History Gap Year Programs in Western Europe

Spend a gap semester exploring rich traditions and modern cultural identity in Italy and Greece. These two nations significantly influence how the Western world thinks about philosophy, art, religion, economics, and politics. Throughout their histories, they have shown resilience in adapting to social, political, and environmental change, and today, they continue to maintain a connection with traditional ways of living while also proactively addressing modern challenges associated with climate change's environmental and economic consequences. Italy and Greece provide rich historical context as to how societies have evolved to meet the demands of the modern era while remaining deeply rooted in cultural identity, tradition, and heritage. Carpe Diem Education takes you to Italy and Greece to engage with communities proactively addressing climate change through the lens of resilience and regeneration.

Experience the westernmost outpost of the Arab world. Travel from forested mountains to the Sahara Desert while studying different languages, faiths, and cultures across the Straits of Gibraltar. From the rise and fall of empires to the cross-cultural exchanges that have left an indelible mark on both nations, this program emphasizes migration patterns, international relations, and religious influence across continents. By following the path of conquests, intellectual growth, and artistic achievements, we will gain a profound understanding of how history has shaped the present-day connections between Morocco and Spain.

Immerse yourself in French culture and the way of life in Paris, France! Whether it is gastronomic greatness, artistic endeavor, or cultural cachet you are looking for, there is no doubt that the City of Light still sits right at the top of the European heap. Visit wondrous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre! Are you interested in Art? Study art, design, or fashion with some of the greatest modern artists and professors at Parsons Paris. Take excursions all across France, from Bordeaux to Champagne! The cultural hub of Europe is at your fingertips when you study abroad in Paris, France! New for 2024: Study at one of Europe's top business schools, Grenoble École de Management, with our Semester International Business Studies program in Paris. Here, you can hone your business skills and expand your network amidst a vibrant international student community. Learn more on our website! We also have new internship opportunities in Paris! Design and Restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral to working with Luxury Fashion Brand Management, you will select an internship with an international organization that meets your professional, academic, and personal goals.

World Class Programs offers high school students the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. Our summer program is designed for teens from all academic backgrounds who are excited about immersing themselves in Italian culture and lifestyle. This pre-college program offers various course study options, including Art History, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Photography, Architecture, Italian language, and Tuscan Cuisine. Students can choose a major course for daily focus (Monday to Friday) in the mornings for three hours. Then, they attend elective classes, each lasting two hours, three times a week in the afternoons. On weekends, they go on day trips around Italy to explore cultural differences from city to city. Locations vary yearly; previous participants have visited Cinque Terre, Siena, Pisa, and Venice!

What makes a great gap year in Spain? Adventure, new culture, exploring new places, making amazing friends, and knowing you're in a safe environment. If you want to boost your Spanish and improve your academic standing before university, our gap year program in Sevilla is perfect for you! Spain has everything for the ideal gap year, with Centro MundoLengua’s program and our partner EUSA (associated with the University of Seville). Our gap year in Spain immerses you in Spanish life with cultural activities, semester seminars (up to 5), language classes (4h/week), community work, and the chance to live authentically in one of Europe’s most magical cities. In Sevilla, you'll be surrounded by beauty, culture, and history. Our activity program includes trips to other cities in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. There’s never been a better time for a gap year in Spain, and with Centro MundoLengua, it’s never been easier. You'll also develop new life skills and give your college application a boost with international experience, including language study, educational travel, volunteer service, and full cultural immersion! Program dates | January 21st - May 16th, 2026 Price | $12,100

Ireland is known for dark beers in cozy pubs. Its dramatic scenery, ancient culture, and friendly Irish people will make you never want to leave. The Irish are known for their hospitality. The locals embrace foreigners on their shores, showing you around and helping you immerse in Irish life. A Working Holiday in Ireland allows you to work casual jobs across the country while helping fund your travels. When you book with Global Work & Travel, we handle all the logistics for you. This means a guaranteed job interview before arrival. And to keep you employed and happy, you get unlimited extra interviews when you need a new job. You also get a range of activities in Dublin within your first few days—on us. To help you explore further, we’ve included two nights at Oktoberfest in Germany or two nights on the famous party island of Ibiza. This is the stress-free way to live and work in Ireland! Our Working Holiday in Ireland is designed to make you more than a tourist. Spend time truly immersing yourself and becoming a local in no time!

Experience Spain and its people in a program like no other! This 12-week adventure takes you from North to South and from East to West on different types of trains: single track covering 190 km in 5 hours and high speed covering 680 km in 5 hours! Our upcoming programs: Spring 2025 March 1st - May 24th Fall 2025 September 6th - November 29th Spain by Train is divided into three trips and three base cities: San Sebastian, Salamanca, and Granada, where you can spend a longer time. The group also stays in Camino, Madrid, and Barcelona for a week each. This program aims to help you experience Spain at a deeper level and from a different perspective. Thus, we organize activities, workshops, and projects centered around various aspects of Spanish language and culture. Examples include a weekly cooking class or activity, discussions about history and politics, fitness routines, and complete immersion through homestays. Most of our gappers come from English-speaking countries, but we welcome participants from around the globe. To be eligible for the Spain by Train program, you must be 18 or older and passionate about Spain.

This 6-week Gap Year Course travels through Italy three times a year—Spring (January to early March), Early Summer (April to June), and Autumn (October to December). You will visit Venice, Castelfranco Bologna, Florence, Siena, and Roma, with day trips to San Gimignano, Verona, Naples, and Pompei. We use art and architecture to cover all subjects, be it history, art history, philosophy, politics, music and literature. For AHA, teaching students how to form a "habit" of creativity is something we take very seriously. This is why we have numerous creative sessions incorporated, allowing students to experiment with watercolors, sketching, creative writing, paper marbling, rowing in the Venice Canal, cooking classes, etc. We hope to help students form new ideas and have the confidence to articulate them. Our Gap Year is a wonderfully ambitious program with interests that spread from the ancient world in Rome and Naples to the Renaissance in Florence and contemporary art in Venice. You will learn about Leonardo, appreciate Titian, and understand why we should know about Michelangelo.

Dreaming of a gap year in Europe? The European Catalyst is the adventure you’ve been waiting for. Designed for 18-22 year olds, this program blends independence, excitement, and culture in some of Europe’s most unforgettable destinations. After beginning your journey in Ireland for 8 weeks, you’ll head across the continent to explore Amsterdam, Berlin, Lyon, and finally Goult in Provence. Each stop brings its own unique flavor, giving you the ultimate European gap year experience. Where? Ireland: Belfast, Derry, North Coast, Dublin, Donegal UK & Europe: Amsterdam, Berlin, Lyon, Provence When? Start dates in February and September. The program has a set starting price of £10,000 for 8 weeks in Ireland, this includes living and working in Portrush with trips to Belfast, Derry and Donegal. The full 11-week program costs £18,000 and includes trips to Amsterdam, Berlin and Lyon and finishes with living in a medical French village in Provence. Every student has access to a £1,500 scholarship and there are payment plans available to suit the needs of each family.

Considering postponing your plans for college? You may decide to delay starting a degree program, but you don't need to postpone achieving your academic goals! The Gap Year Program at The American College of Greece offers you the opportunity to earn college credit while immersing yourself in Greek history, language, culture and cuisine. Discover the historic city of Athens, the beauty of the Mediterranean, and the famous hospitality of the Greek people, while studying at The American College of Greece, the oldest American-accredited College in Europe, and the largest private, independent, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, co-educational academic institution in Greece. There are over 1,000 courses offered each year in a wide variety of subjects including: business, fine & performing arts, humanities, social sciences, communications, environmental studies and more. Our Comprehensive Fee covers tuition fees for up to 15 credits, housing fees, three excursions within Greece, and more. All enrolled students enjoy full access to ACG campus facilities, and we assist students with visa processing, airport pick-up, and provides support with travel planning within Greece and Europe.

The 21C Venetian Workshop celebrates the future—and your role in it—by unlocking insight, connection, and vision through immersive experiences. Set in the vibrant and historic city of Venice, the 21C Venetian Workshop offers a six-week program designed to cultivate the deeply human capabilities essential for today’s world. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty, rich cultural heritage, and the rhythm of life shaped by water and tides, participants explore new ways of thinking, imagining, and feeling—through the transformative power of the arts. Venice is undergoing a bold regeneration, emerging as a global hub of innovation and sustainability. Just steps from Italy’s leading incubator, it attracts forward-thinking organizations shaping the future. This setting, infused with thousands of years of culture and a way of life where food, family, and ritual matter, inspires deep reflection and imagination and helps galvanise personal priorities.