Prince William is about to embark on a year off after A-levels before going to university, and although his plans are a closely guarded secret, reports of working on an Argentinian ranch, a South African game park and travelling around Australia have all been discussed, writes Katherine MacAlister.

More than 30,000 students take a gap year before going to university, a 2.5 per cent increase on last year.

Traditionally, a "year off" is used as an opportunity to see the world, but more and more students are viewing it as a chance to improve their CV's, raise enough to pay their university fees, or polish up their skills and gain valuable experience in their degree fields.

A new survey, 'Time Well Spent', has shown that employers see a gap year as an important way of equipping graduates with skills such as negotiation, independence, communication, problem-solving, decision making, relationship building and preparing them for the workplace. And those that arrive in a job with these skills will generally be promoted faster. Research has also shown that young women are more adventurous than men in their gap year. They visit three times as many countries, citing experiencing different cultures, meeting new people and learning a foreign language as reasons for travelling, while men rank 'having fun' as their highest priority.

Women also seem to gain the most out of their year off, with three-quarters reporting increased self-confidence, self-reliance and independence as a benefit, compared to only half men.

Females were also more likely to do voluntary work while travelling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects. Julia Colston's A-levels were much better than Headington Girls School had predicted. This meant that she could pursue her dream of becoming a doctor, instead of doing an arts course. So she reapplied to London University and took a year off.

"It takes six to eight months to process a university application and I was willing to wait," the 19-year-old, from Chipping Norton, explains.

Going abroad did cross her mind, but money was tight, and she didn't know where she really wanted to go. She also needed to be at home to be available for university interviews.

"Then I heard about Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and I knew it would help my medical CV and give me valuable experience with special needs children," she says. In April this year she was sent to Cherry Trees in Guildford, a respite centre for children with physical and learning difficulties.

She had never worked with children but was instantly drawn to the warm atmosphere of the centre, the children and staff, and spent a very happy four months there.

"It was the best thing I have ever done. It was very challenging work, both physically and mentally. I didn't know what to expect but you soon get the hang of it and all the children are very loving. It comes very naturally.

"It was in a part of the country that I've never been to, and as we were quite isolated all the staff got to know each other very well. They were really nice people, with many volunteers coming from abroad," she says.

Julia thinks she may now follow a path into children's medicine, having got into London University: "I want to be a doctor, but I may specialise in children now. I learnt so much about them and their different conditions and illnesses. I also learnt to understand the stresses and strains these put on the parents." She highly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone: "If you end up in a situation where you do have some spare time and not much money on your year off, CSV is very rewarding and a really good way to spend four months. I learnt so much in that time. I'm just very glad I did it."

Tina Wallace, 19, had never left home before she arrived at the Mulberry Bush School in Witney, for primary school children with emotional and behavioural problems. Sent by the CSV in January she wanted to expand her horizons, experience independence and gain some relevant experience for her degree in art therapy at Derby University. "It was great to meet some new people. There were five other volunteers there and they were all young. It was a residential school so we all stayed there.

"The work was a challenge and sometimes hard. I was a classroom helper and some of the children were quite violent and disturbed. But there was always someone to talk to about it and I got on very well with the children.

"All in all it was a good experience that I would recommend to anyone and it will look very good on my CV. It also taught me how to be more independent and what it's like to live away from home, which will be good preparation for university," she says.

"CSV is very good and well organised. Once you volunteer they sort out all the placements. Your food and board is paid for and you get 25 a week, despite it being voluntary."

She returned home to the Isle Of Wight two weeks ago and is starting at Derby University next month. Factfile about The Community Service Volunteers (CSV) CSV - Community Service Volunteers offers the chance for everyone aged 16-35 to spend 4-12 months volunteering full-time, away from home, in the UK, in areas such as homelessness, disability, social care, youth offending and education. Accommodation, food and a living allowance are all provided.

CSV is the UK's leading volunteer organisation and creates opportunities for people to play an active part in the life of their community through volunteering, training and community action.

Each year over 100,000 people volunteer through CSV, helping over a million people throughout the UK.

CSV can be contacted in 0800 374 991 or online at www.csv.org.uk.