Gap Year
WHAT IS A GAP YEAR?
A gap year is a 12 month rest from academic education or work. Its aim is so that an individual can pursue other things before embarking upon the next phase in their education or work.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR GAP YEAR ADVICE
HOW CAN A GAP YEAR BENEFIT YOU?
A gap year can achieve the following:
- Strengthen your CV by gaining work experience
- Widen your knowledge
- Enable you to learn and acquire new skills
- Enable you to travel and experience new countries and cultures
- A chance to meet new people.
- Volunteer and help a good cause.
- Give you time to think about your future
- Become more mature, focused, and wise.
- Refresh your outlook on life.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN YOUR GAP YEAR?
Some things you can do in your gap year are:
- Travel to other countries
- Work, get some experience and get paid
- Gain experience in the area you intend to pursue higher studies
- Resit exams and improve your grades
- Study for an online course
- Part time course
- Learn a new language
- Live in a new country
- Volunteer for a global charity like save the children
- Do an internship
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR VOLUNTEERING ADVICE
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR HOW WORK EXPERIENCE CAN HELP YOU
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR YEAR IN INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR JOBS
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FIND A COURSE
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR TRAVEL ABROAD FROM ENGLAND DURING COVID-19
LINK TO INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE – VOLUNTEER ICS
LINK TO TRAILFINDERS GAP YEAR AND STUDENT TRAVEL
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF TAKING A GAP YEAR?
There are a few disadvantages of taking a gap year and they are:
- You can lose momentum for your education or work
- You can return with debt
- You may get sick or injured while travelling
- You could fall behind your friends
- You may miss your family and friends
- Your partner may not be happy with the idea
HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A GAP YEAR AT A UNIVERSITY?
You can apply for a university place in the same way as you would if you were attending the university for that year but inform UCAS and the university on your application that you would like to defer the place for a year. It is up to the university, college and course organisations if they will let you defer. This way you have a confirmed university place when you finish your gap year and return to education.
Alternatively, you can apply for a university place for the year when you return during the year you are away. However, you must ensure you do not miss any application deadlines.
LINK TO UCAS WEBSITE FOR DEFERRED ENTRY
WHAT IS A LATE DEFERRAL?
A late deferral is one where you have applied for a university place and have been offered a place but now you would like to defer your place. UCAS, the university, college and course organisers were not informed at the time they made the offer to you. If this happens then it is up to the university, college, and course organisers if they can do this. It may be in your interest to call or email the university, college, or course organisers and explain your situation in detail so you can make an informed decision.
WHAT IF YOU HAVE DEFERRED YOUR UNIVERSITY PLACE BUT NOW YOU DO NOT WANT TO DEFER IT?
There can be many reasons why you now do not want to take a gap year. Whatever the reason, you will need to contact the university, college, or course organisers and ask if they have space on the course for you to attend.
If they do not, you can decline your place at the university that is holding your deferred place on your UCAS application then submit a new application and go through clearing (clearing is explained below). If you want to do this please contact UCAS, any university or college or course organisers you wish to attend before you decline your deferred place so you can make an informed decision of what is and is not available to you.
IF YOU HAVE ACCEPTED A DEFERRED PLACE AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, CAN YOU MAKE NEW APPLICATION THIS YEAR THROUGH UCAS?
No you cannot. If you would like to make fresh applications through UCAS you must decline your deferred place first.
DO YOU NEED TO PLAN A GAP YEAR?
Yes you do. When deciding what you would like to do during your gap year you should take the following into consideration:
- How much money do you have for travel fares and visas?
- How will you pay for accommodation and food while travelling?
- If you do not have enough money to fund the whole year can you work to get more funds?
- Is what you intend to do safe?
- Will it interfere in your long term goals?
- What will you gain from what you intend to do during your gap year?
- Will you be able to still make all your application deadlines
- If you intend to travel, is it safe there? You can get this information from the foreign office.
- How will coronavirus affect your plans?
LINK TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH WEBSITE FROM TRAVEL ADVICE
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR CONNECT WITH REGISTERED CHARITIES THAT COULD HELP YOU.
- If you intend to do voluntary work then you must plan in advance because many of them have strict deadlines for applying. If you are applying through an agency please ensure they are members of a reputable organisation.
HOW TO YOU APPLY FOR A GAP YEAR WHILE AT WORK?
If you are working for a firm or organisation you can discuss your intention of taking a gap year with your manager and the HR department. They may even have in house options for you such as a work placement and experience abroad within the firm. They may even fund your trip.
However, it is important that you and HR have it clear that your job is available to you when you return.