Frequently asked questions about going on Expedition with Raleigh for your gap year
Gap year
expedition.
A GAP YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
The best years out aren’t the ones that just ‘happen’. They’re the ones filled with action, with direction, with adventure. They change who you are and how you think and they set you up for the future you actually want.
That’s what Raleigh is all about.
A Raleigh Expedition puts you somewhere wild and remote. Demands hard graft and resilience. You’re asked to prove yourself, over and over, and you’ll rise to the challenge, in ways you never expected. You come home different: clearer on what you’re good at, what you actually care about, and what you want to do next. That’s the reward for doing something real.
Raleigh’s been running Expeditions for over 40 years. Our Alumni network is 57,000 strong. We know gap years. Make Raleigh the decision you’ll be glad you made everyday.
“
I didn’t think i could do it before I came out here, but then i got here and realised – this is one of the best things I’ve ever done.
“
JOSH –
SOUTH AFRICA 2024 (SES RALEIGH EXPLORER AWARD)
WHY TAKE A
GAP YEAR?
60%
say it helped them decide what to study
97%
experienced increased maturity
96%
say it improved their self-confidence
84%
gain skills for future careers
*UK study
Types of
gap year.
There’s a massive variety of ways that you can use your gap year: settle into paid work, sign up for group travel, volunteer, intern, sit on the sofa. Most of these are entirely valid options. Options which tens of thousands of students take every year.
But what should you do?
Our best piece of advice is to focus on what you want to come back with. Ask yourself: What would make this year mean something? How will this time set you up for the future you desire?
IMPROVED SKILLSET
NEW MATES
CLEARER DIRECTION
MORE CONFIDENCE
STORIES OF ADVENTURE
A WAY TO PROVE YOURSELF
Then we’ve got great news – you’re our kind of person.
Raleigh combines remote locations, adventure trekking, real project work, and some seriously tough challenges to offer outcomes that last well beyond your 12 months out. It’s not the easiest way to spend a gap year – but it’s the one that gives you something to prove, and lets you prove it.
REASONS TO
CHOOSE RALEIGH
REAL TRANSFORMATION
Your abilities, your outlook, what you believe you’re capable of. Raleigh changes all of that. You’ll come home with a skillset others spend years trying to build, with fresh perspectives, real resilience and friendships that last a lifetime
REAL EXPERTISE
Raleigh have been running Expeditions all over the world since 1984. That’s more than four decades of experience. We know what we’re doing – and our expert team loves doing it.
REAL IMPACT
Raleigh run and manage our own projects, with trained, experienced teams on the ground in every country we work in. We’re 100% integrated with the community we work with and every project has long-term aims set in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals,
WILL A GAP YEAR IMPACT MY
FUTURE AT UNI?
Short answer: universities don’t just tolerate gap years, most actively look for them — as long as you’ve done something meaningful. Admissions tutors consistently say applicants with a real challenge behind them stand out in interviews. They’re more self-aware, more articulate about their motivations, and better equipped for the independence of university life.
An Expedition gives you specific, concrete experience to draw on: leading a team through a demanding trek, managing a community project in a remote location, working across language and cultural barriers. Not vague personal development claims. Specific, verifiable, and exactly what personal statements and interviews reward.
There’s also strong evidence that a purposeful break before university lowers the risk of academic burnout and dropout. Students who’ve already navigated real challenge and discomfort tend to cope better with independent study. Alumni at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities have credited Raleigh as a formative experience that shaped their academic and professional direction.
Worried about deferring? Most UK universities will grant a deferred place without asking you to explain yourself in detail. And applying post-results with a confirmed gap year activity is often viewed more favourably than applying with nothing lined up.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
GET INSPIRED FOR
YOUR YEAR OUT
FUNDING
NEED A HAND FUNDING
YOUR EXPEDITION?
Visit our Funding page to discover practical ideas, planning tools and
financial support to make your Expedition a reality.
Raleigh Gap Year FAQs
Is Raleigh something I can do on my gap year?
Yes. In fact, a Raleigh Expedition fits neatly into a wider gap year plan. It’s ideal for starting you off on your travels, as we’re a more structured programme to build up your confidence and get into the swing of it. You’ll make new, equally adventurous friends and who knows, you might end up continuing your travels with them.
Where could I go during my gap year with Raleigh International?
Raleigh Expeditions run in Borneo, Costa Rica and South Africa. All gateways to some exciting onward travel for your gap year, if you’re planning on being overseas for an extended period of time. You’ve paid for the flights so why not stay and explore.
When can I go on a Raleigh Expedition during my gap year?
Raleigh Expeditions run in the same set timeframes each year so you can easily plan your gap year around them or with them in mind. They run from Jun – Aug right after the exam season. In Oct – Dec for those with other summer plans. And in Feb – Apr to needing more time work to raise the funds for example.
How do I apply for a gap year Expedition?
It’s easy to apply for a Raleigh Expedition. It’s not like a job application, it’s a quick form to fill out letting us where you’d like to go and when. Also why you want to travel with Raleigh and that you get what the experience is all about. It’s not your average gap year. It’s so much more.
Can I go on a Raleigh Expedition for my gap year with a friend?
You can definitely go on a Raleigh Expedition with a friend for your gap year. Especially if you’re planning to travel together for longer. We offer discounts for referring a friend so ask about that. You might not always be in the same group for every project but you’ll still get loads of time together throughout your time with us. Most people travel alone though so either way you’ll be surrounded by friends – new or old.
How can I raise the funds for a gap year Expedition with Raleigh?
Raising the funds for your gap year can be a hugely positive part of the experience – before you even leave. Making a Raleigh Expedition part of that opens up the opportunity to raise money is a different way. We partner with easyfundraising which allows you to get cashback from your own and your family and friends’ online purchases. Find out more about all the funding options.
Do universities dislike gap years?
Universities look on gap years very favourably if you’d done something productive with your time – where you can demonstrate you’ve grown as a person and developed some life skills. A Raleigh Expedition will be packed full of those and a lot of Universities will know of Raleigh and the work we do and have been doing for over 40 years.