The pros and cons of a gap year: Should your teen take one?

Aug 9, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

This is just a snippet from The Parents' Guide to Post-18 Options. If you’d like the full version, with clear, up-to-date advice, practical tips and actions you can take at home, click below.

Read the full guide: The Parents' Guide to Post-18 Options

A gap year is a year-long break, usually taken after school or college and before going to university. Traditionally this is a year spent travelling or volunteering overseas, but it needn’t focus exclusively on being out of the country; volunteering and work experience at home can also be incorporated.

Sometimes it's taken once students finish studying and before entering the workplace (whether or not they've been to university), and in some cases it provides a convenient buffer for students who need to reapply to university the year after they'd intended to go.

Gap years have become increasingly popular, but as a parent you may be wondering if one is the right decision for your teen. So let's take a look at the pros and cons, so you know how to support your teen in deciding whether or not to take one.

Pros of taking a gap year: the benefits

One of the main benefits of a gap year is that it lets students gain real-world experience and develop life skills. Working or volunteering can help them develop independence, responsibility and time management. They can also learn about different fields and industries, which helps them make more informed decisions about their future career.
Travelling during a gap year can expose students to different cultures, languages and ways of life, which broadens their perspective and helps them become more adaptable and open-minded. It can also help them develop intercultural communication skills and understand different customs, religions and social practices.
A gap year can help students gain a better understanding of their interests, values and career goals. By taking a year off, they can explore different fields, take part in activities they're passionate about, and gain a better sense of what they want to study and what career they want to pursue. This can boost their confidence.
Taking a gap year can also have a positive impact on academic performance. Students can return to their studies with renewed focus and motivation, having had time to reflect on their goals and interests. They might also be more mature and better able to handle the demands of university life.

Cons of a gap year: potential downsides

One potential downside is that students may find it difficult to readjust to the academic setting after a year off, and harder to get back into the study mindset.
A gap year can be a financial burden, especially if students travel or take up expensive activities without supplementing this with work. It can add an extra year of expenses for parents and students. This is why it's important to plan ahead and consider travel, accommodation, food and currency costs before heading off. Budgeting for a gap year (or career break) also ensures your teen has considered practical points such as insurance, currency conversion and a valid passport.
It's also possible for students to feel uncertain or lost during their gap year, particularly if they don't have a clear plan or goals. Without direction, they may find it difficult to make the most of their time off and return to their studies feeling unfulfilled.
Taking a gap year means starting university a year later than their peers, which can make them feel behind or older than their classmates.

How to support your teen in making the decision

It's important for your teenager to think about their goals and what they want to achieve during their gap year. Encourage them to think about their interests, values and career goals, and to work out what they'd like to do to help achieve them.
If your teen decides to take a gap year, it's important to help them plan and budget for their year off. This can include setting financial goals, researching funding opportunities, and creating a budget for travel and living expenses, which shouldn't mean you funding everything (even if you can).
While discussing the benefits of a gap year, it's important to also talk about the potential downsides so your teenager can make an informed decision. Discuss how a gap year can affect their academic and career plans, and help them weigh up the pros and cons.
There are many different ways to spend a gap year, from travelling to working or volunteering, and the whole year doesn't have to be spent abroad to be beneficial. However, most teens do want to travel internationally, and taking part in volunteering projects organised by specialist charities can provide wonderful opportunities to discover more about themselves under the guidance of an organisation with extensive experience in the country they're visiting. Encourage your teenager to research different options and find the best fit. Combining a range of different things can be a really good choice.
Provide guidance and advice as they make their decision. Offer to help them research different options and support them as they plan, but don't make decisions for them. They're young adults now, and ultimately the choices they make should be theirs.
The decision of whether or not to take a gap year is a personal one, so be open-minded and supportive of your teen's choice. Taking a gap year can be a valuable experience that helps them grow and develop, but if it isn't something they want to do, going straight to the next step on their career path can work well too.