International volunteering and work for university students

Undecided what career? Had enough of studying? Why not volunteer – gain valuable experience and boost you CV. This section gives advice on how to volunteer and points you to some resources to help you choose and organise a voluntary job.

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to learn new skills and share the skills you have. You can make a real difference to people living in the toughest circumstances. You get a chance to work creatively, stretch your capabilities, take more responsibility and have new professional skills and experiences to offer an employer. Read CSV’s report on the advantages of volunteering.

We are not recommending any organisation included here but all provide helpful advice on how to get started.

Here you will find information on volunteering in the UK, volunteering abroad and working abroad.

Volunteering in the UK

CSV

CSV trains over 12,000 young people and adults each year, helping them build the skills and confidence they need to progress to further education or employment or to set up in business. The UK's leading volunteering and training charity.

CSV provide information on gap year volunteering in the UK before and after university. Gap year volunteering before university will enhance your UCAS application, make you more independent and develop your social skills. Gap year volunteering in the UK after university will help you build on what you’ve learnt with some real life experience and could help you find that elusive first job.

Watch videos about full time volunteering.

Volunteering England

Volunteering England is a volunteer development agency committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity. Their work links research, policy innovation, good practice and grant making in the involvement of volunteers. View their projects or watch videos of some of their volunteers to learn about their experience.

Volunteering Abroad

Challenges Worldwide (CWW)

Challenges Worldwide is an international development charity and award winning social enterprise. They recruit volunteers with professional skills and experience and train them to work with local overseas partners in developing countries.

Gap Guru

Gap Guru provides gap year projects, supporting local communities and organisations through ethical and sustainable programmes.

Lifetracks

Lifetracks offers information on how to make the most of your gap year and advice from those with real experience.

Mondo Challenge Volunteers

Mondo Challenge Volunteers help communities abroad, using their skills while on a career break they volunteer overseas, teach English abroad, work in childcare, women´s empowerment or other community based projects.

Plan My Gap Year

Affordable volunteer programmes from two weeks to six months across 6 countries in Asia. Projects include Orphanage Work, English Teaching, Medical Internships, Community Outreach, Teaching Buddhist Monks and volunteering at local NGOs. Visit Plan My Gap Year for more details.

Project Trust

Project Trust places volunteers to work overseas for a year out, aimed at 17-19 year old school leavers in full time education. Types of work include social services, English teaching, outdoor activity and community development schemes. There are projects in over 25 non-European countries.

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)

VSO is a leading development charity that sends volunteers to work abroad. Find out more about volunteering roles and voluntary jobs overseas.

Working Abroad

CEPLIS – European Council for the Liberal Professions

Skills and Competences for Mobility in a Competitive Europe provides a range of information relating to CEPLIS’s recent work on transparency of qualifications and professional mobility across the European community.

Overseas Job Centre

Overseas Job Centre - a guide to working, travelling and living abroad, working holidays and gap years.

Outreach International

Outreach International - career breaks and gap years.

International Volunteering and Work