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Make this your year.

EF Gap Year programs are designed to give you the time and space to grow, explore, and figure out what you're working towards before taking on your future.

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What you’ll gain

In the face of big life decisions ahead, the most precious resource we have is time: time to grow, to explore, and to figure out what we’re really working towards before taking on our futures. Taking a gap is all about preparing yourself to make the most of college—and in many ways, the rest of your life.

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    Confidence & Independence
    Get out of your comfort zone and discover what you're capable of.

    Global Citizenship
    Gain language skills, experience new cultures, and expand your horizons.

    Self-Discovery
    Understand how to leverage your strengths and begin to define your life path.

    Real World Skills
    Learn how to live and travel on your own and build skills that will help you later in life.

    Confidence & Independence
    Get out of your comfort zone and discover what you're capable of.

    Global Citizenship
    Gain language skills, experience new cultures, and expand your horizons.

    Self-Discovery
    Understand how to leverage your strengths and begin to define your life path.

    Real World Skills
    Learn how to live and travel on your own and build skills that will help you later in life.

    Two program lengths

    Choose how long you want to travel. With Year & Semester programs, there's an EF Gap experience for everyone.

    The EF Gap Year Program

    Discover the world on the ultimate, global gap year: explore Europe, Asia, and Australia through a combination of guided exploration and cultural immersion.

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    Semester Programs

    Spend your gap semester living in different parts of the world, experiencing multiple destinations in depth. Combine language study, service-learning, and/or an internship.

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    Our people are your people

    With the largest worldwide network of in-country experts and support teams trained to assist you in times of need, EF’s global presence is truly unmatched.

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    100+

    Countries with
    EF operations

    400+

    Community partners
    and collaborators

    600+

    EF offices and
    schools

    52,000

    EF staff, faculty,
    and teachers

    “During my EF gap semester I met some of my best friends, worked on environmentally-focused projects in several different countries and improved my Spanish. The whole experience is one that I will happily and gratefully carry with me for the rest of my life.”

    MIA E.

    EF Gap Year alum

    Complete this short form to learn why EF Gap Year programs are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to pause, get inspired, and prepare for your future.

      “If anyone is searching for a path to follow, a way to achieve their goals, or even just who they are, they need to take a gap year.”

      ANNABEL H.

      EF Gap Year alum