Veterans Affairs Benefits
Benefits for Veterans
What do I need to know about using the GI Bill® for study abroad?
- Students may use the GI Bill® to pay for CU Denver faculty-led programs, Semester in Beijing, Semester in Berlin, and some direct enrollment programs. Direct enrollment programs must meet certain criteria, which are listed below. In addition, students may use the GI Bill® for exchange programs, although CU Denver does not currently offer exchange programs.
- Students may NOT use the GI Bill® for third-party programs.
- Courses taken abroad must count towards completion of the student’s major.
- The GI Bill® will cover up to the in-state/resident tuition of the number of credits taken abroad and will not cover costs such as housing, insurance, airfare, food, books, etc.
- Whether or not GI Bill® funds may be used toward other costs are determined by Veteran Affairs (VA) directly.
- The VA always considers who is administering the teaching/training (and not just who is awarding credit) when determining if funds from the GI Bill® may be used.
U.S. Veteran Affairs Benefits for Education Abroad Programs / GI Bill® Information (PDF)
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Contact Information
Office Of Veteran and Military Student Services
Phone: 303-315-7300
E-mail: vmss@ucdenver.edu
Denver Campus Office: Tivoli Student Union Suite 124
Anschutz Medical Campus Office: Education II - North P28-3201
See below for program stipulations:
Stipulations for using G.I. Bill funds for faculty-led programs
- VA benefits must be used toward the home institution’s tuition and academic fees
- The School Certifying Official (SCO) at the home institution certifies the student for his/her VA benefits
- The SCO must use the home institution’s zip code when certifying for the monthly stipend
- An eligible student may be certified as a “transient“ student at the institution running the faculty-led program if their degree is housed at another institution
Stipulations for using G.I. Bill funds for direct enrollment in a foreign institution
- The foreign institution must be a VA approved program (otherwise, VA funds cannot be used)
- VA benefits must go toward the foreign institution’s tuition and academic fees
- The SCO at the foreign institution certifies the student for his/her VA benefits
- The SCO must apply as a “guest student” with the course applied to the home institution
- The VA will use the foreign institution’s location when certifying for the monthly stipend