Choosing Europe as your gap year desination means you are closer to home, but still throws up a bewildering choice of projects and opportunities. Whether you already have something in mind, or are just searching for ideas, take a look at some of our favourite European gap year courses below. You can choose to volunteer or get paid in a wide range of subjects.
Europe has a lot to offer, whether you try to squeeze your experience into a couple of weeks or several months. Our advertisers offer a huge range of European 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.
By volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare Project you will have the opportunity to experience the challenges faced by medical institutions across the developing world. You will have the chance to gain work experience whilst helping some of the poorest people in the world.
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Projects Abroad
Our Short-term Special Projects for 16-19 year olds offer teenagers the chance to volunteer and make a difference during their summer holidays! Projects Abroad has a wide range of projects from our Care & Panda Project in China to Conservation Projects in Peru.
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Projects Abroad
Manor Adventure are currently recruiting for Animators for our French centre - Chateau Du Broutel located on the outskirts of the small town Rue, Northern France.
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Manor Adventure
Delphi Adventure Team now recruiting for 2024! Ready to take your outdoor instruction skills to Ireland's stunning west coast? Join our dynamic team, taking clients through thrilling activities amidst breath-taking landscapes, and make unforgettable new memories in an adventure setting like no other
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Delphi Resort
Do you want a career that will take you across the globe? Do you want to live and work in the world's top ski destinations?
Become a ski instructor with EA Ski & Snowboard Training and fast-track your career in the snow industry. Choose from 30 resorts across five countries.
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EA Ski and Snowboard
Our Short-term Special projects are group trips for 16-19 year olds and run throughout the summer months. If you have time to spare over the summer holidays then why not join us on one of our short programmes designed especially for you.
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Projects Abroad
Our Short-term Special Projects for 16-19 year olds offer teenagers the chance to volunteer and make a difference during their summer holidays! Projects Abroad has a wide range of projects from our Care & Panda Project in China to Conservation Projects in Peru.
More Details..
Projects Abroad
By volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare Project you will have the opportunity to experience the challenges faced by medical institutions across the developing world. You will have the chance to gain work experience whilst helping some of the poorest people in the world.
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Projects Abroad
Volunteering on a Building Project with Projects Abroad will give you a great opportunity to help construct, repair and build houses or classrooms across the developing world. Whatever you are involved with you will have the opportunity to make a long term difference to the community.
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Projects Abroad
As an Outdoor Instructor, you will deliver a range of fun, memorable and tailored adventurous activities, experiences and adventure holidays aimed at families, individuals and groups. Such as snowmobile tours, ice fishing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
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Davvi Arctic
Chalet Chef or Chalet Couple
Living and working in the centre of Chamonix.
Winter season with option for Summer. December 2023 to end of April 2024.
Excellent monthly salary. Plus accommodation in resort centre, walking distance to work.
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Nomadic Ski
Want to get turn your love of skiing or snowboarding into a career?
Become a ski or snowboard instructor. Receive world-class training, gain internationally-recognised qualifications and get a guaranteed paid job offer at the ski resort of your choice.
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EA Ski and Snowboard
EA Ski & Snowboard are the world's largest provider of ski and snowboard instructor internships.
Turn your love of skiing or snowboarding into a career.
Receive world-class training, gain an internationally recognised qualification and get a guaranteed paid job offer - all in one season.
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EA Ski and Snowboard
Spend 12 weeks living in Valencia (Spain). Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture while getting the necessary tools to thrive in your life.
Includes Spanish lessons, soft skills development classes (English), excursions and outdoor activities every weekend, mentoring, and 24/7 on-site support.
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Canvee Life School
Popular Europe Destinations:
France, Italy, Romania, Spain
Quick Europe Facts:
Population - 0.75 billion
Languages - Every country has its own national language.
Visa Information:
As a UK citizen, you are permitted to travel and work without limits withing the EU.
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 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.
I knew I wanted to take a gap year before I started university but I wasn't interested in the type 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 my time.
