4-VA Consortium
Mason's 4-VA partners include the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, James Madison University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of each university and improve efficiencies in higher education.
VA Parent letters give students the flexibility to take courses at other approved colleges as a guest student while being a degree-seeking student at your home school.
If you are a George Mason Student:
For those using VA benefits, the School Certifying Official will need to complete a primary school letter for the guest school to certify the course. Once the Study Elsewhere form is approved, you'll need to request a parent school letter before classes start. Please ensure the correct form is approved prior to requesting a parent letter. These forms ensure your credits at the other school are transferable to Mason:
- Study Elsewhere Form for Undergraduate Students
- Study Elsewhere Form for Graduate Students
- Virginia Consortium Participant Information
If you are a guest student at George Mason:
- Apply as a non-degree student and then register for the approved courses
- Ensure your home school certifying official (SCO) completes a parent letter including all the required information per the SCO handbook.
- Submit the Veterans Registration and Reporting Form (VRRF). Ensure you select guest student and upload your parent letter. If you do not provide a parent letter, the VRRF will be rejected.
- Upload your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and write in comments that you are a guest student and have completed the VRRF and uploaded the parent letter.
Note: Guest students submit the VRRF prior to the COE. This is reverse than the standard process for students that primary school is George Mason University.
If you're studying in a very specialized field, you might need to take a course or two at another university.