Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our gap programs.
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Your students’ well-being is our number one priority. With our 55+ years of experience, our extensive global presence, and our collaboration with U.S. and international authorities, we lead the charge on traveler safety abroad. Whether it’s a worldwide pandemic or a sprained ankle, a missed flight or a lost passport, we’ve seen it all—and we have the resources to handle it.
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Feel free to give one of our knowledgeable EF Gap Consultants a call at 1-800-726-9746.
The program fee for EF Gap Year programs includes all flights (including to and from your home city), on-the-ground transportation, accommodations, activities, excursions, mentorship, and global support. Some meals are also included in your program; the exact proportion of meals included depends on which program you choose. Your Gap Year Consultant can share specifics on each program and help you figure out the program that best fits your financial situation.
All EF Gap Year programs are designed with an experiential learning focus, with an emphasis on getting you out into the world to grow in terms of your personal development and global awareness.
Our 23-week EF Gap Year program and our 10-week Pathfinder, Changemaker, and Voyager Semesters are designed to give students time away from the classroom and the pressure of the academic world.
Your Gap Year Consultant can help you explore different options and decide what program is the right fit for you based on what you want to get out of your experience!
Meals included vary by program. Speak with your Gap Year Consultant to better understand the meals included in your specific program so that you can budget accordingly.
Typically the meals during your EF Gap Year program will be hearty and nutritious, with an emphasis on local cuisine. If you are vegan or vegetarian, have food allergies, or other special dietary needs, please discuss this with your Gap Year Consultant, who can help you figure out the right program and plan for you. We do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, but your food choices are ultimately your own responsibility.
While accommodations may vary by program and location, our focus is always on providing comfortable and safe places to stay.
You will typically share a room with between 1 and 3 other students, but on some programs there may be up to 6 students in a shared room. Rooming is organized by legal gender, but if you need rooming alternatives, please let us know and we are happy to discuss.
Yes! There are lots of ways to combine programs to create your ideal experience. Talk to your Gap Year Consultant if you are considering multiple programs.
On-the-ground support on an EF Gap Year program is a team effort!
Our Field Directors are the people who bring every destination to life. They accompany our EF Gap Year students as they travel. They are the friendly faces who greet students at the airport, and they accompany the group while coordinating on-program logistics & schedules. Their expertise both in the place and in managing groups is part of the magic of the EF Gap Year experience!
Our programs also have Student Life Coordinators who accompany students throughout their program. These Student Life Coordinators foster positive group dynamics, assist students with personal issues, and work with the Field Director to make the program run as smoothly as possible.
In addition to Field Directors, students are also supported by the EF Program Advisors based in the Boston Office throughout the duration of their program. Program Advisors provide support, encouragement, and mentorship as students prepare for, go through, and finish their EF Gap Year program.
Want to learn more about the layers of support? Check out our Safety & Support page.
It is not possible to earn a wage for your internship during our gap year program due to various international visas, taxation, and contractual restrictions; however, it may be possible to earn college credit for your internship thanks to our educational partnership with Colorado State University. Please speak with your Gap Year Consultants for details.
EF Gap Year students are supported by multiple layers of staff throughout their experience abroad. The average staff-to-student ratio is 8 to 1 or less. Note that the exact staff-to-student ratio varies by program. In all programs, students are supported on the ground by a Field Director, Student Life Coordinator, and often other local EF support staff. Additionally, students are supported remotely by a dedicated EF Gap Year Advisor and the program’s leadership team in the U.S., as well as a 24/7 Safety and Incident Response team.
Though all our programs provide access to local staff who offer advice and support throughout each module, EF Gap Year programs are best suited to mature, independent-minded students who welcome the chance to develop their self-advocacy and self-management skills. All programs combine both planned excursions, activities, and experiences with free time. Students should feel confident and excited to develop their independence during their free time, while still being accountable for attending and engaging during planned group activities.
To be eligible for our program, you must be at least 18 years old by the date of departure. You must also have a high school diploma or GED. If you are under the age of 18 while you’re applying, a parent or legal guardian must co-sign all of your documents.
The pacing and physical requirements of EF Gap Year programs vary by itinerary. Certain programs require considerable physical exertion; for example, many historic sites are only accessible on foot and involve stairs, rough trails, or inclines. Programs that include Service Learning activities may involve lifting, digging, hammering, or other strenuous physical activities and similar accessibility issues.
Outside the United States, accommodations facilities, and modes of transportation are not bound by the same accessibility laws that apply in the United States, and therefore they may not be up to the same standard of accessibility.
Our philosophy is to accept as many qualified candidates as possible. Your Gap Year Consultant will work with you to determine a program that will work for you and go through the essential program requirements and travel expectations of your planned itinerary.
There are a limited number of scholarships, university-based financial aid, and private funding opportunities available to gap year students nationwide.
Another great resource to search for external scholarships and funding information is the Gap Year Association.
Additionally, we offer flexible payment plans allowing you to pay your program fee in installments (see below).
There are 3 different payment options: 1) enroll in a monthly Automatic Payment Plan, 2) pay manually in 3 installments, or 3) pay in full upon enrollment. Please review the Payment Plans Terms and Conditions in the Booking Conditions for further details. Your Gap Year Consultant can also walk you through these options.
Once you officially enroll in the program, you will thereafter be subject to our Cancellation Policy, which you can read in detail in our Booking Conditions.
EF Gap Year offers a specially designed Global Travel Protection Plan that meets all of the program’s requirements and recommendations at a very competitive price. This cost is not included in your base price and is non-refundable after the 10-day review period.
Note that all EF Gap Year participants are required to maintain adequate medical and accident insurance throughout the term of their program.
Our Essential Eligibility Criteria are in place to make sure all students are set up to successfully complete their EF Gap Year program, including the physical & mental challenges that may be outside their comfort zones.
Please see the full list of our Essential Eligibility Criteria listed in our Booking Conditions.
To participate in our program, every EF Gap Year student must agree to and sign the Rules of the Road prior to departure.
Our program is primarily designed for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please contact an EF Gap Year Consultant about your eligibility for the program. U.S. citizens do not, in general, need any special visas to visit any of the European countries we offer on this program. Starting in 2025, U.S. passport holders traveling to Europe will need to apply online ahead of their travels for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before their visit.
Based on your itinerary, you may need to obtain appropriate visas for countries outside of Europe to complete other modules. Your Program Advisor will help guide you on the correct visas based on your destinations.
If you do require a visa, you will need to obtain one directly from the country’s nearest embassy or consulate in the United States. Before doing so, we strongly recommend that you first contact the embassy or consulate to verify what sort of documentation they will need from you, as well as the length of processing time they require. (Note that this can vary at each consulate location.) Again, some of the required application documentation you will need to gather and supply to the embassy or consulate yourself; some documentation (like your flight itinerary and letter of invitation), EF will need to supply.
It is ultimately your responsibility to obtain any travel documents necessary to complete your program. Any fees for visas you may require are also your responsibility and are not included in your program fee. If you are traveling before or after your program, make sure that you check on any visa requirements that may be in place because of the extended duration of your travels.
It’s always wise to verify the entry requirements for each country of travel on your program, including any required vaccinations. For more information on countries requiring visas for U.S. persons, please refer to the U.S. Department of State website: travel.state.gov.
All programs include accommodations, some meals, activities, and support. Most programs include all your flights and transportation as well.
You will need to budget additional spending money for some of your meals. This varies based on your program. You should also budget for laundry, toiletries, snacks, coffee and beverages, and any other customary travel incidentals.
You’ll also probably want to budget extra money for souvenirs and gifts, and any shopping you may want to do.
For more information, view our Program Guides that give an estimate of what you may want to budget for spending money during your program.
All programs include flights, transportation, accommodations, some meals, activities, and support.
What you pack will largely depend on what program you choose. The time of year, climate, location, and types of activities you’ll be doing all play a role in what you should pack. View the Program Guide for each program to see an example packing list.
Note that students doing a Study Abroad program that includes taking academic courses during their program will need a laptop or tablet to complete their coursework.
How you communicate with family and friends back home tends to be a highly individual decision. We recommend having a conversation about how frequently and in what way you want to connect with family members prior to departure.
We always recommend our students focus on immersing themselves in the local culture, bonding with their cohort of fellow EF Gap Year students, navigating their new life on their own, and making their own decisions. EF staff are always there to offer advice and support when needed.
To get the most out of your experience, it’s always best to immerse yourself in it completely. We do not recommend parents visit students during the Pathfinder, Voyager, and Changemaker semester programs. These programs are fast-paced and full of activities with limited free time during the program. Family visits can be distracting and take away from students’ independence and enjoyment of the program. Students are required to attend program activities and stay in program provided housing throughout the duration of their program.
During the Gap Year program, we recommend family plan visits during the spring semester of the program, when students are living independently abroad. This allows for more time for family and student to visit together and plan activities during free time, like weekends.
To avoid expensive international calling and data fees, consider either buying international plans through your carrier or purchasing prepaid cards. EF has an international phone plan with unlimited data through T-Mobile that we can offer to our students. Ask your Program Advisor for more info.
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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.