Taking time away from school or work to study or volunteer abroad is a practice that is gaining increasing international acceptance. These opportunities can range from a week-long volunteering excursion to a semester studying in another country to a full four year degree from an international university. Find what appeals to you!
International Education Financial Aid
Both for US and non-US students looking to study abroad, this site lists scholarships and international financial aid information. The blogs and resource center are also great, with everything from budgeting tips to insurance information to work-study regulations.
Students of the World Campus Culture
According to their website, "Students of the World (SOW) sends university teams to developing areas, where they study organizations affecting change and document this change through film, writing, and photography. Returning home, they use this work to educate their university communities and support their partnered organizations."
A growing trend for many socially minded university and high school students, Break Away programs offer alternative spring break options for youth who want something different. Many of the programs do have a fee, so make sure you know what you are signing up for before you head off on your trip!
Term of Service
For an extensive list of Year of Service or Term of Service opportunities and their associated benefits, check out this page in Idealist's Volunteer Center.
Depending on where you are in the world, a gap year could be a very common practice or it might be relatively unheard of. Gap years offer students, often those just graduating from high school or university, the opportunity to take a year to pursue a relatively unstructured path designed just for them. Often, this involves a year of travel, an extra year of high school in a foreign country, or an internship or volunteer position. Unlike studying abroad, these years are often free of structured programs, giving students the opportunity to make plans directly related to their interests and goals.
If you're wondering why a gap year might be a good idea, Thinking Beyond Borders offers this answer:
Gap Year students begin their college careers with purpose, focus, and direction. They approach their course work, extra curricular activities, and social lives with heightened maturity. Their understanding of our global society is well-developed, providing crucial perspective to all knowledge areas. Gap Year students understand the meaning and value of their college education. Essentially, Gap Year students are far better prepared than their peers to take full advantage of all their college years offer.
Here are some gap year resources:
Gap-Year.com
This helpful website defines a "gapper" as anyone taking a year off from life—be it in between high school and college, before a career, mid-career, or as a senior. Here you will find information not just on gap year travel, but on working around the world, volunteering, language acquisition, and "life after gap" help.
Thinking Beyond BordersHS Hero
Thinking Beyond Borders is a program designed for gap year students (between high school and college) to explore international development while participating in educational programs and service opportunities. The program lasts 35 weeks and moves through multiple countries and projects.
Global LAB (Learning Across Borders)campus culture
According to the website, "Global LAB programs are designed to cultivate in small groups of 'global learners' a genuine appreciation for the increasingly interconnected and interdependent nature of our world community, both human and natural." Check out their semester abroad programs and participant-written blogs.
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