Earn a Dual Master's Degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security through our program with the University of Malta. The 13-month program is held at the 400-year old University of Malta Valleta Campus. Some students have used VA benefits to help cover the costs of their studies.
If you want your VA benefits to help cover the costs of a study-abroad session, it's possible—if you're required to study abroad to complete the program or if the course is part of your degree as a requirement or an approved elective.
Department of Veterans Affairs funds are generally limited to the equivalent in-state tuition rate for the number of credit hours applicable to the degree program. In the rare circumstances studying abroad is required, the VA may also pay the fees. In general, basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates apply based on rate of pursuit.
Important requirements to look for when selecting a study abroad course:
1. Study Abroad courses must be faculty led and be assigned a Mason course number and title in order to be considered.
2. Look carefully at the cost sheet. The VA will not cover the program/trip fee.
3. The only cost the VA may cover is the in-state tuition and mandatory fee.
4. GEO will provide you with an intent to use VA Benefits Form which will need to be completed by a School Certifying Official.
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Part I of the form must be completed in order to be evaluated for VA benefits eligibility.
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An in-person meeting with an SCO is required. (Tuesday-Friday from 9am -3pm)
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Please bring a copy of your current degree evaluation available in Patriot Web.
VMSDEP tuition waivers may be used for certain study abroad courses. If a study abroad program is owned by a public institution, then the respective institution is required to waive the tuition and mandatory fees; however, if the program is a contract, or third-party program offered through, but independent of, a public institution, the tuition and fees charges cannot be waived because VMSDEP benefits are not applicable at institutions other than a public institution. Course eligibility and value of the waiver is determined by the GEO finance office. Please email military@gmu.edu requesting a review of the study abroad course for VMSDEP use. We will coordinate with GEO for evaluation.
Mason's Office of Global Education maintains a list of all study-abroad opportunities. If you want to use VA benefits for one of these programs, the GEO team will give you an Intent to Use VA Benefits form to be signed by a School Certifying Official (SCO). Please see below for a list of frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions, contact the Office of Military Services at 703-993-1316. SCOs are available typically Tues-Fri between 9am -3pm.
What study abroad programs can utilize VA benefits?
Instructor-led programs, where a student enrolls at Mason for a course that meets domestically and internationally. The student will be certified by George Mason.
GMU Korea is a branch campus of George Mason. The student will be certified by George Mason.
Study abroad programs at foreign universities that are approved for VA benefits, if the study abroad courses transfer back to Mason for credit. Students must have a parent letter provided by a George Mason School Certifying Official (SCO) that they will turn in to the foreign institution’s SCO (see below for more information). The student will be certified by the foreign institution.
Additional information for veterans wishing to use VA benefits to study abroad can be found here.
How do I know if a foreign institution is approved to accept VA benefits?
Students may use the VA Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) database at https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchCountryCriteria.do to identify foreign institutions that are approved for VA benefits and contact information for the foreign institution’s SCOs.
What programs can NOT utilize VA benefits?
Study abroad programs where the student registers for courses at George Mason and pays George Mason tuition, and Mason then arranges for them to attend a foreign university, are NOT approved to utilize VA benefits.
What is a parent letter?
A student wishing to use VA benefits to pay for credits as a guest student at a non-Mason institution that is also approved to accept VA benefits must have a letter from a GMU SCO certifying that the courses the student is taking will transfer back to Mason and count toward the student’s academic progress. In order to provide a parent letter, a student must provide a Study Elsewhere request approved by the student’s department and a list of the courses the student will take at the foreign institution with their GMU equivalent. If a student enrolls in classes that are not listed on the parent letter, or subsequently adds classes that are not on the parent letter, it may invalidate the parent letter.
What expenses are covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
For instructor-led programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover the normal GMU tuition and tuition-related fees that would be charged to a similar in-state student with the same Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage. For programs that are certified by a foreign institution, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay tuition and tuition-related fees, based on the student’s Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage, up to the VA-established National Maximum ($25,162.14 as of August 1, 2020). Students whose academic programs require a study abroad experience may be eligible for additional coverage of program fees.
What expenses are not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
Room, board, travel arrangements, program fees, and any expenses that are not tuition and tuition-related fees will not be paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
What Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowance will I receive?
Faculty-led study abroad students will continue to receive the GMU Fairfax housing allowance. Students at GMU Korea and students certified by other institutions will receive the VA foreign school rate ($1,789.00 as of 1 August 2019). Students in less than full-time status will receive a prorated amount. Students at half-time status or less will not receive a monthly housing stipend. Students in programs that are shorter than one month will receive prorated amounts based on the length of their programs. Students with less than 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility will receive a percentage of the full housing stipend.
Who do I contact for more information or to provide documentation to?
Please contact the Office of Military Services at 703-993-1316 or military@gmu.edu.