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Age 18–22

Make this your year

Live and learn in the world’s most inspiring cities. Gain fluency, new perspectives, and the confidence to take your next step, wherever it leads.

Register to one of our weekly Gap Year Info Sessions

Learn more

Choose the program that fits your journey

Students At Gyeongbokgung Palace

40 weeks

EF World Year

Ten countries. Three continents. Forty weeks. EF World Year is the most ambitious way to spend a gap year, and the most unforgettable.

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Students At Gyeongbokgung Palace

24 weeks

Build Your Year

Begin your year with a multi-city experience, then settle into one destination for deeper study and connection. Designed for students ready to take a full year to grow, learn, and see the world from a new perspective.

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Students Near Arc de Triomphe

12 weeks

Semester programs

Choose a multi-destination semester or focus on one global city. Ideal for students making the most of a transition between school plans, pursuing college credits, or for those simply ready to learn a language while exploring the world.

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The most productive break of your life

A gap year isn’t about pressing pause. It’s about stepping into the world to build skills, fluency, and perspective that shape who you’ll become. Each experience is designed to help you grow with purpose and return ready for whatever comes next.

  • Develop global skills

    Live and learn in new cultures while building communication skills and cross-cultural understanding that lasts a lifetime.

  • Grow into your best self

    Learn to adapt, problem-solve, and thrive in new settings while building the mindset and maturity that shape strong global citizens.

  • Define your life path

    Discover what inspires you through real-world learning and immersive experiences that bring your goals into focus. 

  • Gain a competitive edge

    Enter college more prepared — academically, socially, and emotionally — with global experience and practical skills that set you apart. 

    • Hear from our students

    Seoul: Day in the life

    EF Gap Year Alum

    Barcelona: Day in the life

    EF Gap Year Alum

    Tokyo: Day in the life

    EF Gap Year Alum

    Playa Tamarindo: Day in the life

    EF Playa Tamarindo Campus

    Staff Teaching Students

    The world leader in international education

    When you travel with EF (Education First), you travel with a global organization that has been in operation since 1965. EF’s mission has always been to open the world through education, and we’ve delivered on that promise for millions of students. 

    girls in barcelona

    Ready to get started?

    Begin your gap year journey with confidence. An expert EF Program Advisor will get in touch to to talk through your goals and help you find the program that’s right for you.

    Contact us

    Boston

    Two Education Circle
    02141
    Cambridge
    USA
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    Monday-Thursday:
    9am – 8pm EST
    Friday:
    9am – 6pm EST

    Already booked with EF and have questions?

    Call us at 18009921892