1. Maximising the benefits of a pre-course Gap Year
The Gap Year Project
Maximising the benefits of a pre-course Gap Year

2. Project Team Dr Alan Blackburn Dr Gordon Clark David Pilgrim
Funded by: Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund

3. Project Aims Explore the relative merits of a Gap Year
Develop recommendations for students and University departments
Explore some links between taking a gap year and student learning

4. How many people take a gap year?
Varying estimates, 50,000 – 100,000 p/year
20,000 defer
Growing market – estimated to treble in next 3-5 years

5. What to do? Stay in the UK Travel Abroad Work for money
Work for experience
Travel
Volunteer
Increase qualifications

6. Research Areas Literature Review Student Focus Groups
Admissions Tutors’ thoughts
Phone interviews with gap year organisations

7. Findings from Literature Review
Take time away from study
Earn money
Work experience
See new cultures
Learn new skills
To do something exciting
Time out to ensure best decision is made
Gain independence

8. Findings from focus groups
Benefits of taking a gap year
Mature during the year
Earn money
Life experience
Come back to University more motivated
Work Experience
Have an adventure
Develop C.V building skills

9. Findings from focus groups
Potential barriers to taking a gap year
Lose rhythm of study
Forget previous knowledge
Money
Feel left behind friends
Worried parents
Girl/Boyfriend
Safety/illness worries

10. Does a gap year help you get to University?
“ we look for real-life experience outside of the classroom, evidence of a well rounded personality, able to accept responsibility for their own learning – so we look at gap years in a positive way”
Admissions Tutor – De Montford University

11. Results from admissions tutors
Hard Sciences less positive
Arts very much in favour
All mentioned maturity, ability to settle and likelihood to succeed.
Personal development

12. Gap Year Providers Big business – upwards of 300 providers
Providers are at the costly end of market
Many cheaper opportunities though, in volunteering sector and domestically.
Increasing government involvement
New ‘gap year standards’ – market starting to regulate itself. (Year-Out-Group and gapyear.com)

13. Key points from research
Structured year is very important
Potential gappers need to:
clarify aims and costs
What will you get from a year out?
record experiences / skills acquired
Very little research done into gap years
Brings different kinds of students into university

14. Final Quotes “ A gap year is proven to put young people ahead in life”
“Two out of three sixth formers want to take a year out or are thinking of doing so”
Gapyear.com - annual report, 2001