Your CIEE Gap Year Abroad Experience
Build Skills for College and Beyond
A successful college career begins with CIEE Gap Year Abroad! Our program helps you learn more about the world and yourself, improve your language fluency, and immerse you in the history, art, culture, and customs of historic cities.
A growing number of recent high school graduates are choosing to defer college for a semester or year, giving them time to explore the world and learn more about themselves. Research shows that taking a gap year has multiple benefits, including improved graduation rates, stronger GPAs, higher campus involvement, and more fulfilling careers after college. After your CIEE Gap Year Abroad program, you’ll return refreshed and ready to thrive in college.
Learn more about the proven benefits of a gap year from CIEE’s accrediting partner, the Gap Year Association.
Spend Your Gap Year with CIEE
Live the Language
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to live in a globally interdependent, culturally diverse world. On your Gap Year Abroad, you’ll:
- Take 15-20 hours of college-level language classes per week
- Experience full immersion with a homestay
- Gain fluency while exploring your goals and career aspirations
- Participate in CIEE cultural activities and guided excursions, making memories and fostering friendships that last a lifetime
- Go for a single semester or combine two sessions to study abroad for a full year
Broaden Your Horizons
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs focus on supporting participants in acquiring knowledge and developing skills to live in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. We understand that you decide to travel with us, in part, because of the opportunity to experience the local culture of a destination abroad. With CIEE, you’ll get to know a new country, live with a carefully-screened host family, meet with college-age peers on cultural activities and excursions, and have local CIEE staff support every step of the way. These life-changing experiences build your language fluency and immerse you in the history, art, and culture of global cities. You’ll return with a refreshed perspective and prepared to thrive in college and beyond.
Blogs
A Homeschooler’s Guide to Taking a Gap Year Abroad
Unique and innovative approaches to education are nothing new for homeschool students and their families. The flexibility of homeschooling allows families to tailor learning experiences to each student’s individual strengths... keep reading
7 Proven Benefits of a Gap Year Abroad
Taking time off before college can change everything. A gap year abroad gives you the freedom to step outside your comfort zone, meet new people, and see the world from... keep reading
What Is a Study Abroad Ambassador? The CIEE Global Ambassador Program Explained
CIEE Global Navigator high school study abroad programs provide the adventure of a lifetime—and there’s no doubt they’re life-changing, too! Each program is intentionally designed to maximize learning and fun... keep reading
Support From Start To Finish
We understand that you decide to travel with us, in part, because of the opportunity to experience the local culture of a destination abroad. With CIEE, you’ll get to know a new country, live with a carefully-screened host family, meet with college-age peers on cultural activities and excursions, and have local CIEE staff support every step of the way. These life-changing experiences help you return with a refreshed perspective and prepared to thrive in college and beyond.
Explore CIEE Gap Year Programs
- Language & Culture
Perfect your Japanese fluency, living in and exploring the timeless beauty of Kyoto.
- Homestay