The British English term gap year (or 'Year Out') is given to a prolonged period (often, but not always, a year) taken off full-time education by a student leaving high school and (ideally) before matriculating in college or university.

Some students spend the time travelling, others working, and many combine these into international working holidays. A popular option for gap year students is international volunteering. In the wake of the 2004/5 Tsunami disaster a great deal of volunteers that helped in Asia were on a Gap Year.

Gap years, which became prevalent in the 1990s, could be considered a modern equivalent of the Grand Tour.

A growing trend is what is becoming known as the Career Gap which is for those aged 25+. This career sabatical is usually undertaken by those either wanting a career change, nearing retirement or have seen the benefits gained from their own children taking a gap year.

In Australia the equivalent term is deferring. A high proportion of Australians going to university defer for a year. So many that in at least some parts of Australia the univeristy enrollment forms offer a tick box that allows automatically deferral for one year. This has been a common part of the Australian university experience since at least the 1980s.

In New Zealand it is known as OE or The Big OE meaning Overseas Experience but is more commonly undertaken after completing University.

Gap Year Chat