Long, sunny, summer days are ideal for getting over all the stresses of the academic year with anything from three to four months away from lectures, seminars and all the work that goes with them. It is quite tempting to avoid all forms of work to pursue leisure interests, but it is well worth thinking ahead so a relaxing vacation does not feel like a wasted vacation by the time you are back on campus in the autumn. Here are a few ideas of what you could be doing.

Get an internship
Many companies run internships during the summer months intended to find potential students to employ when they graduate. These are a great way to find out whether you really do want to work in an industry, gain valuable contacts and experience, as well as earn money at the same time. You may have to apply long before the start of the summer, but you will find a list of internship opportunities in the Milkround.com Internship Zone.

Volunteer
With all that additional spare time, you could fill some of it with voluntary work, such as with a charity. There is a wealth of opportunities for students to make a difference which will also benefit careers.

Travel
Thousands of students and graduates take a gap year abroad, but it doesn't have to be a year: you could spend your summer inter-railing across Europe, trekking through the Andes or exploring Asia. If you plan to go straight into employment after university or even have a job lined up already, three months away during the summer could be the best time to visit another country before work starts and you are limited to 20 days off a year.

Study
You probably don't want to think about university work too much when the sun is shining and there is the possibility of a daily barbecue, but that is not the only form of studying available. If you are considering a career that might require additional skills you won't cover at university, a short course over the summer could be the perfect solution to ensure you have all the qualifications when you graduate. For example, English students thinking of becoming journalists might consider learning shorthand and some of the basics of the profession. Or you could take a night class and try something new, such as learning pottery for a potential re-enactment of that scene in the film Ghost.