Our committed Gap Year Consultants work with students and their families plan their dream EF Gap experience, whether that’s a Semester or Year program.

Consultants will help driven, growth-focused students determine whether a gap is the right fit, discuss their dream destinations, and understand their unique gap goals before beginning to plan a life-changing, custom gap program.

Additional responsibilities include collecting information like allergies or diet restrictions, collaborating on funding plans and discussing fundraising, communicating housing choices, and making a plan (if needed) for college deferral.

At the end of the enrollment period, our Consultants will connect with their students’ assigned Gap Year Advisor to ensure a smooth transition from the planning process to the program stage.

Each EF Gap Year student is be paired with a dedicated Program Gap Year Advisor who will serve as a consistent point of contact, providing mentorship and support from the pre-departure process throughout students’ time on program.

Our Gap Year Advisors work with their students to set goals prior to departure, chart their progress while on-program, and measure their learning outcomes at Wrap-Up. Our Advisors are in regular contact with travelers (and their families!), providing one-to-one support to ensure an excellent experience.

From our Field and Tour Directors, to our Local Guides and Student Life Coordinators, this division of EF’s on-the-ground support strives to provide our students with authentic, immersive experiences in iconic international destinations—think of these tireless team members as knowledgable, licensed, and trained group leaders.

These individuals are all part of EF’s global network, and their role is to look after all on-program logistics, schedules, and the general welfare of the group while conducting walking tours and visits to cultural sights, providing a local perspective, and making appropriate suggestions for free time activities that enhance the program’s educational content.

Unlike other gap organizations, we insist on overseeing all aspects of our programs ourselves—and that means having an in-house, specialized team of operational experts working around-the-clock and behind-the-scenes to create our life-changing program itineraries.

Program Operations collaborates with partners around the world to ensure that our students’ EF Gap Year experiences meet our strict standards. Their role encompasses researching and selecting destinations that offer meaningful cultural exchange and beneficial learning opportunities for both participants and their hosts. It also includes developing hands-on learning opportunities for each program module based on our G2PA method that produce concrete outcomes and, at the same time, offer unforgettable experiences that are engaging and fun.

We have dedicated Program Operations staff in our Zurich and Boston offices, with additional support from EF staff on-the-ground in 115 countries.

This team is available to all of our travelers 24/7 and trained to support students in times of crisis.

You can count on these experts, who work with a network of healthcare professionals and government personnel, to oversee proactive operational welfare measures and provide aid to our students on program all over the world—so regardless of the time zone or program, whatever the circumstance, whatever the hour, EF will be there to answer the call.