Thinking about taking a year out?

More and more young people nowadays are taking the opportunity to have a Gap Year before going to university, college or into full-time employment. Some young people choose to stay in the UK, whereas others want to head further afield to distant shores.

There is a growing industry of companies keen to promote their products and keen to get young people's (or their parents') cash, so choose carefully and do some research before jumping in at the deep end.

Make sure it's really for you ...

	Thinking about taking a year out before going to university? Check out your gap year options here and decide if it's the right decision for you. BBC Radio 1 Advice
	For Gap Year-related stories, check out the Guardian's special Gap Year section of their online newspaper. guardian.co.uk
	Increasing numbers of young people with ambitions to travel, earn money or work for a good cause are taking a year out between school and university. Click here for more information and advice from Kendra Inman's article. channel4.com
	If you want to take time out, see the world and learn new skills, a gap year is the perfect way to round off university life. You will find everything you need to know here about choosing and planning a gap year in the UK and abroad. prospects.ac.uk the UK's official graduate careers website