Gap year: is it for you?

What is it?

It's a year out between finishing school and starting university in which you can travel, work and generally do mind-broadening stuff you'll never forget.

Gap year factoid In 2004, over 30,000 applicants to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) deferred entry for a year.
Prospects.ac.uk

I don't want to travel, but I don't know what I want to do at uni

You'll have a good three months between finishing your A Levels and university Clearing (when last-minute vacancies on courses for the coming academic year are advertised): surely enough time to decide what to do. You don’t need to take a year for that.

I need to make some money before starting uni

Fair enough. But don't get comfy and decide not to get a full-time job. Spending a year on income-support will be depressing, you'll have to lie when future employers ask what you did on your gap year, and you'll have to put up with smug, tanned, post-gap year students comparing notes when you start uni.

I'd love to travel, but I can't afford it

Loads of gap year students work for the first six months and then travel, using the money they've earned, in the second six months.

I'm scared

Try not to let fear of the unknown put you off seeing the world. Earth is a big planet, but when you travel it seems much smaller (even the remotest countries have email access).

Written by Ali Cronin

Last updated 17th June 2007

Further help and advice

• Gap-year.com: everything you need to know about taking a gap year.
• Gapyear.com: info on travel, volunteering and courses.
• Independent Online: lots of features about taking a gap year.
• Ucas.com: info on university Clearing.

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