The gap year experience has come a long way. In 2025, the opportunities available have evolved so much that almost anything feels possible. At GapGuru, we’ve spent over 20 years helping young people shape purposeful, meaningful gap years and we’ve seen just about every way to travel.
This year, we believe it’s time to ditch the unopened guidebooks gathering dust in hostels and rethink the one-night-stopover approach to ticking off destinations. There’s a better, more impactful gap year for you.
We’ve just launched our gap year internships, a new way to explore the world while making a real difference. Designed to give your gap year purpose, our internships allow you to immerse yourself in local culture, develop essential life skills, and return home with more than just photos and stories, you’ll gain key life skills and an accredited diploma to boost your CV and university applications.
Forget short-term volunteering, here’s why gap year internships abroad are the smartest way to travel in2025.
Immerse Yourself in a New Culture
We get it, TikTok and travel trends have made speed-travelling popular. But just because you can see five cities in five days, should you?
A structured internship after A-levels offers the freedom that only a gap year can. On a GapGuru internship, you’ll spend a minimum of four weeks living in one of our global hubs, from Urubamba in Peru to Mae Sariang in Thailand. These are places far from the tourist trail, where you can explore hidden gems, connect with locals, and live as part of the community.
Spending a month in one location gives you the time to appreciate the local lifestyle and truly understand the culture around you, something a quick stop during your two weeks annual leave could never offer.
Make a Real Impact
Unlike quick-fix travel or short-term volunteer stints, GapGuru internships are built for long-term, sustainable change. You’ll contribute to projects developed in partnership with our charity, the FutureSense Foundation, all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
And importantly we work with local communities, not just for them. Our partnerships with schools, learners, and grassroots organisations ensure your work is meaningful, community-led, and leaves a legacy long after your plane home takes off.
This is a gap year with purpose and your presence can genuinely help support long-term development goals
Come Back with More Than Memories
Sure, the memories, the sunsets, the friends, the food, are some of the best parts of any gap year. But a GapGuru internship gives you something even more valuable.
Not only will you gain work experience that looks incredible on your CV, but you’ll also earn an accredited diploma in Global Citizenship, worth 16 UCAS points. It’s real, tangible proof of your achievements during your gap year.
And let’s be honest, supporting local communities overseas is a much more fulfilling way of getting those extra points for uni than prepping for your exams!
Develop Real-Life Skills
Travelling always pushes you to grow, but an internship takes that growth further. Our internships are structured service learning and designed to help you develop 10 key life skills, from leadership and confidence to cultural communication and adaptability.
These are skills that stay with you long after your gap year ends and they’re exactly the qualities employers and universities are looking for. A gap year that boosts your CV and equips you for your future? That’s a smart choice.
Feel Supported Every Step of the Way
Taking a gap year can feel daunting, especially if you’re heading out solo. But when you choose a GapGuru internship abroad, you’re not alone.
We support you from day one from choosing the right destination and project for you, to helping with flights, and meeting you at the airport when you arrive. Past participants often say the scariest part was stepping on the plane but having everything organised in advance gave them the confidence to take the leap.
Even parents breathe easier knowing we’re here to help at every stage, and yes, we’re always happy to talk to them too!
So, why choose a gap year internship in 2025?
Because it’s your chance to travel with purpose, make an impact, gain valuable skills, and start building your future all while having the time of your life.
Ready to be part of something bigger?
Applications for GapGuru internships are open now.
Secure your spot today and make your gap year count.
