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Choosing a gap year
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Make sure you and your gap year are a perfect match
Come the beginning of uni, you and your gap year will be like that [picture crossed fingers]. It'll be part of you, something you have millions of photos of and hopefully something that brings a smile to your face whenever you think about it. But the two of you need to be compatible.
Choosing a gap year - making the right choice
Real Gap has nearly 300 different programmes, with more being added all the time. Not all of them will suit everyone - look over our suggestions to help you work out which is the one for you. |
Choosing a gap year - get a second and third opinion
Ask your family and friends for advice. They should be able to give you objective input on your skills and capabilities. Ultimately, though, if something feels right, go for it! Real Gap advisers can help you out at any time, with questions about programmes or recommendations.
Choosing a gap year - To rough it or not to rough itSome of the accommodation in our programmes can be quite basic - like huts or camping. For many gap year students, going back to nature in basic accommodation is fantastic and sleeping under the stars is one of the highlights. But if you've hated every camping trip you've ever been on, it might not your cup of tea.
Ask a Real Gap adviser about programmes that include more luxurious accommodation, like specially built lodges or volunteer houses with good facilities.
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Choosing a gap year - Are you in the money?Sadly, money will affect your choice of gap trip to some extent. Start saving as soon as you can, and perhaps suggest a contribution if people ask you what you'd like as a birthday or Christmas present. Working is the obvious solution - but you don't have to do it in Britain. We have programmes that help you find paid work in Australia or New Zealand, for example, and teaching in China. Some of them even include a guaranteed job offer, so you'll be sure of an income. The money you earn can be used to fund another programme or independent travelling.
 Our Gap Year Fundraising and Travel Cheaply pages might help you out here.
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Little people, big people or no people at all?
Some people love children, others see them as a necessary evil. Don't be put off choosing a youth-based volunteer programme immediately, though - there are opportunities to help people of all ages. If you don't fancy teaching teenagers, you could help take care of babies, or work with adults. Some of our projects involve work with mentally or physically handicapped children and adults - these projects require of patience but are extremely rewarding.
See our community volunteering projects |
Choosing a gap year - Animal lover or furaphobe?
Not everyone loves animals and being endangered may not make them more appealing to you. We have loads of projects that work with all kinds of animals but they do require dedication.
See our wildlife volunteering projects
Sweat, sun and sand or something more sedate
You don't have to be a marathon runner to choose a sporty gap year, but you do need a certain level of fitness - i.e. not collapsing after you've run up the stairs, and a willingness to take on physical challenges. If you used every excuse you could to get out of PE at school and hate the thought of having wet hair, Costa Rica Water Sports Adventure probably isn't for you. That said, not being fit isn't a reason to dismiss sports travel - it could be the motivation you need to get fit!
See our sports travel projects |
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Choosing a gap year
Did you trek the Peak District in the name of a Duke of Edinburgh award?Excellent. We have hiking trips in New Zealand, Gap Year Expeditions in Latin America and India that incorporate treks, a once-in-lifetime trip to the Everest base camp and many more. These trips are physically demanding but the views and sense of achievement make you forget about the ache in your muscles. Best of all, there's not an ounce of dehydrated pasta in sight!
See our adventure hiking programmes
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Choosing a gap year - Become Bob the Builder
If you like the idea of manual work, there are thousands of families in need of solid homes. Don't panic if the only thing you've built has been made of Duplo - you'll be shown what to do and help on any part of a building project will be gratefully received.
See our building and construction volunteering projects
Choosing a gap year - Do what you do, abroad
Sign up for voluntary work and put what you've learned and enjoyed over the first 18 or so years of your life to worthwhile use. That can be literally anything - singing, dancing, acting, computing, drawing, painting, playing a sport, instrument or games... |
Basically, if you enjoyed doing it, children or adults in another country probably will. There's something everyone's had experience of too - teaching. Think about the things you enjoyed learning, how you were taught them and if you'd like to help others learn.
Choosing a gap year - Pick ‘n' mix
You're unique, why shouldn't your gap year be? We have a whole team - the Round the World Team - dedicated to putting together a tailor-made gap year that's a perfect match for you.
See our round the world programmes
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