Top Cities for Gap Years in 2024

A gap year is more than just a holiday; it’s an opportunity to do some independent learning and work in your chosen field. Many people choose to spend their gap year abroad. You don’t even have to take an entire year off. Some people are content to defer their studies by only one term or travel over the summer.

There are countless gap year opportunities for people who wish to travel and gain more life experience. There are university partnerships, educational programmes, paid work, volunteering opportunities, internships, and apprenticeships. Gap years are sometimes called “working holidays” because it gives gap year students the opportunity to work and save up for the future while enjoying their time abroad. To help you plan ahead for your gap year, here are the best cities for gap years in 2024.

Tokyo, Japan

Most gap year students prefer to live with a host family when they travel to Tokyo so they get a taste of Japanese culture and put their Japanese language skills to practice. Japan is a great place to study and work in the fields of engineering, science, finance, and business administration. Many students opt to work as English language teachers in an eikaiwa school or as assistant language teachers at a public school, though a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification is required to apply for these positions. Alternatively, some gap year students work as an English teacher through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.

Outside of working and studying, most people who do a gap year in Tokyo take the opportunity to learn more about sado (the Japanese tea ceremony), ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), and shodō (Japanese calligraphy). They can also brush up on their hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Some students try to plan their gap years around the Cherry Blossom Festival, and visit the Ghibli Museum, the Imperial Palace, and Yoyogi Park during their time in Tokyo.

Canberra, Australia

Gap year students travel to Australia to study agriculture, conservation, marine biology, and tourism. Some gap year students who travel to Australia choose to do farm work, vineyard work, fruit picking, and wildlife volunteering. Those who would rather stay in the city opt for working as a boarding school gap year assistant or as an au pair.

Many people are now choosing to do their gap year in Canberra, Australia’s capital, due to the exchange programmes offered by the University of Canberra and the Australian National University. There are volunteer opportunities in the nearby nature reserves, which include seed collection, tree planting, animal tracking, and more. There are plenty of retail jobs and tutoring opportunities in the area, and there are always families looking for a nanny or an au pair. During their free time, gap year students usually go on day trips to Sydney, which a 3-hour train ride away.

Rome, Italy

Gap year students come to Rome to study and work in the fields of fine art, art history, classics, politics and international affairs, ancient history, fashion, architecture, and religious studies. The are many universities in Rome, and most of them accept international students and offer classes that are taught in English. The best universities for international students are the Sapienza University of Rome, Roma Tre University, and Tor Vergata University of Rome.

Italy is famed for its delicious food and has inspired chefs all over the world, which is why some students choose to do a culinary arts internship in Rome. There are several educational institutions that offer Italian language courses too. And, of course, travellers will want to see some of Rome’s most famous monuments, such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Roman Forum. Exploring the city is an educational experience, and many gap year students are encouraged to take a guided tour of the city at least once for a more educational and immersive experience.

New York City, New York, USA

The Big Apple is one of the most popular gap year destinations for UK students and university graduates. The top areas of study and work in New York City are economics and finance, accounting, business, tourism, advertising, performing arts, journalism, and publishing. Those who are interested in pursuing a career in writing may benefit from an internship at a newspaper or publishing house, and there are music, dance, and theatre programmes for those interesting in performing arts. Gap year students who don’t want to take time away from their degree, can apply for a summer internship in their chosen field.

Some NYC universities have student exchange programmes and students can make use of some of the best resources at the New York Public Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and American Museum of Natural History. New York City is an expensive place to live, and many gap year students supplement their travel funds by working part time in retail, as an au pair, or at a New York City Summer camp.

Bangkok, Thailand

Southeast Asia is on most people’s travel check lists. Bangkok is a popular destination for students interested in conservationism, environmental science, agriculture, zoology, marine science, ecology, and oceanography. There are many volunteer programmes at local wildlife foundations, animal sanctuaries, and veterinary clinics. Some marine conservation organisations will arrange for gap year students to get scuba diving qualifications while volunteering.

Bangkok is also a favourite of students who want a more relaxed trip. Travellers can get jobs in childcare, education, and hospitality that will allow them to spend their time off travelling to other places near Bangkok, such as Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Koh Chang.

A gap year can be fun way to build your resume and get away for a while. So that you make the most of your experience and to give your family peace of mind while you’re traveling, make sure you purchase Backpacker and Gap Year Insurance. You’ll receive cover for emergency medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, and more, for up to 18 months while you travel from place to place during your gap year.