Gap Year Abroad Programs
CIEE Gap Year Abroad
Your Track to College Success
A growing number of students like you are choosing to take a gap year after high school to explore the world and find their passion. Research shows gap years significantly improve both academic performance and social success in college. CIEE Gap Year Abroad offers three program options so you can find the gap year experience that suits you best—language immersion, internship abroad, or a multi-city experience. No matter what you choose, CIEE prepares you to return refreshed, confident, and ready to thrive in college!
Options
CIEE Language & Culture Programs
Immerse yourself in a language and local customs for one semester or two. Take 15-20 hours of language classes per week while joining other students on weekly activities and excursions.
CIEE Internship & Culture Programs
Explore a career in a field you’re passionate about for one semester or two. Intern 15-20 hours a week at a local business matched to your career interests while joining other CIEE students on weekly activities and excursions.
CIEE European Tour Programs
Make the most of your gap year abroad. Discover three separate cities, spending a semester travelling to a new destination each month with a small cohort of CIEE students.
Three Ways to Make the Most of Your Gap Year Abroad
Research shows that gap years have multiple benefits, including improved graduation rates, stronger GPAs, higher campus involvement, and more fulfilling careers after college. CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs put college success within your reach while providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
CIEE Language & Culture Programs
Spend 12 weeks immersed in a foreign language and international culture. Master a foreign language as you live with a local family and embrace 15-20 hours of college-level language classes each week, rich cultural activities, and exciting excursions. Over three months, you will improve your foreign language fluency and make lifelong friends, all while exploring your dreams, educational goals, and career aspirations. Choose from six amazing destinations—Italy, France, Spain, Japan, South Korea, or China.
CIEE Internship & Culture Programs
Spend 12 weeks on an internship with a foreign company, acquiring career and intercultural skills that will last a lifetime. Gain professional experience and develop a network of international colleagues as you intern 15-20 hours each week, live in student housing, and participate in cultural activities and exciting excursions. Over three months, you will develop new professional skills, improve your ability to work in diverse teams, and make lifelong friends, all while exploring your dreams, educational goals, and career aspirations. Choose from four amazing locations—the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, South Africa, and Australia.
CIEE European Tour Programs
Spend 12 weeks immersed in three iconic European cities for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compare different cultures and lifestyles in multiple locations. Spend four weeks in each city with a small cohort of peers, as you expand your understanding of history, art, politics, cuisine, and culture through carefully selected lectures, cultural activities, and excursions. Over three months, you will live and learn in three of the world’s most beautiful and historic cities, all while making lifelong friends, exploring your dreams, educational goals, and career aspirations. Choose from four incredible itineraries—France (Nice, Paris, Toulouse), Italy (Florence, Milan, Rome), Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville), or a three-country comparative experience (Madrid, Rome, Paris).
Gap Internship Abroad
- 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.
Gap Year Abroad in Europe
- 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.
Gap Language & Culture
- Paris, France
- Language & Culture
Strengthen your French skills in gorgeous Paris
- 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 reassess their college admissions options while traveling, gaining new skills, pursuing 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 Abroad has many benefits, including 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.
If you’ve been accepted or confirmed with your college of choice, you will need to defer your admission. Most U.S. colleges and universities make it easy to defer admission by including it as an option when confirming attendance. Explore our guide to deferring college to learn more.
If you’re not yet admitted or confirmed with your college of choice, here are a few things to consider as you plan your gap year abroad:
- You will need to re-apply to colleges during or after your gap year abroad
- You will not receive college credits on CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs unless you decide to take ASU Online courses
- If you want to start your college experience with CIEE, consider CIEE College First Year Abroad programs
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.
Learn how to defer college with our tips and tricks.
There is no wrong time to plan a gap year: some students start planning in junior year, others wait until after they hear about their college applications. In either case, the secret to a successful gap year experience is to identify your goal: what do you want to get out of this experience? How does an experience abroad fit in with your gap year plans? How long should you go for? What other experiences will you pursue?
Whether your plan is to travel, explore a career field, or learn a language, our team is here to support you weighing your options.
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs are designed to help you make the most of your gap year by providing an independent yet structured experience abroad. You’ll get to know a new country, live with a carefully-screened host family, meet with college-age peers on excursions and cultural activities, 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.
Starting in Fall 2025, merit and need-based scholarships will become available to make this program more accessible to all. Check out the funding page of this site for the latest information.
CIEE Gap Year Abroad students also 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.
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs make college success attainable. During your year abroad, you’ll gain a better understanding of the world and yourself. These life-changing experiences build your language fluency, strengthen career skills, and immerse you in the history, art, and culture of global cities. You’ll return prepared to thrive in college and beyond.
When you study abroad with CIEE, you also join a growing alumni network ready to support your journey to college and in your career. You’ll even qualify for special alumni discounts on future programs.
We operate our own study centers and employ local staff working year-round at each CIEE Gap Year Abroad destination. That means we provide students with ongoing support, carefully-screened host families, and enriching excursions throughout your 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.