Studying overseas...

[Hector]

and need to get my head around everything before I present this idea to my family.

Came back from Scotland 2 years ago last month after 3 years there and not a day has gone by when I have not thought about the place and longed to return. Job applications have all come to nowt (only 1 interview via telephone!) and I just can't sit around in Oz twiddling my thumbs and watching life go by anymore! Plus, I'm 26 and with UK Immigration laws changing, the younger and more qualified I am, the better.

So have been thinking of studying there as it gives me some control over my life again! However it has been 6 years since I did my BEd and a Masters (with a toddler!) is a whole other story...can anyone give me some tips on things I should be considering??

I will have to get a (large) loan and make those repayments, as well as support myself and bub. Her dad is British & is over there so that's a little bit of support from him to help, however our income will be mostly from what supply teaching I can do. It's not too bad over there as far as that sort of work goes at the moment, so I shouldn't have much trouble. May even get a long-term 1 or 2 day per week post (please God!)

I'm just kind of putting this out there to see if I really am insane to be considering this??? I am going mad feeling like I'm stuck in Oz while life passes by and want to alter my career, deepen my knowledge of history and all that...I just don't want to drag my daughter off the deep end!!

[V8]

I don't understand, how come you can't study here?

[Hector]

I completed my BEd/BA here and then went to Scotland and found home. I don't want to study here - I want to go back to Scotland. It is really hard to get a job there from over here (as we need visas etc), so by studying, I put myself in the location, I upgrade my skills etc. Plus they have a new scheme whereby graduates are able to apply for a 2 year visa at the end of their course. I also want to do a Masters in Celtic Studies/Scottish Gaelic studies so obvioulsy better study options over there.

Moving back to Scotland is the only thing I think about, day in, day out. I feel like I'm just treading water here. I don't want to buy a house here, work here etc etc. All my friends are over there, and all my ideas for the future are over there. The sooner I get back there, the sooner I can just start living - get a house, work on my career and all that. I could wait around years for a job to come up (I've already waited 2 years!) whereas this way I can choose to go over in August and am at last doing something practical to realise my dreams.

[PunkyDiva]

Hiya,

If your partner is Scottish/UK citizen then he should be able to sponsor you and it was only one year before you apply and are granted a freedom of leave to the country so can come and go as you wish. This is how I took my entire family over in 2002, may have changed and did cost about $800 per person but meant we didn't have to worry about jobs before we left.

I wouldn't go down the loan route if you can help it as sounds complicated. Can you not get job here teaching part time/substitute, seems like such a shortage at the moment.

We decided to come home as despite the rich heritage/culture etc it really wasn't a place we wanted out kids to continue their education in. Because of so many people in such small spaces the problems, we also have here but there were right in ya face and really affected you. Whereas here they are hidden away to a certain extent but certainly don't affect our lives unless we wish for them to IYKWIM.

The wages seem great there until you experience the cost of living, yes clothes and luxury things like white goods, cars, travel are cheap but you need to eat and keep warm too.
After 6 weeks any gov entitlement from Aus is reduced to zero/bare minimuim and then you have to halve it. Not sure if you would get much/any help from UK gov. Guess these are things you need to take into account as most single families get by because they have hugely subsidised everything, housing, heating, public transport, food etc.

Or otherwise you can just up and go as we did, selling our home and possessions, with 4 kids in tow. we figured it was something we had talked and talked about but didn't want to look back and say "we wish..." and the worst case scenario was we came back home and started again. Well, after four years we did but my DH was gaining valuable medical research experience so I did bear with it all as long as I possibly could:D I am so thankful now for this place we call home, Australia!! but glad we had our o/s experience too.