There are many advantages to taking a gap year. Lots of people choose this  option so that they can work and save up for their university studies. It is also a good opportunity to gain valuable work experience. However, being young and have no real monetary commitments give you a fantastic opportunity to travel the world. There is also the option to travel whilst working and some of the links below will answer your questions about what you can do, where you can go and how you can finance your trip.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What could I do in my gap year?
- Will this support my career/higher education plans?
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of a year out?
For Travel and Tourism courses relevant experience gained from a Gap Year involving travel or the hotel industry is recommended by most universities. Always remember to check insurance and health precautions before embarking on any overseas trip!
The main advantages of taking a year out to travel are:
- You will encounter a variety of new people from different backgrounds.
- You will be involved in new activities and situations, learning new skills and gaining confidence.
- This may be your first opportunity of living away from home giving you greater independence.
- The skills and experience gained from a gap year can be really valuable and will serve you well at university, at work, with your friends and for the rest of your life.
Some useful gap year information sources:
There is a really useful folder about Gap Year Options available in the OSFC careers area which you could look at for ideas and a CD ROM.
‘Skills Solution’ is a training company based in Manchester that offers management training with many tourism related job opportunities and they offer part-time Higher Education training for students with Advanced Level qualifications.
Also, try logging on to the following for more information:
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