Taking a gap year after A-Levels??

Hello I am currently a year 12 student doing Alevels.
I originally planned to do camp america next year ( after i have finished ), go to uni and then take a gap year to travel.
However now i am not sure since i have been told many different things. Some people said do this order however some said no because after uni it’s usually straight into a job.
Please give me advice!!!

Reply 1

lana567

Original post by benjilearns

I would say defer a year and then you can see how you feel, wether you want to go or not, so it’s no pressure. You have so much time and it’s only one year it’s not going to affect your whole career at all. It’s better to be sure what to do than not, because it’s harder to go to uni and then drop out because you regret it.

Reply 2

Szara_SOAS

Official Rep

Original post by benjilearns

Hi there!

Graduate roles typically start in September, while final exams usually finish by May or June (these dates vary by university so it’s worth double-checking them). This leaves at least a 2 month gap between exams and starting work, which could be a perfect opportunity to travel. If you’re hesitant about taking a full gap year after uni, you could work part-time during your studies to save up and use this period for travel instead.

Another option is to do a year abroad as part of your degree. While you’ll still need to study or complete a placement, being in a different country often makes it easier and cheaper to explore nearby regions. For example, after studying abroad in Jordan, I visited Egypt, Qatar, and China at a much lower cost than if I’d flown from the UK.

Personally, I’d recommend travelling as much as you can before starting a full-time job, as annual leave can limit your flexibility later on. That said, it’s still early days, and there’s no need to have everything figured out yet— you can take your time to explore your options and see how things unfold.

I hope this helps!
-Szara, BA International Relations and Arabic

Reply 3

University of Bath

Official Rep

Hi there!

Its good to hear you're considering doing a gap year because this will offer you a lot of benefits. You can if you wish go travelling to see new places and experience the world, or potentially earn some money from working part time - all giving you more time to mull over what you might want to do.

I would however recommend doing this between year 13 and starting uni (i.e. taking a year after you finish sixth form) as this will give you more time to think about your uni choice and allow you to do your degree uninterrupted. It might also allow you to build up some more self-knowledge and perspective (as well as more savings!) that will benefit you at uni.

This is completely your choice and you are the best judge of which order would be right for you and your lifestyle - I'd just say that its more common for people to do a year out after sixth form than after uni 🙂

I hope some of that helps and huge best of luck this year and beyond!

Holly
University of Bath