Gap year

A gap year is when you take time out after completing studies at sixth form or college. But they can be taken by anyone at any stage of life.

A gap year can be used to develop skills and experience and can allow you to save money. It can help you to decide and prepare for your next steps.

Find out about Gap year

Some examples of how gap years are spent include:

• Work experience – gaining relevant experience can help with deciding on a career path. It can also help you get a better understanding of what a career you’re interested in is like. It’s a good way to make new contacts, develop skills and meet new people. Find out more about how to get experience
• Travelling – travelling the world, meeting new people and experiencing new things. Travelling can improve confidence and independence skills but can cost money
• Working – earn money. This can be in the UK or abroad. It’s a great way to experience the world of work and develop skills. Earning a wage could be a way to save money before you return to education
• Volunteering – you could volunteer in the UK or abroad. It’s a great way to get experience whilst helping others. Find out more about the benefits of volunteering
• Courses or resits - studying a course or taking resits can help you build on qualifications that you may need for your next steps 

Is a gap year right for me?

Think about why you are considering a gap year and what you want to gain from it. Whatever your reason you will need to plan your gap year to make sure you get the most out of it.

Things to consider before taking a gap year

Use you time wisely. An employer may want to know what you did in your gap year. To get the most out of your gap year it’s important to plan.

You need to consider things like:

• Costs
• What you want to experience on your gap year
• When to apply for work experience
• How long you want to be away from education
• Make sure you give yourself enough time to plan

When planning:

• Do your research if you plan to travel. Read about the country and their travel requirements before you plan to travel. Find out more on Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• Try and speak to someone who’s been on a gap year, look for inspiration on social media and forums and fully research your options by looking at the websites below
• Some companies will arrange a gap year for you but this will come at an additional cost

Deferring University - if you are certain you want to return from your gap year to university then it’s important to contact your chosen university to explain why you want to defer. Each university will assess differently. Take a look at going to university.

Student Finance - student finance can change so it’s worth keeping updated with the current situation before planning a year out before university. Take a look at Student Finance Wales.

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