Show them the world
Our gap year, semester, and summer programs abroad will help your child discover their goals, while equipping them with the confidence and skills to get there.
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Our programs
On a customizable EF Gap Year, Semester, and Summer program, students can learn a language, participate in service learning, do an internship, and travel around the world.
Our educational philosophy
EF Gap Year prepares students for success in our increasingly globalized world. Our educational philosophy celebrates travel as a pathway to understanding and self-discovery, focusing on these four key outcomes. Learn more here (PDF).
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Growth Mindset
During each of their program modules—Language Study, Service Learning, and Internship—students learn to value process over results, and view challenges as learning opportunities.
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Empathy & Awareness
We help students develop empathy and awareness skills such as communication and teamwork—some of the most highly sought-after soft skills in today's workplaces.
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Life Readiness
By navigating the experiences on our program, students gain maturity, confidence, and independence, which prepare them for success in adult life.
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Global Skills
Students gain the skills needed to thrive in today's global economy, such as intercultural communication skills, self-awareness, and tolerance for ambiguity.
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We're 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.
55
Years of operation
114
Countries and regions
654
Offices and schools
52,000
Staff, faculty, and teachers
FAQs
Whether everyone in your family has taken a gap year or you just found out it’s an option for your student, you probably have questions about gap years.
We’ve heard them all, so we’ve compiled the questions we receive most often for you here. Our team is also available to answer any questions you have here.
Yes! According to the Gap Year Association, 90% of students who took a gap year returned to college within a year.3 Some students embark on our program with college acceptances under their belts, while others apply to college while on program.
Our year-long program includes an optional 3-day intensive College Application Seminar, during which students work with professional advisors to craft top-tier college applications and essays.
3 Recent survey conducted by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson for their book The Gap Year Advantage
You can let your loved ones know that your child is spending a summer, semester, or year traveling the world, improving their professional and language skills, and preparing for the rest of their lives.
Students have been on the same track since Pre-K—it’s healthy and exciting for them to explore their interests outside of the classroom. This article does an amazing job of explaining the purpose of a gap year.
Any perceived stigma about taking a gap year is probably due to lack of information about the concept. We’re happy to help you put together more resources for you.
The safety of our students is our top priority. We have outlined everything we’re doing to we’re doing to ensure safe travels this year here. With more than 50,000 staff members and 600 offices and schools around the world, we’re able to offer unparalleled international support 24/7.
Each EF Gap Year student is paired with a dedicated Gap Year Advisor who will be a mentor, emergency contact, and main support person throughout your program experience. Always an email, text, or quick phone call away, your student’s advisor is there for your family whenever you need.
Watch our “Being A Gap Year Parent” to learn everything you need to know about our programs in under an hour.
Recorded on July 8, 2020, this webinar provides parents with information about our programs and strategies for supporting their children on this path to personal growth and leadership.
It’s essential that parents informed about the ways a gap year can change their students’ lives personally, academically, and professionally.
We're here to help
Taking a gap year before or during college is an incredibly worthwhile experience. It can also be a complex decision. Our Gap Year Consultants are ready to answer any questions you have and to help find the perfect program for your family.
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1. Study published by the British Journal of Sociology of Education 2. Recent survey conducted by the American Gap Association 3. Recent Middlebury College/UNC Chapel Hill study