Study Abroad & VA Education Benefits

• All classes must count toward graduation to receive VA benefits.

• VA defines full-time and part-time enrollment differently.
• Review the “Enrollment Status and Training Time” section of the Using VA benefits website. 
• Still have questions? Contact the Military-Affiliated Student Center (MASC).

We determine your semester dates using these rules:

• If your course dates are within 7 days of KU’s standard semester dates: we’ll use KU’s standard semester dates.
• If your course dates are more than 7 days different from KU’s semester dates: we’ll use the dates listed in Enroll & Pay
• If the dates in Enroll & Pay are not accurate and don’t match KU’s semester dates: contact the MASC if you want to be certified using your actual course dates.

• We normally use the dates listed in KU Enroll & Pay as your start/end dates. 
• If your course does not fall within 7 days of the listed term dates, we’ll use the actual start and end dates for the class. Contact the MASC if you want to be certified using your actual course dates.

Fees related to the study abroad experience, including:

• Foreign Study Enrollment Fees (FSRP)
• Program reserve contribution/emergency fund fees
• Admissions or application fees
• Study Abroad and Global Engagement (SAGE) administrative fee
• Third-party or host institution charges 
• Travel expenses (passport, visa, airfare, lodging, meals, transportation)
• Required insurances (health, evacuation/repatriation)
• Optional fees and charges

If study abroad is required for your degree program (currently only Architecture), VA may cover certain additional required study abroad fees.

VA benefits cannot be used for study abroad programs offered through non-degree granting, third-party providers (such as CIEE, IES Abroad, ISEP, SAI) even if billed through KU or required for graduation.

Courses must meet a KU graduation requirement and can be delivered in whole or in part in a foreign country.

All VA benefits users: Submit the VA benefits request form like you do each semester.

• Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits:
  • VA may cover standard KU tuition and fees.
    • If study abroad is required for your degree program (currently Architecture), VA may also cover some additional required study abroad fees
  • VA does not cover study abroad-specific fees, travel, insurance or optional charges (See "Expenses not covered by VA education benefits" above). 
  • Students enrolled more than half-time receive the KU Lawrence campus monthly housing allowance rate based on credits and program dates.
  • Book stipend: $41.67/credit hour for up to $1000 per academic year
• Ch. 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment: Contact your VR&E counselor.
• All other VA benefits: You should receive your monthly stipend based on credit hours and program dates.

You can only use VA benefits for programs where you pay tuition to KU and KU has a formal agreement with the foreign school.

All VA benefits users: Submit the VA benefits request form like you do each semester.

• Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits:
  • VA may cover standard KU tuition and fees.
    • If study abroad is required for your degree program (currently Architecture), VA may also cover some additional required study abroad fees
  • VA does not cover study abroad-specific fees, travel, insurance or optional charges. (See "Expenses not covered by VA education benefits" above)
  • Housing allowance: you should receive the housing rates for foreign institutions of higher learning based on credits and program dates.
• Book stipend: $41.67/credit hour for up to $1000 per academic year
• Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment: Contact your VR&E counselor.
• All other VA benefits: You should receive your monthly stipend based on credit hours and program dates.

The foreign school must be VA approved and listed in the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Search by location to find the school.

Courses must transfer to KU and meet graduation requirements. 

Follow the Parent School Letter Request process with both KU (the “parent” school”) and the foreign “guest” school.

• Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill: The foreign school’s VA school certifying official should tell you what your VA benefits cover. 
  • In general, VA may pay the school’s regular tuition/fees up to the foreign institution of higher learning maximum rates. 
  • Study abroad fees billed through KU and/or the foreign school may not be covered.
• Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment: Contact your VR&E counselor.
• All other VA benefits: In general, you may receive your monthly stipend based on credit hours and program dates. Confirm with the foreign school’s VA certifying official.

The U.S. school must be VA approved and listed in the GI Bill Comparison Tool.

Follow the Parent School Letter Request process with both KU (the “parent” school) and the other “guest” U.S. school.

• Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill & other VA benefits: Check with the guest school’s VA certifying official. 
• Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment: Contact your VR&E counselor.