Spouse or Dependent Using VA Education Benefits
The information on this page applies to students using the following VA education benefits:
- Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 GI Bill (Spouse or Child Transferee)
- Chapter 33 – Fry Scholarship
- Chapter 35 – Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA)
To use VA education benefits at The University of Texas at Austin, students must have a VA Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for the benefit. Students who have never applied to use their VA education benefits must complete their application on VA.gov. The VA will mail, if eligible, a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) to the address on file with the VA. You should receive your CoE or denial letter in approximately 30 days from application.
If you have used VA education benefits at another school, you must submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training to update our school or program information with the VA. The VA will issue a new CoE for the updated school and/or program information.
Requesting VA Enrollment Certification
All Students
All students must submit a VA Enrollment Certification Request (GI Bill Questionnaire) for each semester they want to use their VA education benefit. Students should submit requests after enrolling in courses for a semester.
All students must also upload the following documents to the GI Bill Document Uploads portal:
- VA Certificate of Eligibility or Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits
Graduate Students
In addition to the requirements listed above for all students, all graduate students (excluding MBA, MSTC, or Law School students) will be required to upload two additional documents their first semester.
- An official degree plan from the student's academic advisor or program coordinator that specifies the overall degree requirements, the title of the degree (e.g., MA, PhD, etc., not merely the level (e.g., master, doctoral, etc.), the major and a complete listing of required coursework (including course numbers and titles).
- A semester-specific letter from the student's academic advisor or program coordinator identifying which courses the student is registered for (including course numbers and titles), and how those courses apply towards the student's degree. This is also referred to as an advisor letter. Both the degree plan and the advisor letter must be signed by the graduate advisor or program coordinator on departmental letterhead to have your enrollment certified to the VA.
Each semester thereafter, students must upload a semester-specific letter from the student's academic advisor or program coordinator identifying which courses the student is registered for (including course numbers and titles), and how those courses apply towards the student's degree.
Tuition Deferment for Post-9/11 GI Bill Users
For first-time users of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at UT, the University's School Certifying Officials (SCO) team will use the student's CoE or Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits to provide a 90-day tuition deferment while the University waits to receive the tuition payment from the VA. The tuition deferment amount will be calculated using the information on the CoE or statement of benefits.
If the tuition deferment results in a zero balance ($0.00) bill, the student must still confirm their attendance on their tuition bill before the payment deadline. Failure to confirm attendance prior to the payment deadline will result in the student being disenrolled from the university.
Tuition Deferment for Chapter 35 (DEA) Users
Pursuant to Texas Education Code §56.0065, the University will provide a 60-day tuition deferment for a student eligible for state or federal military related student financial assistance programs for military veterans or their family members if the receipt of military related financial assistance awarded to the student is delayed by less than 60 days. After the student has registered for courses and submitted the VA Enrollment Certification Request, they can request a Tuition Deferment Request for Eligible Texas Veterans and Their Families form by emailing VMAS.
Continuing Students
- Complete your VA Enrollment Certification Request (GI Bill Questionnaire)
- If you have a zero balance tuition bill, confirm your attendance on your tuition bill by the payment deadline.
Concurrent Enrollment – Parent Institution Form
Students who want to utilize their VA education benefits at another institution while primarily enrolled at UT Austin must complete the Parent Institution Form. Please visit the Texas One Stop website for additional information about concurrent enrollments and to complete the Parent Institution Form. Completed Parent Institution Forms must be uploaded to the GI Bill Document Uploads portal for processing.