Tips for taking your Gap Year abroad in 2022

If you' re finishing high school and don't know what to do next, or if you've returned from your Erasmus and feel you need to experience something similar again soon, we understand you perfectly! Have you heard about taking a "gap year"?

If you thought that the only way out after high school or university was to continue studying or start working, you might be happy, because there is life beyond this "predetermined" path. Today we'll tell you everything you need to know about doing a gap year abroad.

What is a Gap Year?

Yes, the concept sounds familiar... but what is a gap year? Is it the same as a sabbatical year?

A gap year is a period of time from a few months to a year that is usually taken after high school or after graduating from university. It's quite common in countries such as the USA, Australia and the UK, being mandatory in some of them, but it's becoming more and more common in other countries such as Spain and Latin America in general.

Normally a gap year is used to travel, participate in exchange programmes, studies, internships or volunteering outside the country of origin, and even to study a language abroad. It's usually taken at times considered a turning point to find out what we like and don't like, to learn more, to meet different people, to open our minds and, in short, to get to know ourselves.

Although many consider a sabbatical year to be something different from a gap year, as it's sometimes related to a period to be taken exclusively to rest and relax due to mental and/or physical fatigue, others believe that it is practically the same thing. What do you think?

Advantages of taking a Gap Year

When deciding whether to take a gap year abroad, many things may hold you back: the budget you have, the opinion of your family and friends (especially if you are underage), uncertainty, fears... it's normal!

We know that taking a gap year can be something not suitable for everyone, but there are options for an economical gap year. You can shorten the duration of your gap year, as it doesn't necessarily have to be a full year, or choose an option that suits your budget. There are programmes abroad and options for all budgets!

As for the opinion of your family and friends, we understand that it's important, as they may not be completely convinced if you tell them that you want to take some time off before going to university or looking for a job, etc. Our advice is that you explain to them in depth what a gap year is and all the benefits it can bring you (we'll leave them here below). You can also send them this post!

Some of the advantages of taking a gap year abroad are the following:

• Have a break from routine. Day-to-day life can be exhausting and even more so after a period of intense studies or work, so a gap year will help you to rest and recharge your batteries.
• Discover the world. It' s more than proven that the more we travel and discover new places and cultures, the more we learn and see things from other points of view.
• Learn one or more languages. If you spend time learning one or more languages in addition to everything you learn while travelling, you will be able to immerse yourself in the culture of the place and live a unique experience, not to mention how knowing more languages will help you in the future!
• Meet new people and make friends. Experiences are meant to be lived with more people and, believe us, one of the things you will treasure most about your adventure is having met people from all over the world.
• Be better prepared for the future. Living abroad for a period of time will not only give you the chance to learn languages or other disciplines, but it will also help you to get by better, to mature and to make better decisions. All advantages!
• Get to know yourself better. Most of all, the gap year is a period in which you will learn to know yourself much better, to know what you need and what you want, to listen to your body and to decide where you want to be tomorrow.

What to do in a Gap Year

Nowadays there are so many possibilities that you can do whatever kind of gap year you feel like, whether you prefer to stay in one place or travel the world, you choose what suits you best!

Here are some ideas on what to do in a gap year:

• Study a language (or several) abroad. Take advantage of a few weeks or months to learn a language or do a combined programme to learn several languages during the year and live in several countries. How amazing is that?
• Do an internship related to your studies (or the opposite!). Spend some time doing an internship after your studies or change sectors completely and try something different. You might be surprised!
• Study in another country. You may want to take a break from your routine in your home country but continue your studies abroad, whether it's to prepare for admission to a foreign university, to do a postgraduate degree, etc.
• Enrol in a cultural, artistic or sporting language programme. How about a language programme with surfing? Or a language programme with arts classes? Maybe you want to combine cultural activities with language learning. Well, it's possible!
• Volunteer abroad. You can also take advantage of your stay abroad to help out and do your bit by volunteering. From non-profit organisations with social causes, animal sanctuaries and environmental conservation to companies, cooperatives or local organisations in any sector, the possibilities are almost endless!
• Work abroad. If you want to take advantage of your stay to cover expenses and still be able to travel and enjoy yourself, this may be one of your best options. In addition, you will gain work experience in other countries, which is highly demanded nowadays.
• Travel and explore one or more countries. If you simply need to get away from everything and explore the world, you can spend your time discovering new places and collecting experiences. If you don't have a big budget, you may want to combine it with other options such as work or paid internships.

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to choose from when it comes to what to do during your gap year abroad. Which one do you choose?

Plan your Gap Year abroad with Erasmusu Education

If you want to make the most of your Gap Year, Erasmusu Education makes it easy for you so that your experience is unforgettable. Find the programme that best suits you or create your tailor-made gap year with the assistance of our team of experts and make your dream of living abroad come true. Get ready for the best year of your life!

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