abroad
Why consider a gap year?
A gap year offers you the opportunity to gain skills and experiences, while giving you time to reflect and focus on what you want to do next.
A productive gap year can be valuable on your CV – many employers value the experiences students have gained if they’ve actively managed their time, set themselves goals, and stretched themselves.
A gap year can also enhance your higher education studies – if you decide to apply for uni, you could tailor your gap year to relate it to the subject area you plan to study.
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.
What can you do on a gap year?
- Volunteering
- Travel
- Paid employment
- Work experience
- Part-time courses
Gap year ideas and providers
Visit the UCAS page to find out more about gap years and organisations that provide a structured gap year experience.
Year Out Group (YOG) is an association of approved gap year providers, most of which are registered in the UK. These are generally aimed at young adults taking time out between school or college (or during holidays) and higher education or employment, or between higher education and a job. Such programmes are educational in a broad sense and include, for instance, courses, instructor training and cultural exchanges, expeditions, volunteer work, structured work placements. A list of their approved providers can be found here.
We have not had first-hand experience of the providers and therefore can not recommend them as a school but it is a good place to start your research.