What is a gap year?
• Gap years can be taken by anyone, for varying lengths of time
• You can choose to travel, take internships, go on an adventure, take summer classes, volunteer, work, found a start-up etc.
• The best time to take a gap year is different for each individual
Benefits of taking a gap year
1. | Develop your transferable skills |
2. | Raise your cultural awareness |
3. | Increase your confidence and independence |
4. | Learn a new craft |
5. | Gain work experience |
6. | Save money for university |
7. | Improve your language skills |
8. | Gives you time to decide if university is right for you |
9. | Stand out from other applicants |
Disadvantages of taking a gap year
1. | It can be hard to justify |
2. | Travelling alone can be difficult |
3. | It can be very expensive |
4. | You could lose momentum |
5. | You may become distracted |
6. | You could fall behind |
What if I already applied to a university?
1. | Contact the admissions office, state why you want to defer and what you intend to do |
2. | It's up to the university to assess the case |
Can I take a gap year during university?
If you are already in university, you should:
• Think about why you want to take time out from your course
• You can take a ‘mini gap year' and use the summer holidays to travel, volunteer or work abroad
Should I take a year out after university?
• A gap year can enable you to build the skills employers are looking for
• Your experience can give your CV a boost
• However, consider whether you have the ability to pay off your student loans and general living costs on time
• If you're applying for jobs/ school: Consider the timing of your applications, the recruitment processes and start dates