Advantages Breathing space to think about your future Developing independence and self-reliance Having new life experiences Experience of team work Make money! Gaining course related experience

Disadvantages Getting out of the study habit Losing touch with subject developments Adding an extra year to your education Becoming distracted from education

What can you do? - gap year opportunities

Travelling Travelling allows you to meet new people and experience different cultures. Spending some time abroad may also improve your language skills and afford you the opportunity to gain independence and maturity.

Voluntary work Voluntary work may be undertaken in your home town, elsewhere in the UK or abroad. Examples of areas where voluntary work may be on offer include: archaeology, conservation and heritage projects, social, educational and welfare work and work with the sick/or disabled.

Employment Gaining employment on your gap year may offer the opportunity to test out various careers you may be interested in. Even if you don't get a job within your particular field of interest, picking up short-term or temporary work offers you the opportunity to develop skills such as team work, communication, problem-solving etc.

Opportunity to learn new skills You may use your time to learn new skills, for example, keyboard skills or a foreign language, which may come in useful when seeking employment after completion of your course.

Gap contacts

There are a wide range of gap year opportunities available, both at home and abroad. Check out www.yearoutgroup.org for more ideas of projects.