1. Plan at least a year ahead. Places on projects fill up months ahead.

2. Do your homework by using guidebooks such as Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide series. Taking a Gap Year by Susan Griffith, published by Vacation Work (www.vacationwork.co.uk includes a directory of useful organisations .

3.. Use the internet to research potential destinations. The following have useful information: www.gapyear.com www.statravel.co.uk and www.usitcampus.co.uk

4. Prepare your CV, making sure it's geared to the work you want to do.

5. Apply for work visas well in advance - they take longer than tourist visas.

6. If returning to higher education, process all the application forms and attend the necessary interviews before you go.

7. Budget for each day of your trip and allow extra cash for emergencies.

8. Get all the jabs necessary for the countries you are planning to visit.

9. Ring the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 020 7238 4503 or see the website www.fco.gov.uk for information on areas of potential unrest.

10. Get adequate travel insurance for your trip. Healthcare abroad is notoriously expensive.