Gap Year Resources

Should I Take a Gap Semester?
Wondering if a gap semester is right for you? Let Global Citizen Year help guide you through the process
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What is Global Citizenship?
Are you curious about Global Citizenship? Read more to learn about how you can be a global citizen.
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Gap Year Ideas for High School Students
Are you thinking about taking a gap year? Looking for a fun and transformative experience but don’t know what to do? Don’t worry we are here to help! Check out this list of ideas.
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Benefits of Traveling Abroad
Thinking about going abroad? The benefits are endless with Global Citizen Year! Learn more about how
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Making Connections Around the World
Here are a few ways to connect with people and cultures around the world.
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Tips for Engaging in a Volunteer Experience
Learn more about how to prepare for a volunteer experience through community engagement in order to create social change.
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The Ultimate International Travel Checklist
Are you ready to go abroad, but not sure what to bring? Check out our Ultimate Travel Checklist to make sure you've got all your bases covered!
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What to Look For in a Gap Year Program
There are a number of gap year programs available, but how do you know which one to choose? There's a lot you can do in a year's time and you want to make it count. That's why we created this guide to help you find find the best program for you!
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Gap Year Travel Programs
After sitting in a classroom for so many years, it's natural for you to feel an itch for adventure and independence. A gap year travel program is an exciting and fulfilling way to volunteer abroad for a newly graduated student after high school.
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Gap Year After High School
Are you thinking about taking a gap year after college or high school? A gap year can be a great way to transition from high school to college and uncover your passions and purpose in life. Consider the many benefits of a gap year.
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How Do I Plan My Gap Year? A Complete Gap Year Planner
Curious about the differences between a gap year and a gap semester? Read on to learn what they are!
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Pros and Cons of Taking a Gap Year
If you’re deciding whether a gap year is the right choice for you, here are some gap year pros and cons to consider.
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How To Recover From Academic Burnout
Getting your education is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be demanding and tiring—so much so that most students also experience some level of academic burnout.
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Mental Health Benefits Gap Semester
Formal education can be demanding, especially when it comes to your mental and emotional health. A gap semester might be just what you need to offset the toll your studies can take on you.
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Why study abroad? Top 10 Reasons
You may have heard that an increasing number of people are taking gap years after they graduate from high school and before starting college. So, why study abroad? This kind of travel abroad is important in helping you to learn, grow, and have vastly different experiences than would otherwise be possible, all at a relatively young age. Curious as to how it accomplishes this?
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Gap Year Options
You want to take a gap year between high school and college, but what are your options? You could spend a year backpacking. Maybe do some community work and boost your resumé. Perhaps take on an internship to learn new skills or earn college credit.
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How To Deal With Homesickness Gap Semester
Homesickness is a feeling of sadness, loneliness, and longing for your home, family, and friends, and no one is totally immune to these feelings.
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Gap Year Fellowships: How to Get Started
Below are the steps you need to take to enroll in a gap year fellowship today.
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The Best Languages To Learn: Exploring The 7 Most Useful Languages To Know In The World Today
As the world is becoming an increasingly connected ecosystem, knowing more than one language is an important step in embracing the cultures that surround you. With over 6,500 different languages spoken around the world, it can be difficult to know which the most useful languages to learn are. So, how do you know where to start when deciding on a second language to learn? Whether you are looking to take a gap year, broaden your horizons, or start a career where being bilingual is an advantage we’ve got you covered.
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Expand Your World With a Bridge Year Program
If you're looking for a bridge year program, you already have the first quality we look for in a candidate: an eagerness to spend one of the biggest years of your life doing something incredible. Global Citizen Year is a bridge year program for students transitioning from high school to college. And the experience is something that no high school or college classroom could ever replicate
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How to Make the Most out of Your College Experience
Are you ready to go abroad, but not sure what to bring? Check out our Ultimate Travel Checklist to make sure you've got all your bases covered!
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Gap Year or Gap Semester?
Curious about the differences between a gap year and a gap semester? Read on to learn what they are!
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What the Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Can Do for You
With all the programs out there for students in high school to volunteer abroad, how do you choose what's best? The best programs are the ones that provide students like you with life changing experiences that have an impact.
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International Travel Tips for Beginners
Are you thinking about taking a gap year? Looking for a fun and transformative experience but don’t know what to do? Don’t worry we are here to help! Check out this list of ideas.
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22 Alternatives To College
There are many options other than college and a single career track. University immediately after high school — while a great choice for many — is not the best choice for everyone.
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What is a Gap Year?
Gap year programs are programs that help a newly graduated high school student expand their educational experience outside of the classroom before starting college.
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How to Choose the Best Gap Year Program After High School
How do you find the best gap year programs and opportunities for after high school? And how do you choose the best one for you? Knowing what is important can help you narrow down your search and make an informed decision.
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How to Work on Yourself
We are in the age of self improvement. There are hundreds of books filled with self help tips, many of which you can find on The New York Times “Best Sellers List”. People are eating healthier, exercising more, and overall, trying to live a better life. By focusing on your own self betterment, you are slowly changing how you see the world around you. Remember the old adage that change starts within. Knowing how to better yourself lets you become more compassionate, empathetic, loving, and have a more positive impact on society.
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An Alternative Volunteer Opportunity for Teens
Volunteer work for teens can be hard to find, especially if you don’t know where to look. See our list of ideas for both before and after graduation.
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Quiz! Who will be your gap year BFF?
There are incredible people all over the world, you’ve just got to travel to find them! Answer these questions to discover who might become your new BFF on a gap year.
Read MoreWhy You Should Take A Gap Year After College or High School
Read MoreShould your child take a gap year?
Read MoreHow Long Does it Take to Learn a Language?
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What Are You Passionate About?
Learn how to discover and pursue your passion by joining Global Citizen Year’s leadership training for young change makers from around the world.
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The Benefits of Remote Learning
There are many benefits that make remote learning a great way to learn. Remote learning can create many new opportunities and connections all across the world. We’ll walk you through five of the benefits of remote learning that help show why remote learning is so popular.
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Volunteering Cape Town
A gap year is a great time to get outside of your comfort zone, to learn more about the world around you, and to see how different communities are working toward solutions for our shared global challenges.
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Collaboration in Education
Learning to work together in the education system is an important skill for students to learn. We’ll walk you through how collaboration works in education, what the benefits are, and how to implement collaboration into your classroom.
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9 Essential Life Skills For Teens
To thrive in an increasingly complex world, teens must acquire a diverse set of skills that will serve as their compass through these formative years and beyond.
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How To Be Independent: 7 Ways
True independence involves a strong sense of self, self-confidence, and a belief in one's own abilities. Developing personal independence is crucial for several reasons, especially when you’re young.
Read MoreUpcoming semesters - Apply now!
Cape Town, South Africa
Fall 2024
August 12 - December 6, 2024
Application Deadlines
First: Sept 6
Priority: Oct 11
Regular: Mar 15
Final: Apr 19
Cape Town, South Africa
Spring 2025
February 3 - May 30, 2025
Application Deadlines
First: Mar 15
Priority: Apr 19
Regular: Sep 4
Final: Oct 4