With so much time on your hands, it can be difficult to decide how to best spend your gap year. The top 10 gap year courses of 2023–2024 are listed below.
What you do with your gap year (or gap time; who says it has to be exactly a year?) is up to you. Considering a career as a ski instructor? A gap program may be the answer. Interested in circumnavigating the globe by sailboat? Indeed, such a gap program does exist. A gap year is less about what you do and more about the time you take to develop yourself via real-world experience.
With so many options, choose a gap year program can be difficult; we hope to simplify the process for you. To get you thinking big about your next adventure, we’ve produced a list of the top gap year programs, broken down by popular categories.
Where do you go on your "gap year"?
To provide a respite from formal education or the workforce, gap year programs organize a variety of hands-on learning experiences for their members. Traveling to new places and experiencing new things are common themes in gap year programs, which can be further customized by location and type of trip (such as adventure travel or language study abroad).
The options for how to spend a gap year are practically limitless. After all, a gap year is nothing more than a productive break from regular school or job. There aren’t many restrictions on how you should spend your gap year, though it shouldn’t be spent doing nothing but watching Friends reruns on repeat.
Who can take a year off?
Everyone, regardless of age or level of education, has access to gap year opportunities. Traditional gap year programs target recent high school and college grads, but working professionals and retirees can also benefit from taking a year off to travel and grow professionally. Taking a year off from school or job to focus on personal development through travel and experiential learning is called a “gap year.”
No matter your age or level of schooling, there is a gap year experience waiting for you. While most gap year programs target recent high school and college grads, working professionals and retirees are also welcome to participate. A gap year could be the best choice if you’re tired of working or going to school and want to spend time studying and exploring the world.
When did we decide on these shows?
Here at Go Overseas, we want to make sure that our community members have access to everything they need to choose the study abroad program that is right for them and their needs. We matched each program’s overall rating with the verified, up-to-date ratings left by community members to select the best ones. The greater the number of glowing testimonials, the more likely we are to provide our approval.
Finally, we used our expertise in the field to ensure that the programs we recommend have been thoroughly verified by both the community and our team of specialists.
Warriors College
This year-long program through Warriors Academy is broken up into four action-packed adventures corresponding with the seasons. Each 7-week quest will combine adventurous activities with soft skill development to prepare participants for university, the corporate world, and life in general. Warriors Academy focuses on community service, self-development, eco-consciousness, and workplace readiness activities to give students a well-rounded gap year experience.
With over 16 years of experience facilitating gap years, Warriors Academy has a proven track record and is highly reviewed by program alum. Participants are signing up for the adventure of a lifetime but will also be challenged to become better critical thinkers and problem solvers, and more confident individuals.
Taking a Leadership Gap Year in Ireland
Participate in the Irish Gap Year Adventure and Leadership Program to hone your leadership abilities, assist the local community, and learn about Irish culture. Participants in this program will be put through rigorous mental and physical tests through a variety of outdoor pursuits.
Beyond only wild camping, surfing on Donegal Bay, and touring Irish cities, the Adventure and Leadership course offers so much more. Throughout the course of the program’s 2.5 months, gappers will concentrate on “4 cornerstones” that are meant to instill soft skills and foster autonomy. These pillars include service learning, cultural immersion, leadership development, and time spent outdoors.
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Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) offers volunteers a wide variety of opportunities in the Ghanaian city of Kumasi, from teaching English to working with children. Volunteering overseas can be costly, but via PMGY you can participate in meaningful projects without breaking the bank. Volunteers will meet with a local team for an orientation before beginning their service in healthcare facilities or educational institutions. The typical duration of a project is between two weeks and five and a half months.
Participants will stay together in a volunteer house located on the outskirts of town throughout their gap year. This is a great chance to unwind with other volunteers after a busy day. Potential volunteers are subject to a background check and will be asked to submit proof of qualifications if they are interested in working on healthcare-related projects.
Tica Phrases
Tico Lingo provides an Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Costa Rica for those who wish to become more fluent in the Spanish language while spending a year away from the United States. Homestays and language classes taught by locals are two ways gap year participants can immerse themselves in Costa Rica’s culture and get the most out of their time there.
Depending on their needs and budget, gappers can select either group or private instruction. If you prefer to learn in a group setting, rest assured that class sizes are kept small enough that each student has ample time to ask questions and share their ideas. Spend as little as one week or as long as twenty-four!
College in the Clouds
Outdoor exploration, conservation education, and leadership development all come together in the High Mountain Institute’s (HMI) Adventure, Conservation & Leadership in Wild Places curriculum. Beautiful natural areas will be the classroom for your self-discovery and awareness of the world around you. Travelers can visit places like Arizona’s deserts, Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and Utah’s Canyonlands.
The options for gappers’ academic semesters are called Traverse, Rock, and Trek. While both Rock and Trek include time in Chile, Traverse stays within the United States throughout the whole program.
Traveling for Art History
Art History Abroad offers a 6-week gap year course in which students travel throughout Italy and learn about the history, art, architecture, politics, and culture of each city. Learn about the history of the country while participating in hands-on workshops and sampling regional cuisine and music.
Visitors to Italy on a gap year will be immersed in the country’s rich culture and leave with a deeper appreciation for the country’s cultural heritage. Participants will be challenged to broaden their creative horizons and will return home with international experience that will benefit them in many ways.
Internships with VACorps
Cape Town, South Africa is home to several of VACorps’ internship opportunities in fields as diverse as finance, renewable energy, engineering, the media, technology, the law, and public health. Gappers will benefit from internships by gaining valuable work experience and expanding their professional network.
Participants in the gap year internship program will gain valuable work experience and a taste of South African culture through active participation in community events. While experiencing the wonders of Cape Town, gappers will gain the confidence to try new things, the ability to work independently, and the ability to better manage their time.
