28th Feb 2023

As careers advisers we come across many questions around gap years, so see below for answers to any queries you may personally have:

1. What is a Gap Year?

A gap year is exactly that - a year off from studying to pursue other interests and activities. You could have plans in place for the end of your gap year, e.g. a university or degree apprenticeship place you have deferred. Alternatively, you may want to wait until you have left school or college and make applications once you know your qualification results. You can do this during a gap year.

2. What are the benefits of a Gap Year?

During a gap year you can:

• Give your brain a rest – so you go back to study or full-time work revitalised and motivated.
• Work to earn money for travel or for living expenses when you go back to study.
• Work to boost your CV and develop employability skills – especially social, communication, organisation and teamwork.
• Start developing budgeting and financial skills.
• Get involved in internships or work experience to figure out your preferred career / sector.
• Experience other cultures.
• Develop a passion you haven’t had time for before.
• Develop confidence and independence.
• Give yourself some time to figure out your next steps.

3. None of my friends are having one – I don’t want to be on my own at home if they all go off to study.

It’s very easy to be put off something if none of your friends are doing it, but we strongly recommend you go for it even if you are the only one. You can find casual work in retail or hospitality where you can meet other young people, and if you want to travel there are lots of opportunities for joining specific gap year programmes where you could make lifelong friends. We never hear anyone regretting taking a gap year, but many who do regret not taking one! You will certainly be proud of yourself that you had the courage to push out of your comfort zone – a key skill to develop which employers and admissions officers love!

4. Won’t it cost me more money to add to my tuition fees when I begin university?

Most students who take a gap year will work for 6 – 9 months and travel or volunteer the rest of the time. You can also travel and earn at the same time. This builds up financial resources, so you won’t end the year in debt. You could choose to work for most of the year so that you have a financial cushion when you begin studying again.

5. How do I apply for university and also have a gap year?

If you know that you want to take a gap year before you apply to university, you can apply for a deferred entry. You will need to use your personal statement to briefly explain your plans and the benefits. If you have already applied, you can still choose to defer your place, either once you have your offers or once you have your Level 3 exam results (although the sooner the better). Just contact the admissions officer of your chosen university to discuss.

6. What could I do with my time during my gap year?

• Employment. This could be while you’re living at home to gain funds for your plans or to get work experience in sectors you are interested in. This will benefit your CV and help you to decide what is right for you if you are unsure. Casual employment will be fairly easy to find (preferably with other young people) but internship or work experience may require more effort. You could also consider self-employment if you have a skill e.g. tuition.

• Travel while working. There are fewer opportunities to work while travelling than there once were, but popular options are ski seasons and American summer camps. See the ideas for other opportunities here. You could also travel in the UK while working e.g. for an outdoor activity company like PGL.

• Volunteering in the UK. If you have a passion for something which you could access in the UK why not consider it? This could be working for a local charity or going on an eco-trip to other parts of the UK. Click here for some ideas.

• Volunteering Abroad. This is a very popular choice and there is an enormous number of programmes. This is a good option for those of you who may not have friends to travel with. Be aware that the vast majority charge fees as that is the way they finance the programme. See Gap 360and The Leap for ideas.

• Travel. Travelling can provide a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons, experience new cultures and build confidence in interacting with a wide range of people. You will also need to organise your time, manage your budget and problem solve – all great employability skills to develop!

We spoke to a couple of students about their gap year experiences:

FINN

After A Levels, none of my friends were taking a gap year, but I had grown up hearing all about my parents’ gap years so wanted to experience that for myself. I found work in a local restaurant for five months to save up some money. I really enjoyed it because I met a lot of young people who were also on their gap years. I gained in confidence talking to different customers and I also trained in making cocktails and as a barista.
After Christmas I started my travels. My father had recently spent time in between jobs on an animal sanctuary in Namibia, Nankuse so I decided to do the same. I booked a month’s stay with them followed by an overland trip across Botswana and Zimbabwe. I met a lot of other students and arranged to travel to Indonesia in April with one of them.
I then worked again for a month before setting off to Pennsylvania in America to work on a summer camp [link] as a tennis coach (I had previously gained my Level 2 coaching qualification). I didn’t know anyone before I went but five of us then travelled around the states for a month. They are now some of my best friends and we meet up every new year in Scotland for Hogmanay.
My gap year was an amazing experience, and I was able to go to university feeling much more confident to make the most of all the opportunities there.

ISSY

I finished my Level 3 BTEC in Fashion last summer. I wasn’t sure what to do afterwards, so decided to take a gap year to give myself time to decide. I had been working at Marks and Spencer while I was a student so had built up some savings. In October I went to Costa Rica on a volunteering holiday. I didn’t know anyone beforehand, but we were all linked up on WhatsApp, so I’d already made friends before I left! The experience was amazing, and I travelled for two more weeks afterwards with two of my new friends. We have now arranged to travel again in April to Thailand. In the meantime I am going to be doing work experience with a fashion company and a PR agency to work out what kind of work I’d like to do. I am very dyslexic so don’t want to study further – I’ll be looking for a full-time job in September.

See here for further information:

www.planmygapyear.co.uk

www.theleap.co.uk

www.gap360.com

www.ucas.com