More students than ever before are taking a gap year before going to university. It used to be the “year off” between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.
在上大学之前选择间隔年的学生比以往更多。间隔年是指在中学和大学之间选择“休学一年”，这一现象起源于牛津剑桥大学的申请者，他们从11月入学考试到下学年开始中间有几个月的空闲时间。

This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS).
根据英国高校招生服务中心（University and College Admissions Service，UCAS）提供的大学入学统计数据显示，今年有25310名接受高等教育的学生推迟至明年入学。

That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. “Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible,” he said.
选择间隔年的学生数量增加了创纪录的14.7%。UCAS的托尼·希金斯说，这些统计数据对接受高等教育的每个人来说都是好消息。他说：“计划周密休假一年的学生更可能对自己选择的课程感到满意并完成学业，选择间隔年的学生通常更成熟，更负责”。

But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship – young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. “New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to￡15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacating periods,” he said.
但不是每个人都开心。全国学生联合会（National Union of Students，NUS）主席奥文·詹姆斯认为，学生人数的增加是学生困难的证据——年轻人被迫在完成学业之前挣钱。他说：“新生们现在意识到，他们离开大学时可能会背负15000英镑的债务。越来越多的学生利用间隔年挣钱来支持他们的学习，这并不奇怪。NUS的统计数据显示，超过40%的学生在上学期间被迫打工，而在休假期间，这一数字上升至90%”。