EDUCATION AND TRAINING

POST-9/11 GI BILL – STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

INFORMATION ABOUT STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

• Students must be enrolled in courses that will apply to their program.

• The programs at the “host” school in the foreign country must be approved.

• VA cannot pay any fees specific to studying abroad unless the student is required to 

study abroad as part of their program.

HOME SCHOOL CHARGES STUDENT TUITION AND FEES, PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES, OR A 

COMPREHENSIVE FEE FOR STUDYING ABROAD. HOME SCHOOL HAS AS AN ARRANGEMENT 

WITH THE HOST SCHOOL OR PAYS THE HOST SCHOOL. 

• VA could pay the home school’s tuition, up to the public in-state amount allowed and would 

pay no charges directly to the host school. (Room and board charges cannot be included in 

tuition costs)

• VA could provide a monthly housing allowance to the student, if the student is enrolled more 

than 1⁄2-time 

• VA could provide a books and supplies stipend 

• VA could not pay for any fees specifically due to participation in the study abroad program 

unless study abroad was mandatory for the specific degree. 

• For schools that charge a comprehensive fee that includes the home school’s tuition, they 

would have to break out the fee and report the charged tuition to VA

• VA cannot pay airfare, amenities fees, or host school fees

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your military service can lead to monthly non-taxable compensation, enrollment in the 

VA health care system, a 10-point hiring preference for federal employment and other important benefits. Ask your VA 

representative or Veterans Service Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver

Program, Career Services, Educational Assistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insurance and/or Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits.
HOME SCHOOL CHARGES A FEE OR FEES FOR PARTICIPATION IN STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM, OR 

FACULTY LED FEES. STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO PAY THE HOST SCHOOL THE TUITION AND 

COURSE FEES CHARGED BY HOST SCHOOL. 

• VA could pay the tuition and fees up to the national maximum tuition and fee rate (Room and 

board charges cannot be included in tuition costs). Fees we can pay are fees that students who 

regularly attend the institution must pay—not fees specific to study abroad students. 

• VA could provide a monthly housing allowance to the student, if the student is enrolled more 

than 1⁄2-time 

• VA could provide a books and supplies stipend 

• VA would pay tuition directly to host school 

• VA cannot pay airfare or any study abroad fees charged by the home school

STUDENT ENROLLS DIRECTLY IN HOST SCHOOL

• VA could pay the tuition and fees, up to the resident maximum tuition and fee charges. Fees we can 

pay are fees students that regularly attend the institution must pay—not fees specific to study 

abroad students. 

• VA could pay the tuition and fees, up to the national average in-state maximum tuition and fee 

charges (Room and board charges cannot be included in tuition costs). Fees we can pay are 

fees students that regularly attend the institution must pay—not fees specific to study abroad 

students. 

• VA could provide a monthly housing allowance to the student, if the student is enrolled more 

than 1⁄2-time 

• VA could provide books and supplies stipend 

• VA would pay tuition directly to host school 

• VA cannot pay airfare or any study abroad fees charged by the home school

THIRD PARTY CHARGES A FEE TO STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

VA cannot pay a third party.

Education and Training– February 2015 
STUDENT ENROLLS IN A DIFFERENT U.S. HOME SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN STUDY ABROAD 

PROGRAM

The school the student enrolls in for the study abroad program would be treated as the “home school” 

and we would pay as above, depending on whom the student was paying the tuition and fees for the 

courses offered at the host school.

Note: Any amounts payable are reduced if the student is not eligible at the 100% payment tier. 

Example: If the student’s benefit payment tier is 40%, VA would pay 40% of the housing allowance, 

40% of charged tuition and 40% of the books stipend.

For more information, call toll-free 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI BILL 1) or visit our GI Bill website. 

Education and Training– February 2015