The Global Gap Year
Live and learn in London, Cape Town, and Paris while earning a full year's worth of transferable US college credits towards a university degree. Designed as an alternative to a traditional freshman year, this program is built for students who want to experience the world through academic study, industry exposure, and real-world application.
📍London, Cape Town, Paris
About the Global Gap Year
Ever wondered who you will be a year from now, what you can become? Imagine spending a year living and learning in three of the world’s most iconic cities, every destination broadening your perspective, building your confidence and preparing you for what’s next.
The year that will shape your future
The Global Gap Year is a brand-new travel-and-study-abroad programme for ambitious students who want to take a meaningful year before university while earning college credits, rather than moving straight into a foundation programme.
During this gap-year experience, you’ll get to travel across three international destinations, connect with students from around the world and earn 30 US college credits, equivalent to a full first year at university. It’s a year you can use to expand your world, grow in confidence, gain real-world industry experience, and build a pathway towards your university degree.
Your future doesn’t start after your gap year. It starts now.
It’s time to discover who you’ll become
Make 2027 about more than memories. Make it the year you develop the experiences, skills and momentum to confidently move into the future.
Three cities.
One transformational journey.
A gap year with purpose
With the Global Gap Year, you’ll earn more than just lifelong memories. Completion of the programme comes with 30 transferrable US college credits, which can be used toward a degree depending on your chosen university. Bayswater provides these credits via our School of Record.
Hand-picked student residence
Your accommodation is taken care of in every destination, so you don't have to navigate the uncertainty of finding somewhere to live abroad. Included in the programme fee is your very own private en-suite apartment in a modern, secure residence, close to campus, where you'll live alongside other Global Gap Year students.
With 24-hour security, Wi-Fi and laundry facilities nearby, you'll have peace of mind from the moment you arrive.
Travel
Live in three citiesLearn
Earn 30 US creditsGrow
And form lifelong connectionsWhy choose the Global Gap Year?
Live independently across three international destinations, experiencing each one rather than simply passing through. Along the way, earn US college credits towards your degree, develop skills for your future career, and experience it all alongside like-minded individuals from around the world who share your ambition.
It’s more than just a year abroad. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in new cultures, gain valuable experience and build friendships that can last well beyond your time abroad.
Why Bayswater
We believe international education has the power to transform lives. That’s why we create immersive learning experiences that prepare young people for university, careers and life. Through global perspectives, meaningful connections and real-world learning, we help students develop the confidence, skills and mindset to unlock their potential and discover who they can become.
Have any questions?
What is the Bayswater Global Gap Year?
A full academic year abroad that earns you 30 US college credits while you live and study in three of the world’s great cities: London, Cape Town and Paris. The year runs as three ten-week terms, one per city. You finish with an official US college transcript from our School of Record (SoR).
What makes it different?
Most study abroad keeps you in one place for a year. We give you three iconic cities, each at its best time: London in the fall, Cape Town for the southern summer, and Paris in the spring. You study alongside an international cohort of students and you progress academically as you go. It is a genuine first: Multi-city academic progression, deep cultural immersion, all in one structured year. One established operator managing the whole journey across three countries, giving parents one point of contact.
Who is it for?
High School leavers (graduates) who are not ready to commit to a four-year degree, or students who want time to grow and make the right choice before a major investment in their education. The Global Gap Year gives you that time, plus real college credits, real experience and a clear route into the next stage of your higher education journey here or internationally
How is the year structured?
Three ten-week terms, one in each city. You earn 12 credits in London, nine in Cape Town and nine in Paris, for 30 in total. The block format lets you focus on fewer classes at once, so you have more time to explore each city and settle into college-level study. Students are also given two extra weeks to explore the country with their classmates or parents in between locations.
What is US college credit?
US credit refers to the academic credit system used by universities and colleges in the United States to measure a student's workload and progress towards a qualification.
Typically, one credit represents around one hour of classroom instruction per week over a semester, plus additional independent study. Most bachelor's degrees require around 120 credits to graduate, while master's programmes often require 30–60 credits.
For study abroad and international partnerships, US credits are commonly transferred between institutions, allowing students to earn credits at one university and apply them towards a degree at another.
Get in touch
Whether you're exploring your options or ready to apply, our experienced advisers are here to provide personalised guidance and answer any questions about the Global Gap Year. Simply complete the contact form, and we’ll be in touch.
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