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When someone takes a year out from education or work it is called a 'gap year'. People take a gap year:

• Between school / college and university / work
• After graduating, before starting work
• Later on, after doing a few years work

Improve your qualifications

• Develop your computing skills or gain a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification
• Pursue a hobby or interest, such as music
• Retake your subjects to improve your grades

Earn some money

You could work to get money for university, or to fund travels later in your gap year.

Travel

See Travelling Abroad for more info

Voluntary work

See Volunteering for more info

A gap year is a great way to gain some real life skills and work experience. Whatever you do, your experiences will look good on your CV and applications, and give you more confidence.

Good points

A break from study and time to think about future plans

Improve your confidence and experience new things

Time to strengthen your application to higher education, e.g. you could do re-takes

Opportunities for paid or voluntary work experience that could improve your skills and job prospects

Earn some money to finance your course

Bad Points

Difficulties and frustrations when returning to study or work life

Less funds for higher education if you are planning a year out that costs money - e.g. traveling.

Universities and employers will expect you to make good use of your gap year. Always check with your chosen university/college of HE what they think about gap years.

If you're planning to take a year out, your application options are:

• You can apply to UCAS in September 2006 for deferred entry in 2008. Always check to see if deferred applications will be considered. Also, use your UCAS application form to explain your year out plans.
• If you don't apply for a deferred entry at first but later decide you would like to take a year out (e.g. after your results have come out), contact the admissions tutors to see if they will allow it.
• If you apply during your gap year, make sure you will be able to complete the forms from wherever you are in the world! You can apply on-line, make sure you've got it covered.

For info about organisations offering gap year/volunteering opportunities, see also volunteering

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

For Government information, including travel advice and tips. The site also has ?country profiles?, where you can find out just about everything there is to know about your chosen country.

Tel: 0870 606 0290 (for the Travel Advice Line)
E-mail: consular.fco@gtnet.gov.uk(for Travel Advice enquiries)

International Student Travel Confederation

For information on student travel and the ISIC card

Year Out Group

Info for young people and parents, promoting the values of a year out. The website has details of all Year Out Group approved gap year organisations under a code of practice.
Tel: 01380 816696

BUNAC

Worldwide work and travel opportunities for students and young people.
Tel: 020 7251 3472
e-mail: enquiries@bunac.org.uk

Camp America

Work for those aged 18+ as activity teachers on summer camps for American children.
Tel: 020 7581 7373
e-mail: enquiries@campamerica.co.uk

Kibbutz Representatives

Individuals do daily work to help the Kibbutz (Israeli Collective Community). Minimum stay is eight weeks. Own travel costs must be met.
Tel: 020 8458 9235

PGL Travel Ltd

Work opportunities on adventure holidays for young people. Instructor posts require experience/qualifications.
Tel: 08700 551551
e-mail: enquiries@pgl.co.uk

Raleigh International

Age 17 ? 25
Raleigh organises 3-month expeditions consisting of challenging environmental, community and adventure projects around the world. Destinations include Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ghana, Namibia and Sabah-Borneo.
All volunteers are expected to achieve a minimum fundraising target of ?3,500.

The Year in Industry Scheme

Paid work experience in engineering, business, science or computing for one year.
Tel: 0121 414 8116
e-mail: (Midlands office): Midlands_area@yini.org.uk

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)

VSO sends people to share their skills and experience with local communities in the developing world. Volunteers live and work within a community for either one or two years.

Two schemes especially for 17 ? 25 year olds are Youth for Development (trainee positions, opportunity to experience and develop skills) and World Youth (a 6-month exchange programme).