What is a gap year?
‘Gap Year’ is a term used in Britain to describe time taken off from formal education. Traditionally, students choose to take their gap years between secondary school and university, but in recent years many have undertaken gap years between their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, or before entering the workforce.
Gap years can involve anything from working your way around the world, to adventure travel, volunteer placements, or undertaking an internship with a specific organisation. Ultimately it is up to each student to decide how they are going to structure their time to make the most of their experience.
Are there any gap years directly linked to anthropology?
If you are taking a gap year before you start university, it can be difficult to find activities directly linked to anthropology. However, because anthropology is such a vast subject with an increasing number of specialist areas (such as environmental anthropology, anthropology of development or anthropology of childhood), there are numerous ways you can make your gap year experience relevant to your interest in studying the discipline. Before researching gap year options, it may be helpful to look at the specialist areas and careers pages to gain a greater understanding of the range of options that exist within anthropology.
If you are interested in short-term options such as volunteering at a museum, doing an internship at an anthropological institution, or undertaking an archaeological dig, then look at our internship/volunteering page for more information.
Will a gap year affect my application to study anthropology at university?
Most universities will have their own particular view on students wishing to take a gap year. In general, anthropology departments in the UK look favourably upon gap year experiences as long as students are able to explain clearly how they will spend their time and how the experience will benefit them on a personal and academic level. Students are advised to check with individual departments and talk to academic advisors about requirements and procedures for deferred entry.
Useful resources on gap years:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/alumni/careers/graduate-careers/deciding/timeout – University of Birmingham’s pages providing a good overview of the advantages of taking an informed gap year.
https://www.ucas.com/discover/gap-year – provides different types of gap years, income ranges and useful information on which gap years best serve individual interests and needs.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ – Prospects provides information on funding, choosing and planning a gap year and links to resources and case studies.
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