Suggestions for vaguely useful masters courses to study while overseas as "trailing spouse"

[ExpatAgain]

overseas for next 2 years or so, in my early 40s ex project manager for local gov/NHS. I can't legally work where i am and having sleepless nights at career going down the pan at my age, struggling to make the most of time "off" as feel need to bridge the gap and studyt something useful to helicopter me back into UK wokrforce when we return. Is that askign too much, any ideas? Something health/management related possibly though with current NHS reforms poss that's a waste of time/money!

an MBA? something more general/bus mgt?

Where are you going?
I guess it depends if you speak the language in the place you are going, or if they offer courses in English.

i've done a postgrad management course though not to MBA level, not sure whether it would be worth me doing MBA esp moneywise for the kind of work i'm going to be doing esp as part-time, not sure!

I meant to say I'm looking really only at UK based distance learning courses in the hope that they have more currency.

not so sure that distance learning is more esteemed than actually studying at a overseas institution. It is the whole foreign experience which is an added bonus. You would be surprised at how many foreign students are found at our local back water university in the arctic.....

i see your point. However, there's also fees to consider -i'd be an international student here at vast expense or home one in the UK. Looked into classes here too and nothing leaps out, also childcare considerations as dc2 only goes to school 1/2 a day and dh does long hours.

It depends on which country you are going to live in. In Belgium degree courses are relatively cheap, and many of the post grad courses are in english. And the universities here are very good.

Where are you going to live?

and Norwegian ones are free.... (besides the £40 admin fee)

already here, in Africa.

I dont know about any world renowned african universities. However, can you find a course which would be unique and give you an "edge"?

Can you see this as an opportunity to study what you really want to study, something you really enjoy? A Master's degree from a good university, what ever the subject, will be good use of your time.

that's true, would love to do something arts-related or a language but feel the need to do something appropriately vocational to earn my keep/get back into the marketplace, ifyswim?

A language would be a great choice, if you get to a good standard in a language, that will be a benefit in getting back into the NHS.

If you have spent years working and studying towards your career, I think you should do something you really enjoy.

French with business or Public health with german for example. (I have no idea if those courses exist).

I think many people understand that if you live somewhere "off the beaten track" then options are limited and the sheer fact that you studied even doing something that you loved will still work for you. Position it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a career break and follow something you passionate about

I also can't work, so have started teaching english classes and helping out some local business on their development plans. Very adhoc so I've also enjoyed my new country and spent the time with kids that I really wanted. And its nowhere near what I use to work on, but it has taught me a huge amount in communication skills, coaching people and dealing with cultural differences... I've also enjoyed it :o

IMO do what you would like to do and then worry about how to pitch it back on a CV when you return to the UK

ha - appalling grammar in a post about teaching english

You might be limited by what is available as a distance learning course at the masters level. Have you tried looking at the courses that are available to see what takes your fancy? I know Leicester has quite a few DL masters and I'm sure other universities do too, but not everything is available as a DL option. The Open University has a masters in Advancing Healthcare Practice, that sounds (on the face of it) like it might be relevant to your work. Is that the kind of thing you are thinking of? Do any of your former colleagues in the UK have masters degrees, and if so are they in subjects that would interest you?

Several people have suggested you might see it as a way to do something new and in a way it is an opportunity to do that. Are you one of those people who has always wanted to write a novel? If so you could try an MFA in Creative Writing - many universities (especially in the USA) have low-residency options and some (such as UBC in Canada) have a version that is completely distance learning ('optional residency').

If you are somewhere where they speak another language, then you could concentrate on language skills. Good luck finding something that you are interested in to pursue. And there might also be some kind of british expat club where you are that you could get involved in if you wish.

Lots of expat wives do voluntary work - keeps up your soft skills and shows you've done something worthwhile and not purely financially motivated. That's what I'm doing!

warwick do a well respected MBA in public sector management. Find out if you can do it distance learning. Head n shoulders above ordinary mba for public sector stuff. Otherwise something MBA or project management related, business transformation is huge at the moment. CPID also good and i'm sure thats available via DL.
Good luck!

thanks everyone, that's great! Have checked both Leicester and Warwick, some great courses out there. i've looked at the MPA before and wonder whether it's worth the investment when i'm likely to be working p/t and therefore probably lower paid pro-rata. Not sure. Have you done it yourself?

ah, shame their MPA only part-time, not distance - too far away to fly back 13 times in 2 years!

i haven't done it myself but it was the sponsored course when i was Exec Dir in local government (sadly I already had a masters). Really recommend it based on payback for us as employers and for the individuals. why don't you contact them and ask if they have any plans to make it elearning?

could do, tempting but not sure whether it'd be value for money for me as not (currently at least) as highflying as you!

teehee! Me, highflying, more like icarus' son i'd say! It's a great course but in any case take a look at OU and see if they have anything. No education is wasted.
Good luck!

Distance learning in public health at LSHTM. Excellent course.

did you do it, salt? I'd love to do that course, c.£10k though. Fantastic range of course modules.