Adult Study Abroad Programs?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>This is a very informed group so I’m going to ask. </p>

<p>Are there any study abroad programs for adults? I’m a parent in my 50’s. I already have all the degrees I want or need. I don’t want credits, papers or tests. </p>

<p>But I would like to study abroad on subjects like history, art history, archeology, and the like. Yes, there are tours with knowledgeable tour guides with companies like National Geographic or Smithsonian, but I am hoping for something more intensive than what a tour would offer. I want to learn a subject thoroughly, not the ‘fun facts’ or broad brush approach of a tour. And I would like to stay longer than the typical two or three weeks of a tour.</p>

<p>Does anyone know of any such programs?</p>

2

<p>My son’s college is offering a fun one to Ireland in June. I would love to go!</p>

<p>[Discover</a> Ireland Next Spring | Champlain College](<a href=“http://www.champlain.edu/office-of-international-education/discover-ireland.html]Discover”>http://www.champlain.edu/office-of-international-education/discover-ireland.html), I think I read that the cost was $1500, and that includes lodging and some meals, but not airfare.</p>

3

<p>Would love to do one, too! The nature ones are a little too physical for me, but I would to do a knowledge gathering tour, not one that focuses on shopping!</p>

4

<p>Check out Road Scholar (previously Elderhostel) at [Road</a> Scholar: Educational Travel and Learning Vacations for Adults from Alaska to Italy](<a href=“http://www.roadscholar.org%5DRoad”>http://www.roadscholar.org). I just got an email about their Semester at Sea program - [Road</a> Scholar: Semester at Sea for Lifelong Learners - CZS](<a href=“Educational Travel & Learning Adventures | Road Scholar”>Educational Travel & Learning Adventures | Road Scholar) ; they have lots of others. Not cheap, but I know people who have gone on their tours and say the lectures and learning are wonderful.</p>

5

<p>My in-laws were early travelers w Elder Hostel, including one of the first trips to China in the 80s. It is a very well run group and it looks like they have ‘upped’ the accommodations since the 80s.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the information. Their website is very interesting with lots of programs to choose.</p>

7

<p>Oxford University in England has summer programs for adults.</p>

<p>[Course</a> details | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education](<a href=“http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=135]Course”>http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=135)</p>

8

<p>[Road</a> Scholar: Educational Travel and Learning Vacations for Adults from Alaska to Italy](<a href=“http://www.roadscholar.org/]Road”>http://www.roadscholar.org/)</p>

<p>My mom and did also did a few trips with this organization when the name was Elderhostel. At the time that they did them they said they were very well organized. The last one they did was in NYC and was off the beaten path art galleries so there are all sorts of things.</p>

9

<p>UC Berkeley - Extension has a program in Oxford</p>

<p>[Oxford</a> Berkeley Program — UC Berkeley Extension](<a href=“http://extension.berkeley.edu/oxford/]Oxford”>http://extension.berkeley.edu/oxford/)</p>

10

<p>My parents went on an ElderHostel trip years ago, and the LOVED it.</p>

11

<p>I can see why Elderhostel changed the name. I would have been put off by ‘elder’. I’m only in my 50’s. I looked at some of the hiking trips, which do a respectable 8 miles a day, which would be nice for me. And the tours of Europe seem a little longer than most commercial tours and more concentrated on a subject, like Architecture in Spain, which looked interesting to me. </p>

<p>I don’t know if I’ll do it for a few years, what with tuition and all, but it’s something to look forward to.</p>

12

<p>These are tours, but I’d hope more informative than some. From my local university, UW Madison. [Educational</a> Travel Destinations: Browse upcoming travel destinations and events](<a href=“http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/travel/destinations.htm]Educational”>Home - Continuing Studies)</p>

<p>Most larger universities would have something of this ilk, or so I’d think. </p>

<p>To really settle into a place, language study can always be a project. Guatemala has a zillion language schools, with home stays. The friends who have done this have positive reports. To spend a month or more studying in Antigua or Panajachel on Lake Atitlan would be a dream come true for me. </p>

<p>I’ve heard similar things about France and China, language schools, and longer term stays.</p>