Deciding when to take a Gap Year can feel like a big decision. More people are asking this question than ever. The honest answer is that there is no single right choice. But there’s a right choice for you, and we’re here to help you decide that.
For many people, taking a gap year before starting university feels right. After spending many years in education, the idea of jumping straight into higher education without a break can feel overwhelming.
A gap year before university gives you the opportunity to become a more grounded, self-aware version of yourself. At Project Trust, we see students who have spent time living independently go on to settle into university life more confidently. Navigating a new culture, managing your own time and delving into a foreign community all contribute to a greater sense of self. Think of it as, instead of taking a year out, you are investing a year in yourself.
A gap year abroad can also shape what you choose to study. Our Volunteers often leave for their international placement with a clear idea of what they want to study. The experience of volunteering abroad, however, can leave volunteers coming home with an entirely different passion to what they left with.
Take Lucy, who volunteered in Ghana with Project Trust in 2023/24 – her volunteering experience changed her focus, and she returned home with a new idea of what she wanted to study. In these cases, it’s better to have discovered this before university, rather than halfway through.
“My goals have changed – they’ve become bigger and clearer than they were before I left. My time in Ghana gave me a much stronger vision for my future, and several experiences there have genuinely shaped what I want to do next. I’m planning to study medicine at university, and while we were away we started a girls’ club focused on women’s health. Being able to teach and have open conversations about those topics was incredibly inspiring, and it made me realise that women’s health is something I’d love to focus on within medicine. I’d also love to bring my career back to Africa one day.”
That might sound great, but you may still be worried about having a university place when you’re home. Many UK universities offer deferred entry, meaning you can secure your place before your gap year begins. You leave knowing exactly where you’re headed upon return, which makes it easier to fully commit to your gap year abroad without the stress of coming back to the unknown.
By the time you complete a degree, you are older, more independent and often clearer on what you want from a year away. A post-university gap year abroad comes with a different kind of freedom and can be a brilliant bridge between study and the rest of your life.
Graduate schemes, jobs and further study will always be there when you are back. Taking the time to do a structured international gap year programme can be a valuable way to stand out when you reach this point. Employers often look favourably on applicants who have done something meaningful in the gap, particularly if it demonstrates initiative and global awareness. Jamie, who completed an overseas volunteering placement in Thailand with Project Trust, credits his experience abroad as a key factor in landing his first job. International volunteering for young people pays dividends long after the year is over.
Jamie teaching during his placement in Thailand
University years also give you the opportunity to expand your network in a way that can be transformative when it comes to fundraising for your gap year abroad. By the time you graduate, you’ll have built a wide community of friends, course-mates, lecturers and perhaps part-time colleagues – people who believe in you and are likely to cheer you on and support you in hitting your fundraising target.
Alice, who volunteered in Thailand with Project Trust, found that heading into her placement post-university meant she could take her newly built skills and confidence directly into her year abroad. She had already had an experience of living independently, cooking for herself and navigating living somewhere new, so she was able to hit the ground running on her Volunteer year and really delve straight into teaching at her placement.
The One Thing Both Paths Have in Common
No matter what point in life you choose to go, the thing that will define your gap year is the intention. A year spent genuinely immersing yourself in a community and doing meaningful work will both challenge and change you. At Project Trust, we offer structured overseas volunteering placements, currently across Asia, Africa and the Americas. These are designed to give young people the skills, perspective and confidence that last a lifetime, whenever they choose to go.
So, should you take a gap year before or after university? The only wrong answer is letting the question stop you from going at all.
Learn more about Volunteering with us here.
