Teach English Abroad

As a native English speaker, you have a skill that you can use to finance your gap year. Millions of people from all over the world are keen to learn English to further their careers and improve their job prospects. Before setting up as an English teacher, you'll need to complete a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. They are often fairly expensive, but a good investment if you intend to travel for a long period as it enables you to find paid work in a large number of countries. Some TEFL colleges will find you work placement abroad: this is well worth exploring, as you know you'll be guaranteed work at the end of your journey. You could also consider teaching English to foreign students in the UK to finance a trip later in the year.

Volunteer Teaching

Organisations can arrange work placements in hundreds of schools around the world. You'll need to attend a basic Teaching Skills course, but once you've completed this, you could be teaching in a matter of weeks! The advantage of going through an organisation is that they arrange the placement so you know the position and school have been researched before you leave.

Raleigh International

You may have missed your chance to meet Prince William on his recent Raleigh adventure, but joining an expedition with this respected youth development charity will still be an experience you'll never forget. Each year, Raleigh organises 11 expeditions for people aged between 17 and 25 to countries all over the world. You don't need any special skills, just a thirst for adventure and the desire to make a difference. Recent Raleigh projects have included building schools, tracking endangered species, and trekking. All expeditions last ten weeks and are extremely popular, so make sure you apply early!

Conservation Projects

Why not offer your services as a volunteer on a conservation project? It's both memorable and rewarding. A number of organisations can arrange placements for gap-year students: for UK projects, try the National Trust or the RSPB, and if you're looking for something further afield, get in touch with The Earthwatch Institute, Frontier, or VentureCo Worldwide.

Work Placement

By the time you've left school, you may already have a good idea of the career you intend to pursue. A gap year could be the perfect opportunity to find out more about your chosen vocation by finding a work placement. Many large companies welcome gap-year students on short-term placements, and although not all of them will pay you, the experience and insight that a placement will give you more than make up for lack of financial rewards. You can either contact companies direct, or use an agency to help you.

Volunteer Caring

Caring for the sick, elderly, or people with disabilities can be an immensely rewarding experience, and many organisations around the world rely almost entirely on volunteers for this kind of work. The simplest way to arrange a placement, especially if you intend to work abroad, is to get in touch with charities such as Challenges, Changing Worlds, or Project Trust. Closer to home, you could try contacting your Local Health Authority to see if there are any opportunities for volunteer carers.

Travel/Adventure

Many students take advantage of a gap year to travel the world for an extended period. If you're looking for adventure, freedom, and an opportunity to meet interesting people from all around the world, then travelling could be for you. Before you set off, it's important to make sure that you can comfortably finance the trip, that you are properly insured, and that you have consulted your doctor to find out what health precautions you need to take.