US Veteran Affairs Education Benefits—GI Bill

This page is for US veteran benefits. Children of Canadian military may be able to access other financial aid.

If you or one of your family members have served in the US military, you may be eligible for financial aid and other help from Veteran Affairs (VA) for your studies.

McGill University is an approved foreign school for VA education benefits, so you can apply for enrollment certification through our office.

What benefits are available

Through the GI Bill you can get money towards the costs of your education.

Other benefits may also be available to you.

If you have any questions about benefits please refer to the VA website.

Applying for enrollment certification

You must request certification each academic year for which you want to receive benefits.

Before you apply

Before your first time applying for enrollment certification:

  1. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility through the VA if you have not already done so
  2. us.studentaid [at] mcgill.ca (Email the Certifying Official at McGill) to confirm if the program of study you intend to pursue has been approved for VA benefits

If your program has not been approved:

  1. us.studentaid [at] mcgill.ca (Email the Certifying Official at McGill) and ask them to submit a request for program approval. Only the Certifying Official may apply for approval of a program. You cannot submit the request on the school’s behalf.
  2. The Certifying Official at McGill will email you the VA’s decision—usually two to three weeks after they submit the request.

Applying for the first time

If this is your first time applying for enrollment certification, you will need to:

  1. us.studentaid [at] mcgill.ca (Email the Certifying Official at McGill) with:
    • The Certificate of Eligibility issued by the VA
    • Your address – the address to use when the US Financial Aid Counsellor confirms your information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    • Number of credits you will register for in each study term
  2. Call 514-399-9227 to confirm your full name and Social Security Number (SSN) and the SSN of the person transferring benefits to you. This information will remain confidential. To protect your privacy, please do not email your SSN.
  3. The Certifying Official will then confirm your information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Subsequent applications

For each subsequent academic year for which you would like to receive benefits, you will need to:

  1. us.studentaid [at] mcgill.ca (Email the Certifying Official at McGill) with:
    • Your address – the address to use when the Certifying Official confirms your information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    • Number of credits you will register for in each study term
  2. The Certifying Official will then confirm your information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Certifying Official at McGill will contact you if any further information is required.

Decision times

Confirmation of enrollment usually takes two to three weeks.

Payment methods

If your application is successful, the VA will send:

  • a cheque to McGill for your tuition and fees, paid to your fee account each semester
  • a payment directly to you for books and living expenses

Tuition fee deferral

You will be eligible to apply for a tuition fee deferral for each term for which you have been approved for VA benefits.

Changing course load or program

We strongly advise consulting with our office before making these decisions:

  • Changing course load: Your course load is monitored every month by the Certifying Official at McGill. Any changes are reported to the VA which could result in a change in the amount of your benefit.
  • Changing program: Before changing program, us.studentaid [at] mcgill.ca (email the Certifying Official at McGill) to confirm that your new program has been approved by the VA. If it has not, you may lose your benefits.
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