Western Washington University education abroad page is a great resource for learning more about study abroad opportunities.
Programs and exchanges vary in price. Many grants, scholarships, and loans can be applied to study abroad programs through EdAbroad.
Using the GI Bill for study abroad funding:
Important Points for Study Abroad Programs
- The student must be enrolled in courses that will apply to their degree program (approved program for VA purposes).
- The courses must be offered at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) leading to a standard college degree or the equivalent and apply to their degree program (approved program for VA purposes)
- The foreign institution must be approved by VA for GI Bill funding.
Under chapter 35 the VA will pay:
- The same amount of monthly allowance as you would if the course were taken here on campus.
- The allowance amount depends on whether you are a full-time, ¾-time, ½-time, or less than ½-time student while studying abroad.
Under chapter 33, the VA will pay:
- Home school’s tuition and fees
- Books and supplies
- Monthly housing allowance based on the home school’s address.
- In order for VA to pay any additional fees specific to the Study Abroad program, the Study Abroad option must be mandatory and required for graduation.
VA will not pay:
- Costs related to travel (airfare, lodging and meals)
- GL Pay Application fee of $1000
- Third party charges
To check if the institution you will be doing your study abroad program at is approved by the VA for GI Bill funding, please see the following link to the GI Bill comparison tool: GI Bill® Comparison Tool | Veterans Affairs
Registration Through WWU (Faculty Lead Programs)
- Notify the VSO in advance that you are going to be studying abroad.
- You may be asked to supply to our office program specific information such as documentation or advisor correspondence.
- Register for classes through WWU and request certification through our office as you would normally.
Registration Through the other Institution (Guest Enrollment)
- Notify the VSO in advance that you are going to be studying abroad.
- You will have to go through the process of requesting a parent letter from our office.
- You may be asked to supply to our office program specific information such as documentation or advisor correspondence.
- Supply the parent letter and you COE to the veteran’s office at the institution you will be doing your study abroad program at.
- You will be certified by that other institution under the guest student modality.
- Only courses approved on the parent letter can be certified.