Make this your year.

See the world and discover your passions with EF Gap Year.

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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 not an alternative to college. It’s about preparing yourself to make the most of college—and in many ways, the rest of your 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 Life Skills

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

What you'll experience

Every EF Gap program is comprised of different program modules: some give you the ability to customize your destination, while others are fixed. Each module will provide you with the tools and opportunities you need to decide who you’re going to be in this world.

  • Guided Exploration

    Experience the world from the expert, local perspective of your EF Tour Director—your travel sidekick from arrival to departure.

  • Language & Culture

    Live like a local while taking on an immersive language course in the city of your choice. Study Spanish, Italian, French, German, Korean, or Japanese.

  • Service & Sustainability

    Be a force for good in the world and explore ways to make a real, hands on impact alongside communities in Latin America and Asia.

  • Business & Internships

    Level up your resume with real-world experience at an international company while living independently in the global city of Stockholm, Sweden.

Three program lengths

Choose how long you want to travel. With year, semester, and short-term programs, there's an EF Gap experience for everyone.

Gap Year Program
25 Weeks

The ultimate global, customizable gap year. You'll experience three destinations in depth through language immersion, service learning, and an internship abroad.

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Gap Semester Programs
10 Weeks

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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should i take a gap year
Short-Term Programs
4 Weeks

Live abroad through a balance of structured programming and independent exploration. Gain language skills, grow personally, and of course, travel as much as you can.

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My gap year took me out of my comfort zone so many times—and my life is better because of it. 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 Class of 2019, Boston University Class of 2023

Let's connect

Taking a gap year before or during college is an incredibly worthwhile experience; it can also be a complex decision. Complete the form below and one of our EF Gap Year Consultants will be in touch to help find the perfect program for you. For U.S. students 18–22.

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