Baret Scholars is a curated 9-month global gap year program designed for students between high school and university — or university students seeking a meaningful year away. Scholars travel sequentially through seven world regions, spending approximately one month in each: New York and North America, São Paulo and Latin America, Paris and Europe, Istanbul and the Middle East, Nairobi and Africa, New Delhi and South Asia, and Beijing and East Asia.
Each region features a daily lecture series, curated week-long Fellowships, faculty-led seminars, and an individual Capstone Project that develops throughout the year. The comprehensive fee for 2025-26 is $94,500 (covering tuition, all flights, accommodations, and daily breakfast). Baret distributes up to $1.8 million annually in merit scholarships of $20,000–$40,000, Support Awards of $40,000–$60,000 for partial-need families, and Need-Based Financial Assistance covering more than two-thirds of costs for demonstrated financial hardship.
Admission includes a written application with activities, academic record, and a Capstone Project proposal, followed by an interview. International scholars have joined from the UK, Kenya, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, and beyond.