Experience the world and discover your passions. Build real-world skills, make lifelong memories, and return home a better you. For ages 18-22.
Experience the world and discover your passions. Build real-world skills, make lifelong memories, and return home a better you. For ages 18-22.


The most productive break of your life
The gap year is not an alternative to college. It’s about preparing yourself to make the most of college—and in many ways, the rest of your life. Our innovative experiential learning model helps students discover their goals, while equipping them with the confidence and skills to get there.
Develop global skills
Travel the world, experience new cultures, and gain valuable life skills abroad.
Grow into your best self
Become a more confident, independent, and resilient version of yourself.
Define your life path
Return home with greater clarity about your goals and inner compass.
Gain a competitive edge
Enter college more socially and academically prepared, with life experiences under your belt.


When you travel with EF (Education First), you travel with a global organization that has been in operation since 1965. EF’s mission has always been to open the world through education, and we’ve delivered on that promise for millions of students.
Years of operation
Countries and regions
Offices and schools
Staff, faculty, and teachers
By submitting your information, you agree to allow EF to process your personal information in accordance with EF’s Privacy Policy and to allow the use of your data for direct marketing purposes. By entering your mobile number, you agree to receive recurring text messages about upcoming offers from EF Gap Year at the number provided and you understand that consent to receive marketing text messages is not a condition of purchase. You agree to all EF Texting Terms and Conditions.