The opportunities during your Gap Year are endless and
taking time out between A-levels and higher education or from higher education
to work is becoming increasingly popular.
You could:-
• Be a volunteer in the UK or Overseas
• Live abroad on a Cultural Exchange
• Join a structured Work Experience opportunity
• Learn a new skill on a Course in the UK or Overseas
• Participate in an Expedition
It must be remembered though that to take a gap year
it is your chance to learn and develop new skills, gain work experience,
meet different people and perhaps travel to parts of the world you hadn’t
considered before.
Both universities and employers now recognise the benefits
of taking a gap year but they will expect to see some evidence that you
have spent the time positively and not allowed yourself to drift.
It is best to give yourself plenty of time to plan your
gap year. Firstly think about what you want to achieve during the year
and how this may help you in the future for example if you are going on
to a Modern Language degree then a course/programme that improves your
languages will obviously impress your admissions tutor. Secondly some
programmes are very popular and the earlier you apply for them the greater
the chance of you getting a place.
Remember that if you want to go to University/Higher
Education after your gap year you can still apply for a place at the same
time as students going straight from school but defer your entry for a
year. Most universities and places of higher education do look on gap
years positively, but there are some subjects such as art & design
& applied sciences where it is more difficult to defer. If after you
have received you’re A-level results you then decide to defer please
advice your university as soon as possible. You can still apply for a
place at University/Higher Education during your gap year.
