More and more students are embarking on gap years instead of diving straight back into the next stage of their education.

Its estimated that 100,000 students contemplate a gap year every year, with 23,000 of them undertaking a structured programme.

Volunteering offers students wonderful opportunities and is looked on favourably by universities and employers alike as an addition to the typical academic qualifications.

Volunteers often return home after their placement to start their degree programme or career path more confident, independent and mature, with the ability to face new challenges and ready to utilise their knowledge and experience.

Go for the right reasons

Students take gap years for many reasons: to save money, to take a break from education, to gain some independence, for work experience, or simply to travel.

Mel Scaffold from Cornwall, who taught English in Vietnam through the GAP organisation, cites her upbringing in a rural community as the reason for choosing her destination.

"Where I live you go to the same places, see the same people," she says. "I wanted to experience something extreme, something totally different. I wanted to be immersed in a culture isolated from western influences, where you couldn't impose western ideals or judge people but where I could still communicate and be useful."

With students now emerging from university with a financial debt of up to £14,000, and this set to increase with top-up fees, they are more committed to ensuring their university plans are right for them. Taking time out can help.

Phil Perkins from Wakefield, who taught in China for four months, was one of the 30,000 people who defer their university place every year.

"I wanted to take some time out to ensure I was going to plough my money, time and efforts into the right course," Phil says. "And I was desperate to go to uni when I got back."

Start here

So, if you're thinking of taking a gap year, where should you start?

First of all, don't be put off by the term gap year. Students often work for part of the year and may travel from anything from a few weeks to six months or more.

The choice has to be personal, otherwise it won't work for you. Don't feel that, just because someone you know had the most amazing experience on his or her own placement or journey, its the right thing for you.

If you want to go overseas, check out do-it's overseas section or  go to the Year Out Group website for a list of gap year organisations. The Gapyear.com website is another good resource, full of advice, suggestions, diaries and opportunities, and do-it's sister site, TheSite.org, has a dedicated gap year section too.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Offices Know Before You Go campaign contains the latest travel information, updates and advice, including a comprehensive list of areas that should be avoided.

Raising the cash

As well as hopefully coming out of your gap year with enough money to get you through freshers' week, you'll probably need to raise the finances for your trip, even though you are offering yourself as a volunteer. 

Many students work before and after their trip, and student fundraising recommendations include asking local businesses for sponsorship, car boot sales and living rent free at home.

Mel Scaffold suggests creating your own information leaflet to give to friends, families and potential sponsors to avoid regurgitating answers to frequently asked questions. 

The experience

The best way to go into your placement is be as fully prepared as possible and be willing to accept all your experiences as exactly that - experiences.

Mel recommends travelling after your placement. You will have been in the country a while and feel like part of the culture. Be warned, however, you may never be satisfied with a package holiday again and, even though you may savour roast dinners and power showers on your return, it might not be long before the urge to travel starts tugging at your rucksack.

Closer to home

If volunteering overseas is too expensive or time-consuming, you might consider looking for opportunities in the UK. 

Here on do-it you can find information about all kinds of volunteering, including residential placements. 

You don't even have to stay away from home. There are volunteering opportunities all across the country - your personal gap experience might be just a bus ride away...

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