With exam results set to be released next week, thousands of students are at a critical decision-making stage of their lives.

For those who do not progress onto university a gap year provides a credible alternative, and an option that one expert has claimed, is ‘just what some students need’.

According to Rick Winslow, vice president of enrolment and student affairs at William Jewell College in Kansas, taking a gap year can be ‘a really great idea’, but one that should be considered carefully. Winslow told KansasCity.com that for students who are ‘developmentally mature enough to take a year off and focus on something they’re passionate about’, it can bring huge benefits.

Volunteering abroad during your gap year can be particularly beneficial. By living and working in overseas communities, volunteers develop personal and professional skills and return with a more open-minded outlook as well as increased confidence. Universities and employers look favourably upon the experience and commitment that volunteering abroad represents, making it a worthwhile way to spend a gap year.

For more information on volunteering abroad, click here.