U.S. Veterans Affairs education benefits
VA education benefits help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition. Concordia is recognized as an eligible foreign school by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and you can apply for enrollment certification through the Financial Aid and Awards Office (FAAO)..
The FAAO helps students work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to pursue studies at Concordia. You should contact us early so that we can help guide you through the process of obtaining VA funding and understanding your responsibilities to remain eligible in the program.
Available benefits
If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (also known as Chapter 33), you may be eligible to receive the following benefits:
- Money for tuition and fees
- Money for your housing costs during enrollment
- Money for books and supplies
Tutoring assistance
If you are a Veteran receiving VA education benefits, you may also receive financial assistance of up to $1,200 for tutoring if:
- You’re enrolled in an educational program for half-time or more, and
- You’re taking a course that’s difficult, and
- You have to take the course as part of your educational program
For more information or to apply, visit this page.
At Concordia University, only degree programs leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD are eligible for VA education benefits. Please note independent studies, diplomas and certificates are not eligible for VA funding.
Important: As of Summer 2022, students must enroll in approved resident (in person) classes to receive VA education benefits.
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open.
| Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall 2025 | August 1, 2025 |
| Winter 2026 | December 1, 2025 |
Our office will make every attempt to process your VA application as quickly as possible. However, if your application is submitted after the deadline, we cannot guarantee your funding will arrive by Concordia’s payment due date.
Required steps
- Accept your offer of admission to Concordia University.
- Verify if your program is eligible by consulting the VA WEAMS Institution search: https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do
If your program is not listed, please contact the FAAO as soon as possible as the VA program approval is lengthy.
All required documentation for your application are available in the PDF Form
New students: Apply online for benefits with the VA. If you don’t have access to apply online, you can call 1‐888‐442‐4551 to request a copy be mailed to you.
Once VA has established your eligibility for benefits, they will provide you with a Certificate of Eligibility. Please upload the Certificate of Eligibility as part of your application package
Book your appointment for Academic Advising with your Faculty. You must be admitted, registered in a program, and enrolled in classes to receive funding. Registration opens in March for most programs.
Obtain a completed Academic Advising Report form from your Academic Advisor. This can be found in the PDF form linked above.
Provide permission to Concordia University to release academic and financial school records to the VA by completing the Consent to Release Confidential Student Records. The Consent to Release Confidential Student Records is available in the PDF form linked above.
Uploaded your completed application and supporting documents securely to your Concordia Student Centre. Faxed and emailed documents will not be accepted. Please follow these steps to ensure your documents are received.
Step 1
In your Student Centre, you must click on "Apply for Bursaries or Scholarships" in the Finances section.
Step 2
Complete the Aid Declaration for 2024-2025 and indicate that you have applied for U.S Aid.
Step 3
Click on "Awards Applications" and then click on "Click here to attach documents" (bottom left).
Step 4
Select "VA Application" under Document Type. Do not forget to upload your application documents as one single PDF.
Step 5
Email fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca with the subject line: "VA Application - Student ID" to confirm your documents have been uploaded to your student centre.
Your file will then be assigned to a Financial Aid Advisor who will email you to confirm the receipt of your documents. Please note that during peak periods, your application may take a few days to be processed.
Let the FAAO know if you need proof of funding letter for your Study Visa and Certificate of Acceptance to Quebec (CAQ). Your application must be fully processed by our office before we can issue one to you.
Submit your immigration documentation.
Contact the International Students Office for more information.
Post-9/11 GI Bill/Chapter 33 students ONLY: You must verify your enrollment status each month for enrollment periods which began on or after August 1, 2021, to continue to receive your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. You may do this by text message, telephone or email.
If you have transferred schools and will now be attending Concordia University, you will need to complete the VA Form 22-1995 and follow the steps below:
Step1: Mail the completed form to the VA Regional Processing Office in the region of that school's or establishment's physical address. Determine the correct office from the list on page 4.
Step 2: Notify the FAAO that you have applied for VA education benefits. Request that we submit your enrollment information using VA Form 22-1999 Enrollment Certification, or its electronic version.
Step 3: Wait for VA to process your application and notify you of our decision.
Isakson & Roe: Public Law 116-315 (Section 1019)
Concordia University is responsible for returning funding student has not earned. If your enrollment changes during the academic year or if you withdraw from the University, your Concordia account will get debited for the amount requested by the VA. You may also end up owing a tuition debt to Concordia (VA will charge the school a prorated tuition and fee debt which the school may, in turn, pass on to you) if there is a change in enrollment.
Public Law (P.L) 116-315
Section 1010 requires schools to submit an initial enrollment certification for each chapter 33 student, and a subsequent enrollment certification (verification) after the school’s drop-add period [link]. The end of the drop-add period is the last day when a student is able to withdraw from the course or program of education without consequence. The second certification (verification) should be submitted no later than 30 days after the drop-add period or 60 days from the first day of the enrollment period, whichever occurs first.
For Chapter 33 students ONLY
As a beneficiary, you must verify your enrollment status each month for enrollment periods which began on or after August 1, 2021, to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. You may choose to do this by text message, phone, or e-mail.
For more information or help with your application:
If you’re in the United States, call 888-442-4551 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
If you’re outside the United States, call +1-918-781-5678 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. This isn’t a toll-free number.
Location
SGW Campus Financial Aid and Awards Office 1550 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. GM 230.00 (see map)
Mailing address
Financial Aid and Awards Office 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Room GM-230 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8
Hours of service
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Walk-in Hours: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact
Tel: 514-848-2424, ext. 3507
Email: fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca