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Gap Year Study Abroad and College Programs

Eligibility Criteria

A gap year study abroad experience, also known as “time off,” “time out,” or a “year out,” 

is a meaningful break between major life stages that allows students to study abroad, travel, volunteer, and gain real-world experience. Whether you’ve recently graduated high school, deferred college admission, or are deciding what’s next, a gap year abroad with YFU offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture while discovering more about who you are and where you want to go.

Through YFU’s international gap year programs, students live with a volunteer host family, build language skills, and engage deeply with their host community through education and cultural exchange.

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Explore YFU’s Gap Programs

High School “13th Year” Programs

Celebrate your next step in life by experiencing a new culture and building your language skills, all while staying with a volunteer host family in a foreign country! 13th Year gap year programs after high school allow students to participate in YFU’s traditional Academic or Special Focus programs for a semester or full year following graduation.

Participants attend a local high school, make lifelong friends, and fully immerse themselves in the culture of their host country,an ideal option for students seeking gap year programs overseas that combine academics with personal growth.

13th Year Programs are available in the following countries:

Diverse group of international students bonding
Young travelers with backpacks look out from a historic window while exploring a city during a study abroad experience.

Volunteer Abroad Programs

YFU’s volunteer gap year opportunities are designed for young adults who want to explore the world while giving back. These travel gap year programs allow students to develop language skills, gain hands-on experience, and contribute meaningfully to their host communities.

Participants choose from a variety of volunteer fields and receive ongoing support from YFU and a local NGO, making these programs a strong choice for students looking for student gap year programs with purpose.

Volunteer Programs are available in the following countries:

University Programs

Begin or continue your university education overseas with one of YFU’s gap year college programs abroad! Students take university-level courses while experiencing daily life in another country, either living with a volunteer host family or in dormitory housing.

These gap year programs abroad provide opportunities to study new subjects, meet local and international students, and become part of the community. Some programs may offer academic credit, though credit transfer is determined by individual universities.

University Programs are available in the following countries:

Students walk through a lively night market with food stalls and lanterns during a cultural study abroad experience.
Students explore a European city plaza with historic buildings while participating in a gap year or study abroad program.

Why Gap Year?

Many prestigious universities, including Harvard, encourage the concept of a gap year. A gap year/semester study abroad experience can help a student focus their studies and be ready to take on the challenges of university life.

“For over thirty years, Harvard has recommended this option (taking time off), indeed proposing it in the letter of admission. Harvard’s overall graduation rate of 98% is among the highest in the nation, perhaps in part because so many students take time off.” – Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation; By William Fitzsimmons, Marlyn McGrath Lewis, Charles Ducey – Harvard Admissions

“I went on exchange between High School and University. An in-between year, to discover sides of yourself that you’ve been ignoring and to learn to accept a new culture and respect its ‘other’ ways of doing things, provides an excellent foundation for further exploration within the academic framework. And there’s no better way to get to know another culture than living with a host family.”

— Flannery Denny, Germany

Interested in going abroad for just the summer?

Some high school graduates may be eligible to study abroad for the summer with YFU!  See the Summer Programs page for a list of offerings.

Some countries may need additional information in order to accept gap year students and there may be limitations on program space — please contact YFU staff at 1.800.833.6243 to discuss your application.

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Helpful Resources to Learn More

If you’re exploring a gap year study abroad experience with YFU, these resources can help you better understand what to expect and how to get involved—whether you’re a student, parent, or potential host.

  • Learn more about cultural exchange and how living and learning abroad fosters global understanding, cross-cultural skills, and personal growth.
  • Curious about daily life abroad? Discover what it’s like to live with a host family and how host families play a key role in creating meaningful exchange experiences.
  • If you’re interested in supporting students locally, explore the many benefits of hosting an exchange student and making a lasting impact in your community.
  • Looking for flexible ways to participate? Learn more about short-term hosting or find out how to become a host with YFU.
  • Preparing for time abroad can come with challenges. Read practical tips on how to deal with homesickness and adjust confidently to life in a new culture.
  • Finally, explore all YFU study abroad opportunities or learn how you can get involved as a host and support international students on their journey.