Using Veterans Benefits to Study Abroad

Many veterans and veteran dependents are able to use their benefits to help fund their study abroad experience. If you are interested in using your Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to assist in payment of a study abroad program, you will need to work closely with Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE) and the KU Veterans Benefits Coordinator to find a program that meets the requirements of the VA and your study abroad and academic goals.

In general, these conditions must be met:

• Study abroad programs must be approved by the VA. All KU faculty-led and exchange programs are approved. For direct enroll programs, universities listed on the GI Bill Comparison Tool are approved.
• Students must be enrolled in courses that will apply to their degree program.

The VA cannot pay any fees specific to studying abroad (study abroad program fees) unless the student is required to study abroad as part of their degree (only KU architecture students). SAGE provides program budgets for all KU study abroad programs on the program page for the program under "Program Cost and Funding" that detail tuition and fee costs.

VA benefits cannot pay third-party/study abroad program providers/companies (such as API, CEA CAPA, CIEE, DIS Study Abroad, SAI, WorldStrides, etc.).

The BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is available if the program is an approved study abroad program through the VA.

If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran and you are interested in using your funding, please make sure to complete all the required forms with the Military-Affiliated Student Center (MASC) and let them know you are planning to study abroad. Students are encouraged to connect with MASC early in the study abroad process, before committing to a program, in order to have a clear understanding of their ability to use their benefits to study abroad.