Taking a gap year as an international student

Many students dream of studying in Australia, and if you want to take a break before you start studying, you can!

Taking a gap year as an international student

Many students dream of studying in Australia, and if you want to take a break before you start studying, you can!

Here at the University of Sydney, we accept international students with a break after high school and believe that the life experience gained in that time off can contribute to personal growth.

International students can accept a place the following semester (if available) or year and use that time to gain life experience via travel, volunteering or working at home or abroad before beginning their journey as a student in Australia.

This information is for international undergraduate applicants.

What is a gap year and why should I take one?

You may not be able to start your course as soon as you had hoped for various reasons, but your dream is still within reach. Have you considered a gap semester or a gap year?

A gap year is time out from study. Many students do this for a year after high school before they start university. Opportunities during this time are endless! You could:

Gain work experience
Build up your savings
Volunteer in your home country or abroad with an organisation or cause that you’re interested in and gain invaluable insight and assistance
Use your time to relax by taking a holiday with family or friends – the choice is yours.

What are the benefits?

Prepare yourself for future study while gaining graduate attributes. Develop new skills and knowledge to increase your success and even grades at university and beyond.

Get to know your interests and strengths through your experiences, which can help enhance your academic journey.
Develop a global perspective. If you can travel, you’ll learn how to communicate with people from different backgrounds and better understand the world, raising your cultural awareness.
Increase your independence and develop your confidence, giving you the life skills and maturity to be a better learner and student.

Gain invaluable experience

A gap year or working holiday can be helpful if you’re unsure of your career interests. You will have time to reflect and gain experiences to help you better understand what you’re looking for in a career.

Take up an internship in your home country and research career opportunities.
It could open doors when you return home after graduation.
Build your network: when you get to university, you can build on your networks and experience to give yourself a competitive edge in your future career.

Add to your skillset with programs and informal training

Give yourself a head start with a short online program before you come to uni. The University of Sydney partners with HEX, an EdTech company designed to help students develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills.

HEX programs provide access to an impressive network of instructors and mentors in the tech and business industries, including companies like Atlassian, Google, Seek and Amazon Web Services, among many others.
A Certificate of Completion is issued by the University of Sydney to students who successfully complete an approved HEX program, which you can use to apply for credit towards your bachelor’s degree.

Gap year tips

Keep a diary and record everything. List your skills, responsibilities and achievements as you go, it may be difficult to remember these later.
Write your goals at the beginning of the year, and what you hope to achieve. Review and assess whether you have met your goals throughout the year. 
Look for opportunities to fill gaps and note additional skills you have developed.

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