US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BENEFITS

It is important that you contact us as soon as your Certificate of Eligibility letter is sent out, as the VA will not inform Leeds Arts University. In addition, to receive VA funding for studying overseas, the course you are applying for needs to be approved by the VA.

Leeds Arts University has several courses already approved. It is important to note that each specific course must be individually approved. 

Please contact international@leeds-art.ac.uk to check if your course is approved. Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you will need to re-confirm prior to each year of study that you wish to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

Once you have received an offer to study from the University, you should notify us of your intention to use your VA benefits at the earliest opportunity. 

1. Check your own eligibility for VA funding.

2. Submit your application on the VA website. If your application is approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter.

3. Check whether the course you plan to study is approved

4. Securely submit your certificate and information relating to your VA benefits.

Please note that if studying a degree that lasts multiple years, you'll need to confirm prior to each year of study that you want to continue using your VA benefit entitlement.

The VA can only pay your personal maintenance benefits into a US bank account. It will be your responsibility to transfer them to a UK bank account.

If you receive financial support for tuition, your tuition payments will be made directly to Leeds Arts University by the VA. They will convert the GBP amount into USD using the Federal Reserve foreign exchange conversion rate effective on 1 July prior to the beginning of the enrolment period.

Once your attendance at Leeds Arts University has been confirmed at the start of the academic year, we will submit an enrolment certificate to the VA.

The VA does not provide a timeframe of when students will receive their funding once the enrolment certificate has been submitted. Due to data protection laws, the VA will never share your funding details with Leeds Arts University. As such, we will not be able to assist if you have specific queries about your funding.

If you do have any questions about the payment of your benefits, you will need to contact the VA directly.

Because we cannot guarantee that your tuition fees will be covered in part or in whole by the VA, you must have sufficient funds to cover any shortfall between the funding you receive and the tuition fees you are expected to pay.

You will also need to have sufficient funds to cover the cost of your tuition fees and living expenses in the UK to apply for a student visa with UK Visas and Immigration. Your VA funding will not be accepted as proof that you can financially support yourself during your time in the UK.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you estimate how much you could receive. To find out exactly what you are entitled to, please contact the VA directly.

Chapter 33 benefits may include financial support for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing. 

Chapter 35 benefits are a monthly payment made direct to the dependent (spouse or child) of a US Veteran. They do not cover tuition fees.