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International loan schemes
- Overview
- United States Federal Student Aid (Direct Loan Program)
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits
- Canadian Student Loans
- Norway Lånekassen loans
- Sweden CSN financial aid
- Private international loans
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits
The University of Sydney accepts students who are eligible for a range of US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill Education Benefits. Recipients can study at the University of Sydney under the following benefits programs:
- Post 9/11 GI Bill
- The Yellow Ribbon Program
- Montgomery GI Bill
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program.
If you’re eligible, VA will pay education benefits to assist with an approved program of education or training. It covers a portion of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and book stipend.
GI Bill eligibility
Each Veteran Affairs education program has distinct eligibility requirements under specific chapters of Title 38, US Code (USC).
VA is the only organisation authorised to determine your eligibility for the GI Bill. If you have specific questions relating to eligibility, please contact VA’s Education Benefits Assistance Service on +1 918 781 5678 from outside of the United States or 888-442-4551 if calling from inside the United States. Alternatively, you can use the Ask VA online portal.
Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility
The University of Sydney participates in the Department of Veteran Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program, this program covers most of tuition costs that the Post 9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover (due to fluctuating exchange rates a small gap may be payable by the student). To find out if you are eligible or if the program you seek to study is eligible and how funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program works, please contact International Loans directly.
Program eligibility
VA must approve each University of Sydney program of study in accordance with US legal requirements for payment of education benefits to veterans and other eligible people.
Only full degrees (bachelors, masters or PhD) are eligible programs, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates are ineligible.
Degrees that are fully online are not eligible for education benefits. Degrees with a hybrid delivery method, that is, face-to-face and online components, are eligible, as long as the student is attending class in Australia.
Below is a list of our VA approved programs. Each combination of a degree with its specialisation and/or major or minor must be approved by VA individually. If your program and specialisation combination is not on the list of approved programs, please contact us so we can request that is be approved. The program approval process may take up to six months, so you need to apply as early as possible.
Approved programs include:
- Bachelor of Advanced Computing
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- Bachelor of Applied Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Design in Architecture
- Bachelor of Economics
- Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Aeronautical Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Biomedical Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Civil Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Electrical Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Environmental Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechanical Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Software Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Sustainability and Environmental Engineering)
- Bachelor of International Studies
- Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Bachelor of Media and Communications
- Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies)
- Bachelor of Oral Health
- Bachelor of Project Management
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Psychology Honours
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies
- Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Taronga Wildlife Conservation)
- Bachelor of Science and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Veterinary Biology (Honours)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Bachelor of Visual Arts
- Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation (Taronga)
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Musical Arts
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Juris Doctor
- Master of Architecture
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration (Executive)
- Master of Business Administration (Leadership & Enterprise)
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Extension)
- Master of Computer Science
- Master of Creative Writing
- Master of Cybersecurity
- Master of Data Science
- Master of Digital Communication and Culture
- Master of Economics
- Master of Engineering
- Master of Exercise Physiology
- Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts
- Master of International Business
- Master of International Law
- Master of International Relations
- Master of International Security
- Master of Marine Science and Management
- Master of Media Practice
- Master of Museum and Heritage Studies
- Master of Nursing
- Master of Occupational Therapy
- Master of Philosophy (Science)
- Master of Professional Accounting and Business Performance
- Master of Professional Engineering
- Master of Project Management
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Publishing
- Master of Social Work (Qualifying)
- Master of Speech Language Pathology
- Master of Transport
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning
- Master of Urban Design.
How to apply
You can apply for VA benefits online through the VA’s application website. To complete a paper application form, call the VA Office on 888 442 4551 (from the U.S.) to request an application form be mailed to you. If you want to visit in person, you can consult the list of regional VA offices.
Once approved for benefits, VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility. You need to provide this to our International Loans Team to certify your enrollment.
Your responsibilities
It is your responsibility to notify our International Loans Team if you reduce your hours of enrolment by withdrawing from a unit, terminating your enrolment, or making any other changes that would affect your payment status. If you withdraw or drop a unit, you may have to repay all or part of the benefits you received for the unit(s).
If the benefits you are eligible for do not meet your expected costs, you may apply for US Financial Aid under the Federal Direct Loans Program.
Requesting help
Contact the International Loans team for a detailed information guide at international.finaid@sydney.edu.au.
Alternatively, please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Last updated: 29 September 2025