Completing US Bachelors in London

I'll be on a Tier 1 (General) Dependent visa. DH will be working in London. While I'll be able to run my and his old businesses from abroad via internet, fax, phone and the occassional hop across the pond. So, I've decided to just do it! Do more poor-me excuses!

I came across a file I'd kept of my old transcripts and records (even a letter from the dean saying "we want ya back!") and while talking to the dean and putting pen to paper, we calculated that I'm just 19 credits away from my bachelors degree.

What's more, my old alma mata (Indiana University) has a "semester-based distance learning" programme so that I'll follow along with my classmates, courses, professors, advisors and such online, in chat rooms and webcam.

My plan is to get my bachelors then go straight into a 1-year full-time masters in the UK, (probably at University of London's Extended Learning, so I can keep working.)

So 2 years from now, I go from "also ran" to "legitimately degreed".

I'll be registered starting Summer Semester 2009 and finished by December 31, 2009. (The dean asked if I wanted to get started right away in January 2009 and "march" at Summer's end, but I just know I'll be yanking my hair out closing up our US house and trying to get settled in London in the first months of 2009, so I kindly declined his offer.)

Then, if all goes well, start UoL's master's programme January 2010 through December 2010.

Funny thing: I've run my own corporation, sat on non-profit boards, dealt with corporate attorneys, accountants, financial statements, law suits, bankers, government officials and politicians in running my businesses and volunteering. But the minute the secretary at IU put the dean on the phone, I felt like I was 17 years old again, being called into the headmasters office for smoking in the girls room! 

"Please, Sir, can I finish my degree? I'll behave. Promise!"

Fingers crossed and pray for me and my sanity like gang-busters!

Best wishes to you!  I'm from Illinois, & am quite familiar with IU.  Distance-learning programs are great because they seem to put everyone on the same level (e.g. people don't automatically judge you for not wearing sorority gear or, well, for not being 18).  Also, they are great for self-motivated people! 

Will you be a full-time student at any point?  If so, you can probably get a council tax reduction (I just posted about my own experience getting an exemption).

Hi Aletheis,

Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it very much. And the advice about being a full-time student. In fact, I will likely be (12+ hours per semester), so I'll look into the council tax reduction. I'll go check out your other posts now.

I'm quite looking forward to the distance-learning and to finishing my degree, as well. Who'd have thunk it!