Gap years are just for kids, right? Teenagers who have just left high school, trust fund babies, and uni students who just want to grow some dreads and “see the world” with a dirty pack strapped to their back? Wrong! A gap year abroad—even (especially?) for college graduates—is much more than you think.
Seize any and all gap year opportunities after college!
Taking a gap year after college gives you a chance to reflect on your personal mantra, goals, and values. When you observe and experience how people live in other parts of the world, it can give you the perspective you need to reevaluate your life and your problems. If you’re fed up with your current way of life, a gap year may even inspire you to change your entire life’s direction completely. You will learn more about yourself and what you’re capable of, without the comfort of family, friends, a job, and a native language you’re fluent in.
A gap year after college is also a chance to explore. You can follow the crowd and spend a year abroad racking up Instagram followers or getting a tan or you can spend it productively, traveling with meaning: working abroad, volunteering abroad, or learning a new language. Use your year abroad to discover new interests or dig up old passions. Always loved animals but couldn’t afford to go to vet school? Spend a year abroad conserving wildlife in sanctuaries.
Not only that, a gap year is open to everyone—even college grads—whether you’re pushing paper in some corner cubicle or have risen the ranks of the corporate ladder. Yes, you can even find gap year programs abroad after college! If you’re tired of talking about the latest “Game of Thrones” episode at the water cooler every Monday morning or just wrapped up an epic four years of university—not to mention you’re truly ready to live your own adventure — you should DEFINITELY consider gap year travel after college.
There are lots of gap year travel programs out there for the not-so-cliche gap year traveler—so let’s dig into some of our favorites.
Find gap year internships
Who knows how cute your next office building might be?
What if you’ve hit a rut in your career and you’re thinking about changing jobs? Have you not even jumped into the working world and are instead looking for gap year programs abroad after college? Our best advice—take a year to explore possibilities you never even considered at home because you were always too busy or afraid to take the risk.
Though it can be difficult to find gap year internships that are paid, there are a span of opportunities that double as intensive learning and passion exploring. Transitioning from your current lifestyle into one that incorporates structured professional experience in a brand spankin’ new place isn’t as easy as it sounds—but it’s more rewarding (both personally AND professionally) than you can imagine. That's why we love these travel gap year programs!
1. New Zealand Tourism Program
Why not get a headstart in one of the world’s most exciting tourism industry while taking a tiki-tour in the wop-wops? The New Zealand Internships Tourism Program offers flexible options depending on your start date, duration, and location request. Some of the perks of this program include a money back guarantee if you don't find placement, free shared accommodation (or equal value pay), travel discounts across the North and South Islands, and the chance to make new contacts and friends in the industry. All you need to be is 18 to 30 years old (perfect for gap year programs abroad after college), have or can apply for a working holiday visa, or be currently enrolled in a university.
2. Top Israel Interns
What if you’ve scored thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram but never really worked in the industry? Top Israel Interns offers professional social media internships to boost your resume if you’re looking to change careers. In five months, you can learn what it’s really like to live in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East, get a handle on Hebrew, and experience ancient and modern Israeli culture. Bonus points: your program fees will include high-end apartment accommodation in the city centers of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
3. China Internship Placements
China Internship Placements (CIP) offers customized and flexible gap year programs across China, including big cities like Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. You can start anytime in the year and intern in a range of sectors including business, engineering, environmental studies, international relations, marketing, law, even web design. Program fees include one-on-one immersive Chinese language classes, cultural activities, professional mentoring, networking opportunities, fully-furnished accommodation, and 24/7 support during your time abroad.
4. Vina Volunteer Service in Vietnam
Want to get a leg up in travel writing and journalism? Become a media and journalism travel intern in Vietnam for up to two months. The program is looking for adventurous spirits who want to experience this Southeast Asian country and create stories, pictures, blogs, and vlogs to market its destinations online and offline. Program fees include a homestay with a local family which will help you experience what it’s really like to live a local and get insider tips about where to go, what to do, and where to eat in the country.
5. Film in Action Documentary Filmmaking in Costa Rica
Are you an aspiring filmmaker who wants to make a difference? Sign up for The Film in Action Documentary Filmmaking Course in Costa Rica! Experience the pura vida firsthand and get involved in community media while you’re there. Learn the fundamentals and take part in workshops in the country’s capital, San José, spend two weeks getting inspired while working with local community radio stations in Ortina and the Gulf of Nicoya, then return to San José to edit and screen your masterpiece. This is not your average voluntourism program but an immersive travel experience that will develop your creative skills and produce a film at the end to help document the experience.
Consider volunteering on your gap year
Learn and contribute to our global community with gap year volunteer programs
What if you’ve always wanted to do some volunteer work but never had the time? It’s never too late so why not sign up for gap year volunteer programs—this is your chance.
You won’t need experience to join most projects, just a passion for the cause, and a willingness and enthusiasm to learn. If this is your first time trying out gap year volunteer programs, and you aren’t quite sure what to expect, program fees include pre-departure and on-the-ground support, advice on how to best prepare, how to apply for the necessary visa, and answers to any questions you might have before you leave.
6. Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad has so many international volunteer program options it will make your head spin! In particular, this program provider offers Projects for Professionals, a program designed specifically for graduates, professionals who want to take a career break, and even retirees who want to use their golden years wisely. Many of these projects seek qualified volunteers to attend to the needs of local communities.
7. Kaya Responsible Travel
Kaya Responsible Travel tries to match your knowledge, skills, and experience to a project where you will have the greatest impact. Volunteer abroad in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the South Pacific.
Projects include working on archaeological sites around the world, advising local entrepreneurs or NGOs, doing human rights work, working in the medical field including veterinary medicine, volunteering in social work, and teaching.
8. GoEco
If your love for humanity extends to an equally deep love for our furry friends, consider GoEco as your gap year volunteer programs experts. With the abundance of native wildlife hopping, flying, and waddling around our environs, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in animal welfare and conservation. To volunteer with animals on your gap year is to participate in projects that range from caring for abandoned critters, to roaming slightly further afield, monitoring and protecting native species, to reforestation, water, and marine conservation projects. Use your paws to make another’s life a little less ruff.
Find gap year jobs & make some $$
9. Premier TEFL—Teaching English Abroad
Pay down your college debts while you travel the world—it might sound too good to be true, but it's entirely possible. Thanks to job opportunities like teaching English with Premier TEFL, your ability to earn cash on the go has never been more feasible. What's more, even if you don't have ultimate goals of becoming a teacher, there are tons of transferable skills learned on the job that can prove an asset to just about any career path. Take a chance and teach English abroad on your gap year after college!
10. InterExchange—Become an Au Pair
Similar to teaching English abroad, becoming an au pair abroad can be a rewarding and enriching personal experience. Au pair in Europe—or China—or somewhere down under?! The possibilities are endless, and the chance to become a part of a new family isn't one to pass up. Practice your language skills, learn deeply about a foreign culture, make some money, and have the adventure of a lifetime.
Browse ALL Gap Year Programs for After College Now
Gap year programs after college are the perfect transition to "real life"
Gap year travel is the new black
Trust us. ? Or better yet—trust your gut. (And the universe).
Taking gap year programs abroad after college can seem intimidating at first, but trust us, it will be one of the best experiences of your lifetime. Take the time to choose gap year travel programs that suit your needs — from destination, to preferred level of support, to aligning your gap year itinerary with your life mission and learning goals for the year. No matter your status—student, dropout, young professional, et al.— there are amazing gap year programs abroad for after college out there just waiting to add sparkle to your life (and resume!). Get after it!
Get Matched with 5 Gap Year After College Programs for FREE
Look for the Perfect Gap Year Program Now
Start Your Search