Gap Year
(see also: Travelling Abroad)
Many students and graduates consider the prospect of taking time out, working, volunteering, or travelling, during or after time at university. The benefits of taking time out are many, but include:- It is probably easier to take time out now rather than later in your career when you may have financial and other commitments.
- Using a gap year to get experience of your chosen field. Competition for entry level jobs can be fierce and a gap year can be an ideal way to get a head start on the competition by gaining some hands-on experience.
- Many employers will regard this experience favourably (providing you can prove how you have gained some good experience and developed skills useful to a work environment).
- A gap year can provide you with insight into different careers and help you to decide on your own career path.
- You could gain work-related skills such as team-working, communications and decision-making.
- A gap year offers a chance do something different; to live abroad, give something back and the opportunity to earn some extra money.
What sort of things can you do?
Some people use a gap year to take a post-A Level break, some to earn money to fund their way through university, some take a career break while others use the time to work, to volunteer or to travel. Whatever the reason, the opportunities are endless. Use the useful links section to give you some ideas. You might also want to discuss the opportunities available with one of the University's Careers Advisers.
Financial Implications
If you are considering taking time out from your course we would recommend that you discuss the financial implications with one of the Welfare & International Support Advisers in Student Support and Wellbeing.
Where to get help
It would also be a good idea to visit Careers & Employment for advice and up-to-date information on career planning and the various opportunities available to you.
If you would like to volunteer without committing to an entire year out, the Careers & Employment Team can also help you with this.
The Students' Union runs a Give it a Go session on volunteering and backpacking to help students get the most out of these activities.
Related links
