‘This isn’t how my gap year was meant to be’: how Covid turned young people’s lives upside down
Some have missed out on adventure, others on university places – but as well as turmoil, the pandemic has thrown up some surprising consolations
August 2020
Clearing 2020
It's never too early to think about jobs: how students can get a foot in the door
Clearing 2020
Staycations or charity work? Ideas for a Covid gap year
June 2020
I don't want to go to university next year – what can I do instead?
If you’re planning to defer your university place until next year, you have gap year options in the meantime
May 2020
Covid-19 has made universities' financial forecasts redundant. Good luck to us all
Jonathan Wolff
Will freshers opt to defer for a year, and can universities let them? No one knows the answers to even the biggest questions
August 2019
Let every pupil have a gap year before university
Letters: This would solve the problem of predicted A-level grades, and students who choose university after a year’s break are likely to be confident they actually want to be there, writes Angela Barton
Clearing 2019
‘Orphanage volunteering’ out, no-fly trips in: how to gap year in 2019
Get your CV on track before uni with a year of travel, work or ethical volunteering
Clearing 2019
'Young people mature a lot': why universities see a gap year as an asset
Universities see it as an asset to take a year out
July 2019
Life after university
Is it better to save a gap year until you graduate?
The traditional gap year has lost favour among A-level students. It could be more worthwhile to save it for later
'It was more than a holiday': how Interrailing changed my life
As two teens share their excitement and plans for an upcoming adventure, an experienced traveller recalls how Interrailing helped define her life and career
Back on track: my return to Interrailing 30 years on
Dixe Wills repeats his teenage Interrail odyssey, at a more leisurely pace this time, pausing to reflect on the unique opportunity the 31-country pass offers
Interrailing: a guide to prices, passes and planning
While spontaneity and adventure underpin the appeal of the Interrail pass, planning is also essential. We break down the many options
August 2018
You're the expert
Gap year travel: is it better to work at home or abroad?
Clearing 2018
Need some perspective before university? Take a gap year
July 2018
Taking a gap year? Here’s what you need to know about money
It’s crucial to read the small print on everything from insurance and cards to your mobile
October 2017
Language learning
Will learning a language abroad for a year make you fluent?
Gap year guide: how to see the world and not end up in debt
July 2017
Private lives
My gap year didn’t go as planned, and I feel like a waste of space
I interviewed for and won a PhD place, travelled with my partner and worked in a call centre, but I wake up with suicidal thoughts and regret it all
January 2017
Students change the world
Gap year stories: getting a taste of communal living
From shovelling manure in Israel to supporting refugees in north London, two gap-year students recount their experiences of sharing everything
June 2016
How to make sure your gap year boosts your future career
Plan ahead, gain experience in a relevant field if you can and tailor your CV accordingly, advise our experts
