Save a gap year until you graduate?

Taking a gap year after your graduation exams has gone out of fashion. It could be down to its notoriety, now that voluntourism schemes are widely considered self-serving. And then of course there’s the cost, which many students are avoiding in favour of travelling for a month or two. “A lot of my friends take the mick out of me saying, ‘Oh, you went to Cambodia on a gap year’,” says Beth Adams, 21, who studied politics and international relations at the University of Manchester, and took a year out after graduating. “You do feel like you’re fulfilling a stereotype a bit.”

According to researchers, the number of people deferring their university places has gone down from 8% in 2002 to around 5% last year. Instead of postponing university study, many graduates are taking a year out after receiving their degree. According to a survey carried out by YouGov and London Stansted airport, more young people are taking a gap year after university, and almost half of UK adults believe job prospects are enhanced by combining travel and learning. So is it better to save your gap year until after graduating?

Definitely, when you’ve been in education for all those years, where your life is September to July, a break is a good idea. You can recharge your batteries and see the world outside the classroom. You can practise foreign languages and improve your communication skills. You have time to figure things out and a year of being able to work on different projects. As a result, you may land in a job in the industry you like.

Although some take a gap year after university because they have a job lined up and managed to delay their start date, most are yet to secure work and are biding their time. It’s a common misconception that such individuals immediately go abroad to volunteer or travel. In reality, students don’t have the funds to do this. Many prefer to stay in their country juggling internships and part-time work.

For those who do go abroad, a gap-year stint volunteering is no longer merely a way for middle-class kids to boost their CVs. Graduates say they are making more considered choices. The practical experience of working abroad helps some of them get ready for a master’s, which is something they do not have time to do during their finals.

Graduates are also using gap years to explore different career routes. According to recruitment firm Tempo, more than half of students feel there is too much emphasis placed on graduate schemes when starting out in their career. Elena Ricci, 23, who graduated from the University of Southampton last year, agrees. “After I finished my degree, I didn’t really know what to do. So I worked for a law firm for a month, and then I went to Cambodia on a placement. If I had gone straight into a grad job, I don’t think I would have been happy,” she says.

Although graduates can bring great skills to volunteering and enhance their employability, there are some risks attached. “You are delaying your career or further study for a year and some employers may not get why you’ve done it,” says Manuel Otero, a senior lecturer in social sciences at Cardiff University who specialises in the link between education and work. His advice is not to stand still. It makes sense to work out what to do, and one of the best ways to find out what to do is to try it out.

After her year abroad, Ricci has now decided to start a master’s in September. She says graduates should ignore stereotypes and do what works for them. So, do what you want, regardless of what others might say. It’s up to you to decide. What works out for others may not work out for you, and vice versa. You never know till you try.

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