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Gap Year Top Tips!

• There are lots of organisations out there that offer schemes for gap years. They can offer volunteering and work opportunities. Do your research and only use a reputable company.
• If you’re planning to travel independently, then plan your trip in detail. Always leave a copy of your travel plans with friends and family and leave names and contact details of places you intend staying at.
• Make sure you have all the travel documents, insurance and inoculations you might need for your trip. Visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website for details.
• Always read up on the countries you plan to visit. Laws and views about what’s acceptable and what’s not change from one country to the next – do your homework.
• Check your destination on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website – there are countries you should not travel to.
• Round the world tickets, rail passes, travellers and student discounts can help your pound go a lot further. Planning isn’t just sensible, it can help you travel further, stay safer and do more.
• Travelling can be great for your confidence and self esteem. The sense of freedom that travel offers can be exhilarating. Enjoy, but don’t compromise your safety – have a great time but be safe.
• Make sure you have enough money / access to enough money / a guaranteed income during your travels before you head off – plan, plan, plan!
• Always talk your plans through with friends and family. Planning a trip can be really exciting – others can offer sensible, cool head advice!
• If you’re talking a gap year before going to Uni, consider sorting out your following year’s university entry before you go – you can arrange a deferred entry. Getting everything sorted before you go can offer piece of mind for your travels.
• If you’re plan to volunteer or work during your gap year – make the most out of it in terms of helping your future career. For example, when working/volunteering abroad, ask for references, keep contact details and arrange work that fits with your future career plans.

• And finally, try not to let fear of the unknown put you off seeing the world. The world is an amazing place and travelling can be the most rewarding thing you ever decide to do…

Links and contact details

Name: British Council – Erasmus pages
Web:www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus
E-mail: erasmus@britishcouncil.org
Tel: 029 2039 7405
Info: The British Council’s Erasmus team is based in the British Council’s, Wales office in Cardiff. Call them for more info on the Erasmus programme.

Name: National Union of Students.
Web:www.nus.org.uk
Email:
Tel:
Info: The NUS’ website offers lots of info and articles about travelling and taking gap years.

Name: BBC’s The Surgery – Gap Year microsite
Web: BBC’s The Surgery – Gap Year microsite
Email:
Tel:
Info:

Name: Know Before You Go
Web: Know Before You Go
Email:
Tel:
Info: Set up by the UK Government with partner organisations.

Name: gogapyear.com
Web:www.gogapyear.com
Email:
Tel:
Info: Essential advice for gap year travvelers. Set up by the UK government with partners.

Name: gapyear.com
Web:
www.gapyear.com
Email:
Tel:
Info:The UK’s largest travel community, with 100,000 pages of advice and information on every aspect of gap years, career breaks and budget travel.

Name: Know Before You Go
Web:www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/about-kbyg-campaign/
Email:
Tel:
Info: Set up by the UK Government with partner organisations.

Name: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Web: www.fco.gov.uk
Email:
Tel:
Info:The FCO UK Government department. Loads of info on travelling around the world.

Name: Travel Advice by Country – Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Web:www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
Email:
Tel:
Info: The FCO’s travel advice for every country.

Name: Studying Abroad – article in The Times
Web: www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/how_to_get_a_job/article3363791.ece
Email:
Tel:
Info:

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