Hyphenation
"A gap year is defined as a period during which a student enrolled in an initial higher education program temporarily suspends their studies in order to gain personal or professional experience, either independently or under the supervision of a host organization in France or abroad [...] It is stated that the gap year is not a parallel path to the degree program and cannot replace the learning activities provided for in the program, such as the final project, professional internships, or foreign language instruction. The conditions for taking a gap year are specified in the Gap Year Provision of January 17, 2021.
Students may apply for a gap year in the following form:
- Training in a field other than that of the registration training
- Civic service commitment (voluntary civic service commitment, volunteering, European Voluntary Service, civic service for firefighters)
- Starting a business as a student entrepreneur
- Personal experience
- Professional experience: professional experience may be assessed on the basis of an employment contract (fixed-term contract), a volunteer contract, or an internship agreement.
The duration of a gap year can vary from a minimum of one academic semester, i.e., an indivisible period of six months, to a maximum of two academic semesters.
Only students in initial training are eligible for a gap year.
This may be a student enrolled in higher education who wishes to temporarily suspend their studies.
The student must be previously enrolled in a course.
During the gap year, students remain administratively enrolled at their home institution, but are not attached to their degree program.
Special case for students enrolled in L1 with a health or physical therapy option (LAS1 or LAK1)
For students enrolled in LAS1 or LAK1, the gap year program is only applicable for one academic year. Consequently, no requests for a gap semester will be accepted.
Since repeating a year is not permitted and the gap year counts as one enrollment, any student who decides to request a gap year in one of these two programs will be reinstated at the end of their gap year, not in LAS1 or LAK1, but in L1.
DATES
- Annual break or first semester break in France: no later than September 15*
- Annual break or first semester abroad: no later than September 1*
- Break in the second semester in France or abroad: no later than December 15
*It is strongly recommended that you submit your application between September 1 and the spring preceding your intended leave of absence to allow time for processing and for a decision to be made before you begin your leave.
Please send your application to staps-cesure@umontpellier.fr or by mail to:
UFR STAPS
Student Services – Gap Year Department
700 av du Pic Saint-Loup
34090 MONTPELLIER
ATTACHMENTS
- The completed and signed gap year application form.
- The gap year agreement that will be sent to you by the gap year office if your application is accepted, completed with the program director (Article 5) and signed.
- A cover letter describing the terms and objectives of the gap year, demonstrating the coherence of the student's project.
- A certificate from the host organization confirming its commitment for the period in question, if applicable, or any other document proving your activity for the duration of the requested gap year (one supporting document for each period/organization).
- The quality and consistency of the project
- The student's motivation with regard to their project
- The form of the caesura
- Supervision by the host organization
The gap year application file is sent to the University President for approval.
If the decision is favorable, an agreement will be drawn up in duplicate, specifying in particular the terms and conditions for monitoring the student during the gap year.