Post-9/11 GI Bill · foreign universities
Practical steps for using your GI Bill abroad at a VA-listed foreign school—eligibility, VA.gov tools, program approval, and the school certifying official. Always confirm final eligibility with VA foreign school guidance and the university.
Browse the GI Global directory of VA-listed foreign institutions by country and city.
Before you apply
A foreign school appearing in the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool is a useful signal, but veterans should still verify the specific program, enrollment process, payment timing, and school certifying official before committing.
Checklist
Start by creating a Login.gov account, which VA uses for secure access to education benefit tools. Use a personal email address you can keep long-term, create a password of at least 12 characters, and set up an authentication method.
Create your Login.gov accountGo to VA.gov, choose to sign in with Login.gov, and follow the prompts to connect your Login.gov credentials to your VA profile. This gives you secure access to VA education benefit tools and records.
Sign in to VA.gov with Login.govChoose Login.gov as your secure sign-in option.
Review VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility rules and confirm your remaining entitlement before you build a study-abroad plan around your benefits.
Review Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibilityIf you have not already applied, submit VA Form 22-1990 online. If you already have benefits, locate your Certificate of Eligibility because foreign schools may ask for it.
Start VA Form 22-1990Use GI Global for a faster country view, then cross-check the school in VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool before you rely on the listing. VA recommends using the tool to check the program after you have your Certificate of Eligibility.
Open the GI Bill Comparison ToolVA says foreign study generally needs to be at an approved institution of higher learning, in an approved degree program, and the program should lead to a standard associate degree or higher, or the foreign equivalent. Do not enroll if the program has not already been approved.
Read VA foreign school guidanceAsk the university who certifies VA enrollment, what documents they need, when they submit certification to VA, and whether they have handled U.S. veteran students before. If the program is not approved, the school should contact VA about the approval process.
Ask VA a benefits questionConfirm visa requirements, housing deposits, tuition deadlines, travel costs, and when GI Bill payments are expected. Do not assume VA funds will arrive before every university or housing deadline. Also check the destination country's own student visa or immigration website. VA housing payments generally apply only while you are enrolled and attending school, so plan for school breaks and time before or after the term.
For Aug. 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, VA lists foreign institution tuition and mandatory fees at up to $29,920.95 in U.S. dollars. If tuition and mandatory fees are higher, the student is responsible for the difference unless another benefit, scholarship, school agreement, or Yellow Ribbon support applies.
Monthly Housing Allowance is separate. For foreign institutions, VA lists MHA at up to $2,338 per month for eligible students at the full rate. Tuition and housing can both be reduced by your benefit percentage, rate of pursuit, enrollment dates, and other VA rules.
Save admissions letters, program details, tuition estimates, school contacts, VA correspondence, visa documents, and housing agreements in one folder.
Helpful questions
FAQ
These answers summarize recurring questions from public discussions and official VA guidance. Use them as a starting point, then verify your exact case with VA and the school.
No. VA says you need to be eligible for education benefits, the school must be an institution of higher learning, and your specific program must be approved. Start with VA's foreign school guidance.
Not automatically. Treat the school listing as a starting point. Confirm the exact degree program in the GI Bill Comparison Tool and with the school's certifying official before enrolling.
VA says the school should contact VA about the approval process. The veteran cannot handle program approval on behalf of the school. Do not enroll in an unapproved program unless you are prepared to pay the costs yourself if approval does not happen.
It is strongly recommended. Your COE helps the school understand your benefit status, and VA's foreign school guidance references using the Comparison Tool after you have received your COE and are ready to enroll.
Post-9/11 GI Bill users may receive money for housing costs during enrollment, but you should budget carefully. VA lists foreign institution MHA separately from tuition, at up to $2,338 per month for Aug. 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026 for eligible students at the full rate. Housing payments generally apply only while you are enrolled and attending school, not during every break or gap before and after a term.
Do not assume it will. Plan separately for flights, visa fees, deposits, local transportation, and move-in costs. Confirm with VA and the school what is covered before relying on benefits for any expense.
Ask for the school certifying official or the office that handles U.S. VA education benefits. If admissions does not know, ask them to connect you with the registrar, international office, or veterans benefits contact.
Be careful. VA foreign program guidance focuses on approved degree programs at foreign institutions of higher learning. Verify non-degree, certificate, language, distance, or independent study programs directly with VA before making plans.
Yes, VA benefit approval and immigration permission are separate. Check the destination country's student visa or immigration website and review U.S. State Department country information.
Use Ask VA for online questions, or contact VA education benefits support. Keep copies of any answer you receive, especially if you are making a financial decision based on it.
Foreign-school housing is generally not based on the local city the way U.S. campus housing rates are. For foreign programs, veterans should expect a flat foreign-school housing calculation and confirm the current amount in VA's rate information or award letter.
Post-9/11 GI Bill students who receive monthly housing allowance generally need to verify enrollment each month. If you miss repeated verifications, payments may be delayed or paused, so build this into your monthly routine.
VA says monthly housing allowance is not paid during school breaks, including breaks between semesters, quarters, or terms. Budget separately for rent and living costs when class is not in session.
No. In a foreign program, the foreign school grants the degree and the program itself must be approved. In study abroad, you usually remain enrolled at a U.S. school and take courses overseas that apply to your U.S. degree.
Be careful. VA foreign-program guidance says independent study, including distance learning, will not be approved for foreign programs. Confirm any online or hybrid plan directly with VA before enrolling.
Yes. For Aug. 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, VA lists foreign institution tuition and mandatory fees at up to $29,920.95 in U.S. dollars. If the school charges more, the student is responsible for the difference unless another funding source applies. Your benefit percentage may also reduce what VA pays.
It may, but only if the foreign institution participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and you meet VA eligibility requirements. Ask the school whether it has a current Yellow Ribbon agreement and how many students it supports.
This is a common planning issue. Ask the school whether it offers payment deferrals, veteran billing arrangements, or confirmation letters while VA certification is pending. Have a backup plan for deposits and early deadlines.
VA education benefits support lists an overseas caller number for GI Bill questions: 001-918-781-5678. You can also use Ask VA from abroad for written questions.
No. GI Global is a discovery and planning tool. Before you apply or pay money, confirm the school and program in VA's tools, get written confirmation from the school, and keep copies of VA and university correspondence.