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Gap Year Programs

Looking for the perfect balance between globetrotting and enlightenment? Take a gap year! Whether it’s a year off between high school and college (a healthy break from monotonous school life!), a gap year after college (which can give you time to figure out your next steps), or a gap year at literally any other time, it’ll be time well spent. Gap year programs are riddled with opportunities for personal growth, attainment of new skills, reevaluation of personal and career goals, and (of course) once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
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Top Gap Year Providers

Seamester

Featured Provider of the Month

Featured Gap Year Opportunities

This Month’s Recommended Gap Year Programs

seamester
9.67103 reviews

Seamester Study Abroad at Sea

Seamester Study Abroad at Sea logo
Seamester Study Abroad and Gap Year Voyages

Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more than 40 years, we have offered unparalleled educational voyages where students spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, and even continents. We design our programs to pro...

IVHQ - Gap Year
9.552047 reviews

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] logo
World’s #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—fro...

The Intern Group - ROF - Australia
9.36609 reviews

The Intern Group

The Intern Group logo
International Internship Programs in Colombia

The Intern Group is the leading provider of internship programs in the emerging market of Colombia! We provide international students with internships in top private companies, NGOs, and state ministries. Our programs are regularly featured on CNN Inte...

Gapforce
9.26149 reviews

Gapforce

Gapforce logo
South America Explorer with Gapforce

Visit two of South America’s most iconic countries—Peru and Ecuador—and discover the lost lands of the Incas! Start your adventure in South America with intensive Spanish lessons, then step up the adventure with an epic trek across the Andes to Machu P...

Gap year in China
9.67454 reviews

Go Abroad China Ltd.

Go Abroad China Ltd. logo
GAC Gap Year Learn Chinese & Internship in China Program

Are you looking for meaningful activities to fill the all-too-important gap year? Join our program at Go Abroad China, we have solid experience in helping students make informed decisions and research about the next step in their career, as well as pro...

EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter
8.7461 reviews

EF Education First

EF Education First logo
EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter

Spend 12 incredible weeks exploring Tamarindo, Rome, and Tokyo, three unforgettable destinations that showcase the world’s diversity. This immersive semester blends cultural discovery, new adventures, and light language learning with a supportive trave...

CIEE Gap Year in Seville, Spain
9.836 reviews

CIEE High School Grads Abroad

CIEE High School Grads Abroad logo
CIEE Gap Year in Seville, Spain: Spanish Language & Culture

Your gap year in Seville offers the perfect balance of structure and independence, giving you the freedom to explore Spain and yourself before college.Imagine your life as a Sevillano, practicing your Spanish in the warm capital of Andalusia. Bask in t...

Summer Camp in Switzerland
9.45 reviews

Business & Hotel Management School

Business & Hotel Management School logo
Culinary & Hospitality Summer Camp in Switzerland

Experience an unforgettable summer in Switzerland with BHMS in Lucerne—where learning meets adventure. Designed for students aged 16 to 20, the BHMS Summer Camp combines education, culture, and fun in one of Europe’s most inspiring destinations.Choose ...

Floating Campus
9.5379 reviews

Semester at Sea

Semester at Sea logo
Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus

Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries and cultures around the globe. It's more than just the adventure of a lifetime. It's a transformative expe...

How to Take a Gap Year

How to take a gap year

Not sure what a gap year even is? We don’t blame you—”gap year” has come to be somewhat of a blanket term for any extended period of time taken off away from home or “normal” life. The unstructured pursuit of personal growth abroad tends to be what defines a gap year. If you want to know how to do a gap year, here’s a general overview:

  • Figure out why you want to take a gap year. Don’t set off on your life-changing journey without knowing what you want out of the experience. Do you want to learn a new language? Gain career skills? Just plain old immerse in a brand new place and culture? There’s no wrong way to take a gap year, but mapping out your gap year goals is a helpful first step.
  • Decide when to go. There isn't a wrong time to take a gap year; it’s all about finding the right time for you. If you’re a recent high school graduate who has no clue what they want to study in college, your time will be better spent on a gap year abroad, getting a firsthand look at how the world works, and learning more about yourself and your wants. Or, if you’re about to graduate college and aren’t sure you actually chose the right field of study anymore, going on a gap year is a great way to take some time to figure it out, while still building skills and having one-of-a-kind experiences.
  • Choose a gap year program. Booking a gap year program can be immensely helpful, especially if you plan to go to more than one destination. Gap year programs will help you sort out visas, find safe places to stay, and maybe even find you some paid work opportunities.

Popular Providers

Frequently Asked Questions

A gap year is an intentional break from school or work for travel. They traditionally last for a year or longer, but can be as short as one semester. Gap years are characterized by immense personal growth and education through travel.

It's a great idea to take a gap year, as they're highly beneficial to travelers of all ages. The best reasons to take a gap year include educational opportunities, work experience, global perspectives, and personal growth.

To take a gap year, set goals for what you want to accomplish during your time off and which parts of the world you want to see. Decide if you want to go after high school, during college, or after college, all of which are possibilities.

You can do so much on a gap year! Some ideas include studying a new language, backpacking through a country, working in a hostel, or volunteering on an organic farm. Be intentional and set goals, and think about how your plans factor into life after your gap year.

You can take a gap year after high school, during college, after college, or mid-career. The best time to take your gap year will depend on your personal and professional goals, as well as your budget and responsibilities.

The best places to take a gap year include New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland, as they offer working holiday opportunities for gappers. Other popular places are Southeast Asia and Western Europe.

It depends. If you make the most of your gap year and can add what you learned or experienced to a resume/CV, colleges will be more appreciative of your gap year. However, this varies from institution to institution.

You can take a year off during college for a gap year, or even a semester. The process for this will depend on your home university and whether or not your gap year can earn you college credit.

To plan a gap year, you'll need to know when you want to go, what you want to do, and which countries you want to see. These are all important steps in planning a gap year. MyGoAbroad can help get you started.

Latest Program Reviews

An unforgettable 10-week gap-year on the Lite Regal Medicine Programme!

December 03, 2025by: Lisa Han - ChinaProgram: Medical Gap Year Course with Optional Internship
10

As a student from Hong Kong who had just completed my IB exams, joining the 10-week Medicine Gap Year course at Lite Regal was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I wanted a programme that would help me bridge the gap between school and medical school, push me academically, and give me real exposure to the medical world — and Lite Regal delivered all of that and so much more. Coming from an international school environment, I was nervous about studying abroad alone for the first time. But from the moment I arrived in London, the team and the other students made me feel at home. The small class sizes and supportive teachers meant I could ask questions freely, and I never once felt lost or overwhelmed. The academic side was incredibly enriching — we covered anatomy, physiology, cardiology, neurology, immunology, and so many other fascinating topics. What really stood out were the practical workshops: suturing, clinical skills sessions, medical simulations, and even dissection practice. These experiences made me feel, for the first time, like I was truly stepping into the world of medicine. The 4-week clinical shadowing was unforgettable. Being able to observe doctors in real hospital and clinic settings in London opened my eyes to how medical teams work together and how meaningful patient care can be. It also made me more confident that medicine is truly the right path for me. The course also really helped with my university applications. The UCAT prep, personal-statement guidance, and mock interviews were incredibly useful — especially since the application process can feel overwhelming for Hong Kong students applying abroad. I left the programme feeling much more prepared. Beyond academics, I loved the friendships I made. Meeting students from around the world, exploring London together, and supporting each other through the course created memories I’ll never forget. If you’re a student from Hong Kong (or anywhere else!) thinking of studying medicine, I can’t recommend this programme enough. It gave me clarity, confidence, and an unforgettable start to my journey into medicine.

Latest Interviews

Alisa Regassa

Alisa Regassa

Tidelines Institute

Alumni

I knew that Alaska was a place I'd wanted to visit—and visit meaningfully. I saw this opportunity, and it seemed like it was the perfect time and plac...

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Vivianne Kaiwei Zhang Wei

Vivianne Kaiwei Zhang Wei

Wanderlust Exchange

Alumni

I was looking to take a gap year between my undergraduate and Master’s studies, and going to China just made sense to me.

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