Are you a bright-eyed recent graduate with an eye for adventure? Then you should consider taking a gap year! A gap year means taking the time for adventure and self-discovery, and what better backdrop for your experience than France? France draws millions of visitors each year with its charming culture, world-famous museums and galleries, and heavenly cuisine.
There’s no telling what you’ll see or do on your gap year in France. But it WILL be awesome, no matter what.
Beyond the culture, France is also just plain stunning. A gap year in France means visiting grand cities, quiet countryside towns, and dreamy beaches. Honestly, you’ll never want to leave! There are plenty of opportunities for work, study abroad, and adventure during a gap year in France — and the right program with perfect experience for you is out there.
Providers of gap year programs in France are pros at matching you with the ideal experience, as well as offering support along the way. Whether you’re looking to study, become an au pair, learn French, or just adventure travel during your gap year in France, there is a program out there that can help make your experience stress free! Here is our list of 10 of the best gap year programs in France!
- 2500 Jobs Available in France through Speaking-Agency
- Summer & Gap Year Programs with API High School and Gap Year
- ELI Abroad - Experiences to Change Your Life
- #1 Educational Tour Provider!
- Teach English in France
- Live and Learn in Paris with Academie Charpentier
- Custom Internship Placements in Europe
- Europe Tour with Gapforce
- Seamester Study Abroad and Gap Year Voyages
- Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide
10 of the best gap year programs in France
Editor’s note: This information on gap year opportunities in France was accurate at the time of publishing. Please refer to each individual program for current data.
1. 2500 Jobs Available in France through Speaking-Agency — 10
Speaking-Agency wants you to become a language ambassador during your gap year in France! They offer job placements as babysitters and teachers for your gap year. Their aim is to encourage language and cultural exchange by placing gap year travelers in these people-focused roles. It is an awesome opportunity to work abroad and learn more about French culture.
- Where? Multiple Locations
- Type? Working Holiday
- Read Speaking-Agency reviews
2. Summer & Gap Year Programs with API High School and Gap Year — 9
API (Academic Programs International) offers gap year programs for recent high school graduates. They help gappers with an orientation upon landing, language and immersion programs, and excursions so you can experience something new and exciting with fellow gappers.
They offer gap year study abroad, community service, and internship programs worldwide, and their programs are great for travelers who want to adventure travel while working on education or career goals. Their gap year in France programs are study programs that specialize in language, arts, or cultural studies.
- Where? Paris and Grenoble
- Type? Study Abroad and Language Immersion
- Read API reviews
3. ELI Abroad - Experiences to Change Your Life — 10
ELI Abroad offers programs worldwide for students, volunteers, interns, and gap year adventurers! They are staffed by a knowledgeable and travel-savvy team that works to make your experience abroad perfect. ELI Abroad operates a gap year program in Paris, which combines some study and internship experience into a well-rounded program. This means you can get a little bit of learning, working, and adventuring done in your gap year in France!
- Where? Paris
- Type? Study Abroad and Internship
- Read ELI Abroad reviews
4. #1 Educational Tour Provider! — 9.76
Worldaway Learning Tours offers short-term, small-group, educational tours. Taking a tour is the perfect way to break up your gap year, meet new people, and learn about the culture you are living in.
Worldaway Learning Tours specializes in experiential, hands-on learning. They offer various tours to learn about food, arts and culture, and language in France. Worldaway Learning Tours is a great option if you’re looking to take a break from your gap year France routine to do a little hands-on learning.
- Where? Multiple Locations
- Type? Adventure Travel
- Read Worldaway Learning Tours reviews
5. Teach English in France — 8.29
Have you ever thought about teaching English abroad? Well look no further — you can become an English tutor in France! InterExchange will help you to experience France like a local by pairing you with a host family as an English tutor for their children.
This part-time opportunity provides you with true immersion into French culture, while also leaving plenty of time to explore. Programs start year-round, and last up to 3 months. You will work around 15 hours a week as a French tutor, and have the remaining time for your own endeavors! It’s a perfectly balanced gap year experience.
- Where? Multiple Locations
- Type? Teach English
- Read InterExchange reviews
6. Live and Learn in Paris with Academie Charpentier — 9
France is famous for its arts, gastronomy, and culture — and you can learn more about it all with Academie Charpentier. They offer gap year opportunities in France for those interested in learning more about the French way of life through cultural classes and art courses. With formal classes and exciting excursions, Academie Charpentier wants students to truly get the French experience during their gap year.
- Where? Paris
- Type? Study Abroad
- Read Academie Charpentier reviews
7. Custom Internship Placements in Europe — 9.5
Linguistic Horizons pairs travelers with customized internship placements. It is ideal for the independent traveler who wants to get some work experience while abroad. Not only will you get to travel during your gap year, but you can also beef up your resume!
Linguistic Horizons has paired interns with placements in France. Due to the fact that their programs are so personalized, your location will vary depending on your internship needs.
- Where? Multiple Locations
- Type? Internship
- Read Linguistic Horizons reviews
8. Europe Tour with Gapforce — 9.29
Are you looking for the ultimate European adventure? Look no further than Gapforce! This provider offers a summer European tour for gap year travelers that want a couple of weeks of jam-packed adventure.
During a 2-4 week tour, you will stop in many of Europe’s top travel destinations with a close-knit group. Gapforce offers a full itinerary, including accommodations, train tickets, border crossing costs, and even your own travel advisor. If you want your gap year to be a lot more adventuring, and a lot less planning, then you can leave all the planning to Gapforce.
- Where? 11 cities throughout Europe, with a stop in Paris
- Type? Adventure Travel
- Read Gapforce reviews
9. Seamester Study Abroad and Gap Year Voyages — 9.82
How would you like to sail around the world on your gap year? Well, that’s exactly the kind of adventure you can embark on with Seamester! Although you will be adventuring, you will also earn academic credit and receive a hands-on education on board. Seamester voyages travel worldwide, and it is probably the most unique way to spend your gap year!
- Where? Worldwide, with some voyages stopping in France
- Type? Adventure Travel and Study Abroad
- Read Seamester Study Abroad at Sea reviews
10. Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide — 8.89
Are you hoping to do some good during your gap year? Volunteer World offers volunteer gap year opportunities in France (and worldwide!). If you choose to volunteer in France during your gap year, you will get to experience beautiful French culture while also participating in something meaningful.
Volunteer World pairs volunteers with major organizations as well as grassroots NGOs, and offers all types of volunteer programs. One example of a gap year France volunteer opportunity is supporting an English student language camp.
- Where? Multiple Locations
- Type? Volunteering
- Read Volunteer World reviews
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You’re ready to take a gap year in France!
Gap year opportunities in France are calling — go answer!
A gap year in France will be filled with endless culinary delights, warm cafe terraces, and plenty of museum and art gallery visits. Beaches, green countryside, and snow-capped mountains will appease any outdoorsy traveler, and cute cafes and cobbled city streets will bring out your inner romantic.
Traveling with a gap year program allows you to meet fellow gappers, pushes you to try new things, and helps take away the stress of planning, so you can focus on making the most of your gap year in France.
Not only will you get to adventure travel, work, au pair, or volunteer (there’s plenty of opportunities for all of the above in France!), but you will also pick up a little Francais along the way.
Immersion into the French language and culture means you will come back home (at least) a little more fluent, and with plenty of amazing new memories under your belt. With any of these top gap year programs in France, you can count on a magnifique gap year experience!
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