Gap Years in Europe
Some people take a gap year with little or no preparation. They may pack an oversized rucksack with most of their worldly goods and buy a rail ticket that will allow them to cross the channel into France or Belgium. But beyond a vague plan to head for Greece or Italy or somewhere equally warm, and take causal jobs along the route, they see the free spirit aspect of travelling an integral part of a European gap year adventure.
Other people like to have everything planned before they go. This can range from a simple plan to stay in a certain country or city between set dates, to pre booking accommodation to the exact day, like a well organised military campaign. No matter how detailed your plans, nor whether you are staying for few weeks or a full year, if you are this second type of person, who likes to have some idea of what you are going to do during your gap year in Europe, then this page is for you.
Europe has a lot to offer the gap year traveller, whether you try to squeeze your experience into a couple of weeks or several months. Our advertisers offer a huge range of European gap year courses and job types, voluntary and paid, in many European countries. Seasonal grape picking, learning to become a ski instructor in the Alps, take part in an expedition in the Arctic, medical work experience in Eastern Europe, teaching English as a foreign language or paid fundraising in the UK.
Employer: Gift
Gap Year Type: Fundraising
Country: UK
Gift Fundraising is an ethical street fundraising company who help raising substantial sums of money for a big range of worthwhile causes. As a Gift fundraiser you will be helping to gather generous donations from the public, and raising awareness of the goals and aims, as well as continued support for, the various charities you are representing.
Ideal candidates will be people who genuinely care about promoting and fund raising for charities, and about helping to make a difference in the world. Details: Read more...
My Italian Gap Year
By Siân Rothwell
I knew I wanted to take a gap year before I started university but I wasn't interested in the type of gap year where you go and sit on an Indonesian beach for weeks on end doing nothing. My intended university course had an option for some Italian modules which I wanted to take. My Italian wasn't (still isn't) perfect, so I decided a language course would be a good way to spend my year out.
After a heck of a lot of research I decided to travel with ESL. They were offering an Italian language course suitable for beginners at the Torre di Babele school in Rome. The price was right and it was flexible enough to cover what I wanted to achieve so I signed up for a 24 week stay in the Italian capital. What an amazing place! The school was pretty central and my accommodation wasn't too far away. I chose to be housed with a local family to begin with as I thought it would be easier to get settled with some help rather than being alone. They were lovely people which was a real bonus.
The standard course doesn't take up too much time during the week so there is plenty of opportunity to explore the city. The language school even help organise excursions to places of interest. Our Naples trip was amazing and really helped the group to bond. The time absolutely flew past, but my Italian language skills improved dramatically through being completely immersed in the language. I had tried to learn before so knew the basics, but this is definitely the way to learn. And a great way to spend a gap year.
More Gap Years in Europe:
Affordable Teaching Placements Employer: Love Volunteers Looking to share your knowledge and gain experience while traveling abroad and learning a new culture? Come join Love Volunteers! With affordable rates and placements in over 25 countries there is a project out there waiting for your assistance | Medical Projects Employer: Global Medical Projects Are you looking to gain useful and practical medical experience in hospitals and clinics around the world? Placements available for pre-university and medical students in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We also arrange placements for those interested in dental, nursing and physiotherapy experience |
Frontier: The experience of a lifetime Employer: Frontier Frontier specialises in offering gap year expeditions for adventurers of any age. Our ethical tours are perfect for providing you with a fantastic experience before going to university or starting a job. Whilst away on a Frontier project, you can also volunteer abroad and you will be able to make... | Volunteer Abroad Starting £140 Employer: Volunteering Solutions Volunteering Solutions provides reliable, safe and affordable International Volunteer Abroad Programs in 19 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin/South America to serve the local and needy communities. Our mission is to provide meaningful and fully researched volunteer and internship programs. |
Apprentice Outdoor Instructor Employer: Kingswood Want to get paid for your gap year? Have the time of your life giving children the holiday of a lifetime! Join Kingswood's Apprentice Outdoor Instructor scheme and take your first steps towards a dream career in the outdoor industry. | Safe and Affordable Childcare Placements Around the Globe!Employer: Love Volunteers Join Love Volunteers and take part in an amazing childcare placement. We provide some of the most affordable placements while maintaining high levels of satisfaction/safety. From a week helping a local community as you travel to putting your gap year to good use, Love Volunteers has a program for you |
Affordable and Rewarding Medical Placements WorldwideEmployer: Love Volunteers Gain incomparable medical experience and knowledge with Love Volunteers and our partner organizations. Shadow local doctors and nurses, assisting them and learning by observing their work at clinics and hospitals with hands on work dictated by experience. All levels of experience are welcome | Ethical Street FundraisersEmployer: Gift Fundraising Gift gets you out there on the streets, helping charities tackle issues like child abuse, climate change and third world poverty. We love fundraising, hate apathy. Expect to make good money, and a difference |
Volunteering Employer: Real Gap Fancy helping with teaching work in Malawi, rehabilitating monkeys in South Africa or caring for disabled children in Vietnam? You can make a real difference to hundreds of projects around the world, whether you want to save the planet, protect a species or impoverished youngsters a better future. | Ski and Snowboard Instructor Employer: Halsbury Travel Ltd Halsbury Travel requires 270 Ski Instructors and Guides and 30 Snow Board Instructors and Guides each year, to work in top resorts in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, and Andorra |
Teach overseas Employer: Inspired Breaks A fantastic opportunity to work on your classroom skills or put your knowledge to the best use; you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture and help to make a huge difference to the lives of underprivileged youngsters, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves. | Pre-Instructor Training Course Employer: CMC Pensarn Harbour Booking Now for 2012!!! CMC Pensarn Harbour is offering capable people wanting to pursue an exciting career in Outdoor Education an opportunity to gain many of the personal skill awards, in an intensive 8 week training programme designed to prepare you for National Governing Body coaching awards. |
Voluntary workEmployer: Inspired Breaks Want to teach English in Thailand, help with wildlife conservation in Australia or work with a Himalayan community? Our volunteer options across the globe offer not only the chance to do something worthwhile with your career break but also a fantastic opportunity to visit amazing destinations. | Teaching and Childcare Employer: Oyster worldwide Volunteer with Oyster and put beaming smiles on the faces of vulnerable children. Care for troubled youngsters in vibrant Brazil; teach while learning Spanish in Chile; trek and teach in Nepal; bring love to Romania’s orphans; coach sport in the heart of Africa… and more!
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Animal WelfareEmployer: Oyster worldwide Passionate about animals? Volunteer hands on with your favourite animals – provide a haven to abused bears in Romania; save turtles in Costa Rica or monkeys, lions, sharks or elephants in South Africa. Help out some of the most endangered creatures on earth and take back everlasting memories. | Fundraising Opportunities Currently Available with Wesser Employer: Wesser Ltd An excellent opportunity for students, graduates or those looking for a quick way to make good money to fund their Gap Year. We are looking for outgoing, enthusiastic individuals with superb communication skills - this job would suit those who love to chat and are looking to meet new people. |
Language Learning Gap Year Employer: ESL Languges Is there a better way of learning a foreign language than living abroad in total immersion, while working or studying? With ESL – Language Studies abroad, you get the unique opportunity to embark on such a long-term learning adventure, with the help of our renowned partners schools all over the world. | Ski Season Jobs and Courses Employer: Ski Jobs Looking for more exciting Gap Year opportunities? Take a look at Best Ski Jobs for the very best Ski Season Jobs and Courses, offering you the chance to spend long hours on the slopes in some of the most stunning resort locations, all while your earn or train! |
Teach abroadEmployer: Real Gap Unleash your inner classroom genius and put your skills to good use teaching English overseas. Our voluntary and paid work options give you the opportunity to gain useful experience as a teacher, change the lives of entire communities and work in some of the most beautiful places on the planet! | Trainee Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Course Employer: Open Door Training For individuals who wish to make an exciting career in the outdoor industry, Open Door Training offer a selection of the very best TOPIC courses, (trainee outdoor pursuits instructor course) which range from our eight week introductory course, sixteen week course to our 6-month or one year course. |
Ski Instructor Internship Employer: Ski Academy Switzerland We offer the most affordable ski instructor courses on the market in world class resorts in Austria and Switzerland with a job guaranteed following qualification | Community Development Projects – Affordable RatesEmployer: Love Volunteers Looking to impact a community in need? Join Love Volunteers and our partner organizations to make a difference in developing countries through projects such as construction, community empowerment, vocational training, community outreaches and so much more. Your skills can make a huge difference |
Outdoor Adventure Jobs and Courses Employer: Adventure Jobs Have you ever dreamt of becoming an Activity Instructor, spending your working days out on the water or up in the mountains? If the answer is yes, then take a look at Best Adventure Jobs for all the latest Outdoor Adventure Jobs and Courses. This could be your first step towards that dream career! | Group Leaders Employer: Robinwood Robinwood Selection Days taking place from September 2011 for Spring 2012 start. Why work for us? Group leading at Robinwood is enjoyable, rewarding, but also challenging. Its definately not a 9-5 job but the opportunities that Robinwood offers can give you a wonderful lifestyle..... |
Worldwide Adventures Employer: Round the World Experts. Our Round the World Experts is committed to providing great travel at the cheapest available price. You may be a school leaver looking to do a GAP year, taking a career break or wanting to book that well deserved trip of a lifetime; Round the World Experts will | Work Exchange Employer: Workaway Workaway.info is a site set up to promote fair work exchange between budget travellers, language learners or culture seekers and families, individuals or organizations who are looking for help with a range of varied and interesting activities. |
Grape pickers Employer: Appellation Controlee Have you ever fancied working in some of the most beautiful and romantic areas of France?
When working in a wine producing area you will not only be surrounded by beautiful sights but you will also meet people from all corners of the world and work in a very pleasant atmosphere. | Ski RepresentativeEmployer: Halsbury Travel Ltd Ski Reps help liaise between the school and our partner-suppliers. Your main role is to assist the group and to ensure they have an enjoyable trip so you will have to be available to deal with the needs of the group as required |