Foreign Programs | Veterans Affairs

If you plan to study at a foreign school, find out how you can use VA benefits to cover your tuition and fees.

You may be able to use education benefits at a foreign school if you meet these requirements.

Exception: Family members who qualify for Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance can get VA benefits while in approved postsecondary (after high school) non-college degree

programs at training locations in the Philippines.

If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to get these benefits:

If you’re using one of these VA education benefits, you may be able to get a monthly payment:

No. The main difference is where the school granting the degree is located.

If you’re using your VA education benefits for a foreign program, you’re enrolled directly in a foreign school. There’s no connection to a U.S. school. The program at the foreign school must

be approved for GI Bill funding.

If you’re using your VA education benefits to study abroad, you’re enrolled at a U.S. school and taking courses abroad that will apply to your degree program.

You can use your education benefits at a foreign school only if we’ve approved the program that you want to enroll in. Here are some requirements related to program approvals:

If you’ve received your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and are ready to enroll, check first to make sure we’ve already approved the program. Send an email to federal.approvals@va.gov.

You’ll need to give us the name of the foreign school, the complete address, and the name of the program you want to enroll in.

If you enroll in a program we haven’t approved, you’ll have to pay all costs at the school, including tuition and fees.