US Department of Veterans Affairs - US Department of Veterans Affairs

US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding at Oxford

If you are a veteran of the US Armed Forces, you can use your existing VA education benefits (the GI Bill or the Post-9/11 Bill) to study at the University of Oxford. The funding covers your tuition fees up to a total of approximately 27,000 euros (30,908 US dollars) per year for 2026 to 27. If your fees are higher, you will need to cover the difference yourself. If you are studying full-time, you may also be eligible for a monthly accommodation allowance and a books grant (a lump-sum payment for books and study materials), depending on your eligibility. Part-time students do not usually receive an accommodation allowance. At Oxford, ‘part-time’ generally means working half a day or less. The funding comes from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The US Loans Team at the University of Oxford handles the enrolment formalities on behalf of the University.

In addition, there is a supplementary grant for STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics): the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship. It provides up to 9 additional months of post-9/11 GI Bill benefits or a maximum of approximately 26,000 euros (30,000 US dollars). You are eligible for this if your benefits under the 9/11 have already been used up or are due to expire within 180 days.

Who can apply

• VA entitlement: You are a US veteran who is already entitled to VA education benefits, under the same basic rules that apply to studying in the US.
• Nationality: You are a US citizen and receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• Course: You are enrolled on a degree programme as a full member of the university. Certificates, diplomas and other courses that do not lead to a degree are not permitted.
• Where you study: You are studying at Oxford on a face-to-face basis. Programmes delivered entirely online or by distance learning are not permitted.
• Field of study: Any subject is permitted. The additional STEM module applies exclusively to natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Age: No age limit.

How to apply

As soon as Oxford offers you a place, apply to the VA at va.gov for your Certificate of Eligibility. Then send a copy to Oxford’s US Loans Team and complete their VA funding form. There are no fixed deadlines, but you should start as early as possible. If your course is not yet recognised by the VA, it may take several months for the university to process your application with the VA.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a grant for which you are competing with other applicants and which you might lose. If you are already entitled to VA benefits, have been admitted to an eligible degree programme at the University of Oxford and are studying on a full-time basis, you are entitled to these benefits. There is no selection panel to decide who receives the funding. The biggest risk is the time involved, as it can take months for your course to be approved and for the funds to be paid out. Applying early will secure your funding.