If you're planning going travelling on your gap year, our guide has lots of ideas on where to go and what to see, with some amazing destination including Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Brazil.
If you want to please yourself during your Europe gap year, then we recommend coming up with your own travel itinerary where you can visit all the places you want to in your own time.
This gives you some flexibility, and means you won't miss out on something you really want to see or do.
However, if you would prefer something more structured where you don't have to worry about any of the planning, you can opt for a gap year program with one of the many agencies out there.
Some of the best Europe gap year programs include:
A gap year travelling around Europe can cost anything from around £2,000 up to £8,000, depending on where you go, where you stay and what you do.
For those on a shoestring budget, you will have to be prepared to take minimal supplies with you, eat local food and bunk in hostels or other cheap accommodation.
You may also have to check what attractions are free or inexpensive to visit in order to keep spending as low as possible.
If you don't fancy travelling around Asia on your own, or just want something more focussed and structured, then choose one of the many Asia gap year programs out there. These include:
For gap year students on a longer trip, plan on spending about £25 a day for one person on average, or about £650 a month.
Please bear in minf that this is travelling as a backpacker, using budget accommodation and eating mainly local food. These numbers don't include expenses paid upfront.
To plan your gap year travels, we recommend:
Some of the best Australia gap year programs currently include:
The cost of a gap year in Australia will vary greatly depending on what you hope to be doing.
It's possible to only have to cover airfare if you decide to go overseas with an au pair program, where you might even be paid a stipend.
You can apply for a working holiday visa which allows you to work while you travel. Or you can do a programed gap year which will be on the costlier side and could cost as much as £3,000 or more.
Remember that the cost of living in Australia is pretty equivalent to the US, so budget accordingly.
Some gappers choose to travel in a pair or small group, and set their own itinerary. This allows flexibility in their plans, and means they can see everything they want to see and do (as long as they have enough budget!).
However, for those who prefer something more structured or don't want to worry about doing all the planning then a South America gap year program could be the best option for you. These include:
A gap year in South America is likely to cost you around £25 a day on average, although this depends on where you go, where you stay and what you do.
You can certainly stick to a budget as low as this as long as you're willing to backpack, eat local food and stay in cheap accommodation.
Of course, you can always spend more too if your budget allows it, so think about your plans and how far your pennies are likely to stretch before booking anything.
To get the most out of your gap year down under, you will need to think about budgeting at least £800 a month, although this may increase depending on where you go, what you do and how long you plan on travelling.
Some students choose to spend their whole 12 months out there, doing temporary work to keep funds topped up.
Think carefully about what you want to achieve from your gap year and how much you can realistically afford to spend.
