School of Physics & Astronomy

Gap Year

We have had a number of queries recently about gap years between school and university. We would not discourage applicants from having a gap year, but neither would we be overly enthusiastic about them.  To some extent this may depend on what the potential student is doing in their gap year.  Sometimes a gap year can be wonderfully character-forming and useful, can provide good skills training, and can even include a potential student doing interesting things in physics/astronomy.   Sometimes a gap year can mean little more than a rest from study and the potential to "forget" much of what has been learnt at school of the subject. 

BDS 8.08