With some careful planning, your gap year can be the perfect time to gain impressive skills and experiences that will help you in the future. There are so many fantastic gap year activities to try, which give you the chance to meet new people, broaden your horizons and challenge yourself. If you’re wondering what to do on a gap year, The Gap Year Hub has rounded up some of the top gap year activities and gap year ideas, so you can fill your time with experiences that are as unique as you are.
“Knowing what we do about the professional and personal enrichment brought on by the gap year experience, and how positively it impacts academics and employability, it is time to rebrand gap years as one of the most significant educational opportunities we have”
Forbes
Here are some of the most popular gap year ideas to help you start planning your trip:
Indulge your love of the arts with cultural gap year activities, including art, music, dance and drama.
Discover the world and meet new people by filling your backpack and heading off on a life-changing gap year.
Joining a community project on your gap year can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Make a difference to local people, animals or the environment by joining a conservation project as one of your gap year activities.
Don your chef’s hat and become a culinary master on a gap year cookery course at home or abroad.
If you are spending your gap year at home, an online e-gap year course can help you gain new skills.
Try thrilling gap year activities on an expedition to remote destinations, and explore mountains, forests, glaciers and more.
Gain experience in a sector that interests you with a gap year internship at home or abroad, on a paid or voluntary basis.
Take a language course at home or further afield and spend your gap year learning new lingo.
Specialised medical gap year programs for pre-med and nursing students looking to gain experience overseas.
Overland gap year tours give you the opportunity to explore a destination with a group of like-minded travellers.
If you love snowsports then combine your passion for ski or snowboarding with a working gap year on the slopes.
You can teach sports on your gap year by joining an adventure organisation, summer camp or training scheme.
Earn money and boost your CV by teaching English to non-English speakers during your gap year.
Give something back and make a real difference by spending time volunteering as one of your gap year activities.
There are so many paid jobs you can do on a working gap year, from summer camps, to hospitality, farm work and childcare.
If you’re happiest in the sea, spend your gap year learning a new water sport or teach others how to perfect their skills.