Gap Year Abroad
Your Gap Year. Your Way.
Immerse in a Language. Explore a Career. Travel.
The new suite of CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs allows you to fit in a study abroad semester (or two!) in your gap year with the focus that’s right for you. Choose from 3 program models:
Options
Language & Culture
A deep immersion experience in a language and local customs and traditions. You’ll live in a local homestay and take 15-20 hours of language classes per week, plus you’ll have weekly opportunities to join in on cultural activities and excursions with other CIEE Gap Year Abroad and CIEE College Study Abroad students.
Internships
Gap internships give you a chance to explore a career in a field you’re passionate about, all while living a fun cultural adventure. Each week intern for 15-20 hours at a local business matched to your career interests - we have a vast catalog of partner companies for you to choose from. Follow a Professional Development course and join in on weekly cultural activities with other CIEE Gap Year and CIEE College Study Abroad students.
Multi-Destination
Gap Multi-Destination programs are urban adventure programs to discover France, Spain and Italy in depth, with a small cohort of CIEE students. Staying one month at a time in each location, these programs give you a chance to feel like a local across multiple destinations, check off your bucket list, and see a side of these locations tourists often miss in passing.
Gap Year Programs
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Discover Abu Dhabi as an intern, where world-class business and Arabian Gulf culture will shape your professional path.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Intern in Buenos Aires, where an up-and-coming startup scene meets cosmopolitan culture, giving you a head start on your professional journey.
- Cape Town, South Africa
Intern in Cape Town, where ocean views, rich history, and endless adventure shape your gap year.
- Sydney, Australia
Spend your gap year soaking up the sun in ‘Harbour City’ and getting hands-on work experience.
- Madrid, Spain
- Rome, Italy
- Paris, France
Explore Europe during a multi-destination gap year in Madrid, Rome, and Paris, where structured learning and cultural immersion help you grow before starting college.
- Paris, France
- Toulouse, France
- Nice, France
Your gap year in France will take you to Paris, Toulouse, and Nice where you’ll enjoy the support and freedom to discover yourself before college.
- Milan, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Rome, Italy
A gap year in Milan, Florence, and Rome offers the right balance of structure and independence, allowing you to dive into Italian culture before diving into college.
- Barcelona, Spain
- Madrid, Spain
- Seville, Spain
Your gap year in Spain will take you to Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid, where structure and freedom allow you to learn more about yourself before college.
- Paris, France
- Language & Culture
Strengthen your French skills in gorgeous Paris
- Homestay
- Shanghai, China
- Language & Culture
Advance your Mandarin in the fast-paced metropolis of Shanghai.
- College Credit
- Homestay
- Florence, Italy
- Language & Culture
Live, learn and create in one of the world's richest capitals of culture and fine art
- Homestay
- Kyoto, Japan
- Language & Culture
Step back in time in the ancient capital of Japan
- Homestay
- Seoul, South Korea
Your gap year in the vibrant capital of Seoul offers a unique blend of structure and the freedom to grow before college.
- Seville, Spain
- Language & Culture
Perfect your Spanish skills and flamenco dance moves in sunny Seville
- Homestay
What Is a Gap Year?
A gap year is the time between high school graduation and college, when students can defer their college enrollment to travel, gain new skills, pursue internship opportunities, and more. Learn more about the benefits of CIEE's unique approach.
Gap Year Accreditation
CIEE is accredited by the Gap Year Association having demonstrated excellence in the field of gap year education and passed all required standards approved by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Questions About Gap Year Abroad
A gap year is a rewarding and empowering experience for students.
Senior year of high school is filled with commotion and stress, and taking a gap year before college can be just what a student needs to:
- Avoid academic burnout
- Perform better in college classes
- Gain independence, maturity, and time-management skills
- Have better clarity on their next steps in life
CIEE gap year benefits also include a more global perspective, intercultural skills, language immersion, and life-long friendships.
With deferred admission, participating in a gap year program would not affect college enrollment.
Deferred admission means that a student is delaying their college enrollment for a semester or an academic year. During this time, students remain admitted despite not yet attending classes.
Before going on a gap year program, students should:
- Apply to college first
- Receive their acceptance letter
- Confirm their attendance and defer admission with their college
Most U.S. colleges and universities make it easy to defer admission by including it as an option when confirming attendance.
To plan for a gap year, students should first identify their goals. Whether it is to travel, explore a career field, or learn a language, it can take a few months of planning to decide on your exact plan.
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs are designed to help students make the most of their gap year by providing a structured experience abroad. Students get to know a new country, learn a new language, live with a carefully-screened host family, and have local CIEE staff support every step of the way.
To help students start planning their gap year, CIEE Enrollment Coordinators answer questions live on virtual presentations throughout the year.
CIEE gap year students often fundraise to help fund their gap year program. Also, students who apply to their program by the Priority Deadline receive a $400 discount on tuition.
As an accredited member of the Gap Year Organization, CIEE is the longest-running study abroad organization in the U.S. Since 1947, our mission has been to promote international exchange and increase understanding among nations and cultures.
We operate our own study centers around the world and have local staff working year-round at each gap yearGap Year Abroad destination. This allows us to provide students on gap year programs with 24/7 support, carefully-screened host families, reputable language schools, and safe excursions throughout their experience.
More Information
Still Have Questions?
Check out our FAQ page for more information on the application, pre-departure process, costs, and more.
Further Assistance
For more help, call our team at 1-866-583-0332 or send us an email at hsabroad@ciee.org today.
Schedule a Call
If you want to schedule a call with a CIEE Enrollment Coordinator in your area, find a time on our bookings page.