A gap year is time out from study or work to focus on something else before your next step.
Some people take a gap year after education. Others take a career break after working a few years to retrain, travel, volunteer, or reset their plans.
What can I do in a gap year?
A gap year can help you earn money, build skills, improve your wellbeing, or change direction. It works best when you have a clear aim and a plan for what happens after the gap year.
There are several options for taking a gap year. Choose options that fit your budget, responsibilities, and goals. You could consider:
- Work experience or work shadowing. This is a great way to try a career idea, build confidence, and gather examples for applications. Read how to get experience
- Paid work. This can increase your income, improve your CV, and develop workplace skills in the UK or abroad
- Volunteering. A good way to gain experience and skills while supporting a cause your care about. Read more about volunteering
- Travel. A chance to experience new places and cultures, but it usually needs a budget and careful planning
- Courses, reskilling or resits. A chance to learn something new, refresh your qualifications, or get the entry requirements for your next steps
Is a gap year right for me?
A gap year is most useful when you can clearly explain what you did and what you learned. Start with your reason why. Do you want time out to:
- Earn money
- Improve your wellbeing
- Get new experiences
- Travel
- Retrain
- Take time out to think about a new direction
Pros of taking a gap year
Some of the pros of taking a gap year can include:
- Building confidence and independence
- Time to better focus on your next steps, and a chance to try different job roles
- Earning money to help reduce future costs like university or training
- Adding new skills and experiences to your CV
- Making contacts who could help with jobs in the future
- A break from the normal and a chance to experience different things before returning refreshed and ready for your next steps
Cons of taking a gap year
Some of the cons of taking a gap year can include:
- Wasting time. If you don't plan it, time can pass quickly without moving you towards your goal
- Returning to study can feel difficult once you're used to travelling or full-time pay and a different routine
- Some options (especially travel) can be expensive and may affect your future budget
Planning my gap year
Use your time wisely. Employers, training providers and universities may ask what you did during your gap year or career break, so keep a simple record (dates, activities, skills and what you learned).
Start planning by:
- Deciding your goal. Is it to earn money, get experience, change career, improve wellbeing or prepare for study?
- Choosing your main activities. Will it be to work, volunteer, travel, caring responsibilities or study?
- Setting a budget. Consider your income, a savings target, and costs like travel, rent, insurance and any equipment you'll need
- Choosing a timescale. How long do you want to take? It does not have to be a full year, but it's good to set a return date
- Planning your next steps. What do you want to do when you return? Start job searching, looking for an apprenticeships, or apply for a course or university? Be aware of any key deadlines while you're away
If you're taking a career break from work, check your notice period, holiday entitlement, and any impact on benefits or pensions before you decide.
If you're planning on university after a gap year, it's important to considered deferred entry on UCAS and rules and changes in finance on Student Finance Wales.
Travelling abroad
Read about the country you're hoping to travel to and its entry requirements before you book anything. You should:
- Check Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK
- Use Confused.com's travel visa checker to see if you need a tourist visa
- Use trusted sources and speak to people who've done something similar
- Be cautious with paid gap year packages and volunteering abroad schemes and compare what's included and the total cost
You might also like
See how volunteering can increase your skills, experience and job opportunities at the same time as you help others.
Employers value experience. Find out how to get it including through work experience, volunteering and internships.
Help with CVs, application forms, personal statements, interviews, finding jobs, approaching employers and more.
