VSA Booklet 2018:19

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Table of Contents
Message From Our Director of Operations………...1
Our Team…………………………………………………………..2
Who We Are...…………………………………………………...3
Why Work With VSA?............................................4
Post 9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill? ..........................6
Differences in Education: America vs England.......7
Where you can Study………………………....................8
What you can Study…………………………………………..11
Courses you Shouldn’t Study Overseas….............12
How to Apply…………………………………………………….14
FAQs………………………………………………………………...16
Phone: 707-VSA-PLAN
Email: info@veteranstudyabroad.com
Veteran Study Abroad Limited is a limited company registered in
England and Wales. Registered number: 10952474. Registered
office: Kemp House, 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, UK.
1st Edition 2018/19

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Message From VSA Dir. of Ops
1
From Our Director of Operations
“When I left the Air Force in 2015, I was lost. I made the mistake of
separating without a plan. However, I would never regret this
decision as it has opened so many doors for me. Leaving the safety
of a guaranteed paycheck and housing payments was just the
wake-up call I needed. I developed the independence necessary to
become a successful person in my own right, separate from the
military.
Although I have found success and was able to thrive with my
choice, I do not recommend this path to my fellow Veterans. It is a
long and difficult path that can become quite destructive at times. I
have more memories of sleeping in my car than I care to mention,
and I would rather assist my fellow Veterans with avoiding this
possibility. I would rather Veterans learn from my mistakes, and
make a more informed decision with their future. That is why
Veteran Study Abroad (VSA) was created.
With VSA, veterans are given an opportunity to plan their future,
instead of leaping without looking. We at VSA help a specific
demographic of Veterans with pursuing their education at overseas
universities, and we do this to help you have your plan in place.
There is no better way to plan your future than through education.
So, I truly hope that the opportunity of studying overseas gets you
excited about pursuing your education; I can speak from experience
that we are all excited to help you.”
Sincerely,
William Pennington
Director of Operations,
Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Our Team
Our Team
William Pennington | Director of Operations
After serving four years in the USAF, William decided to pursue his higher education in the legal
field. After a large amount of research he decided that studying law in England would be his
best option. Throughout this process William gained a large amount of experience with the GI
Bill and how it relates to foreign universities. With further experience in business and
management, William directs the day-to-day operations of VSA as well as facilitates all legal
aspects. His goal for VSA is to ensure that Veterans have easy access to reputable and
affordable education when they decide to pursue their education overseas.
Mattison Williams | Head of Student Relations
After serving six years in the United States Air Force Mattison decided to continue his
education overseas. Following a 3 year assignment at RAF Mildenhall, he enrolled into Anglia
Ruskin University in Cambridge, England pursuing a bachelor’s in Media Studies. Mattison
understands the need for an easy transition and is excited to be apart of any Veteran’s journey
to further education. Dedicated to his fellow Veterans, he is now in charge of Student
Relations, ensuring that all students have a smooth transition into studying overseas and
continue to avoid any hardships during their studies.

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Who We Are
Who
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Why Work With VSA?
6 Reasons to use
1. It’s Completely Free!
Yes, you read that right: all of VSA’s
services are completely free of charge
for our fellow Veterans. We will never
ask you to pay us directly for any of our
services. Our goal is to make the
transition to studying overseas as
stress-free and affordable as possible
for you.
In most cases you will also not pay any
tuition costs. We aim to work with
universities that reputable as well as
affordable, in that order. You will
receive a fantastic education, while not
having to worry at all about tuition.
2. Veteran Education
Professionals.

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Why Work With VSA? 5
4. Partial Airfare
Reimbursement.
Those using VSA services in 2018/19 will
benefit from a partial reimbursement of
their flights. All of those who use VSA
and purchase their tickets through
Kiwi.com will receive a £100
reimbursement after payment is
received from your university.
Visa fees and other moving costs can
add up, but we want to help you make it
manageable. So rest assured that you’ll
be getting a part of the costs back to
you!
5. We Know What
Schools Want.
Do you know the best ways to get
accepted into foreign universities?
We do.
We know the ins-and outs of the
university application process, and can
guide you through every step, including
writing your Personal Statement (which
is the most important part, after
grades). With our help, your chances of a
being accepted are incredibly
high...which brings us to our last point...
6. 100%
Acceptance Rating
Of all the students we have helped, ALL
have been accepted into their course of
choice. We have even been able to get
Veterans accepted into master’s degree
programs with nothing more than their
military experience and an associate’s
degree...completely skipping a
bachelor’s degree!
We can help you as well, and we are
excited to get started!
Are you?
THAT’S why.
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill?
Post 9/11 GI Bill or
Montgomery GI Bill?
We won’t beat around the bush; if you are intending on using our
services, you must use the Post 9/11 GI Bill. We unfortunately
cannot work with Veterans using the Montgomery GI Bill. There are
several reasons for this:
The Montgomery GI Bill does
not pay a housing allowance.
Instead of paying tuition to a
university and paying the student a
housing allowance separately, the
Montgomery GI Bill pays a set
amount directly to the student.
This amount is meant to be used
for tuition and you’re allowed to
keep the remaining amount for
help with living expenses.
However, when studying overseas
you must show that you will have
enough money to support yourself
throughout your studies. It is more
difficult to prove that you will have
the funds available with the
Montgomery GI Bill, than with the
Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Foreign Universities are not
familiar with it.
Many foreign universities are
familiar with the Post 9/11 GI Bill,
but some would have never
heard of the Montgomery GI Bill.
This can make it difficult for
some universities to accept it.
This reason is reason enough for
us not be able to accept the
Montgomery GI Bill.
In short, if you wish to use our
services to study overseas…
APPLY FOR THE
Post 9/11 GI BILL.

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Differences in Education
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Difference in Education: America vs England
If you’re contemplating using your GI Bill overseas, you may be wondering how
education is different outside of America. This is a great question! We will
compare the American education system with our most popular study
location, England.
Cost
A big difference with studying in
America is the cost of attending
a university. Costs for
universities in America are
astronomical compared to the
rest of the world. However, this
is not to say that tuition at a
foreign school isn’t expensive.
Luckily, in England there are caps
as to how much universities are
allowed to charge for tuition.
Generally, these caps do not
affect international tuition
rates, but they do help keep
them at a predictable level. VSA
works with universities that are
reputable and affordable, so no
matter what the cost, you will
not be paying out-of-pocket for
tuition.
Length of Study
In England a bachelor’s degree
program is only 3 years in
length, with a master’s being
only 1 year. Basically, you have
the opportunity to gain a
master’s degree in the same
time as a bachelor’s in
America. That’s a no-brainer!
No “Core” Classes!
That’s right - you don’t have to
worry about core classes like
algebra, biology, or history.
You only study courses that
relate to your degree, instead
of wasting your time and
money on unrelated courses.

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Where you can Study
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA) Differences in Education 9
Ireland has to be the most warm welcoming country we work with. The people are friendly
and accommodating, the music is rich and historic, and the beer is strong and smooth.
Do not study here if your goal is to party at the club every weekend. The true heart of Ireland,
and the magic, is in the people and family-run pubs. If you are the type of person who likes
smaller pubs filled with groups of friendly people, Ireland is for you.
Why study here:
One of the friendliest countries in the world - Ireland is without a doubt one of the nicest
countries you could visit. Australia would most likely top the list, but Ireland is easily the runner
up. Walk into many pubs and all you'll find are friendly locals willing to chat with you about
anything; provided you're able to understand everything they say!
Incredible music - Ireland is known for live music. If you are a fan of folk-style music and singing
along while drinking a Guinness, you need to be in Ireland. The Temple Bar area in Dublin is
famous for live music and drinks.
Cheap travel - As with the other countries in our list, Ireland is placed in a perfect place for
travel. If you'd like to do a vacation to London for the weekend, a return ticket may only cost
£25.
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
Where you can Study
12

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA) Where you can Study 11
All of our Partnered Universities offer hundreds of degree options, including
undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programs. You are pretty
much spoiled for choice when it comes to what you want to study.
You can rest assured that no matter what you wish to study, you have the
option. Every course from Aviation to Zoology is offered.
Please get in touch with us to ask specific questions about Partnered
Universities and the courses they offer.
Call - (707)VSA-PLAN
Email - info@veteranstudyabroad.com
Enquire - www.veteranstudyabroad.com/enquire
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
What you SHOULDN’T Study
What you SHOULDN’T Study
Although there are countless degree options in the UK (and other countries), there
are some degrees that you should not pursue outside of America. These courses
include programs that are highly regulated, that eventually involve you challenging a
board of some kind. Mainly, we will discuss Law and Medicine.
Law
Many budding lawyers look into studying abroad. Law courses are
quicker outside of America (4 years total in the UK), and always cheaper.
However, law courses are also highly regulated. Even though the
American legal system evolved from the UK’s, you will still be expected to
pass the American Bar exam. Getting to that exam requires a large
amount of required education. You will not be able to use your UK law
degree to challenge the Bar in America, in most cases, without further
education in America.
Our Suggestion
If you want to become a lawyer in America, study in America. However,
if you would like to live and practice law in the UK, feel free to do it! It is
an amazing degree choice; and a highly rewarding career in the future.

Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
What you SHOULDN’T Study
13
Medicine
Although not impossible, it is very difficult for foreign trained doctors to
work in America. If you have completed your education outside of
America, you will be presented with a number of hoops (even more than
normal medical students) which could take you years to jump through.
Also, medical school in the UK is incredibly expensive, and you will not
have access to the Yellow Ribbon Program* as you would in the States.
This would leave you in a more difficult situation than most newly
graduated would-be doctors.
Our Suggestion
As with law, if you want to study medicine please study where you want
to practice. This will help you finish your degree on time and start seeing
patients as soon as possible.
*If you are unaware of this program, give it a Google!
If you are worried about your course of choice, feel free to get in touch with us to ask
any questions. 707-VSA-PLAN, info@veteranstudyabroad.com

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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
How to Apply
How to Apply
...it’s easy!
Step 1 - Get in Touch With Us.
First, you must contact us at (707)VSA-PLAN to start planning your
overseas education. We like to speak with our students directly to get a
feel for what their interests are, and what their goals are for their
education. You can also email us at info@veteranstudyabroad.com or
submit an online enquiry at www.veteranstudyabroad.com/enquire.
Step 2 - Decide what and where you would like to study.
You have multiple universities and countries to choose from. As well as a
nearly countless list of degrees. We have everything you’d want!
Step 3 - Complete Your University Application
We will help with this. All you have to do is follow our directions and it’s a
quick and painless step!
Step 4 - Complete Your Student Visa Application
Just like the university application, this is simple. Just listen to us and
you’ll have your visa in no time!
Step 5 - Book Your Flights
We always recommend our students purchase their flights from
Kiwi.com. This site is amazing for cheap flights. Also, we will reimburse
you £100 ($140) for your flights after you begin your course. So you will
make some of this money back - How great is that!?
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA)
FAQs
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Veteran Study Abroad (VSA) FAQs 17
FAQs (cont’d)
Do I have to pay anything?
We partner with universities that are reputable and affordable, so you will never pay
out-of-pocket for tuition unless you decide to pursue a degree that is very expensive.
However, you will need to pay for visa fees, and moving costs. Remember though, you
will be partially reimbursed for your flights!
What if my VA payments are late?
Luckily for our students, we are implementing the VSA Community Fund in late
2018/early 2019. This fund will be used to assist VSA Veterans with paying essential
bills in the event that VA payments are late, and it is deemed to be necessary. Please
note that it is still recommended that you have savings available, just in case. We
want this fund to be used for those who truly are in a tough spot. This will only be
available until the student’s VA payments start.
What should I do about an apartment?
We usually recommend that you find a roommate or house share, because this will
help keep your bills cheaper throughout your studies. In some cases, no deposit is
necessary to move into a house share. Check out www.spareroom.co.uk for an idea
on some costs in the U.K.
What about a driver’s license?
You will be able to drive on your U.S. license for up to 12 months. However, before
these 12 months are up, you will need to complete a theory and practical driving test
to receive a driver’s license in the country you’re studying in. It isn’t as difficult as
some people make it seem! Just study a bit and be aware of your driving skill.
For licenses in the U.K. please go here: www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence.
For Ireland, please go here: www.ndls.ie/holders-of-foreign-licences.html.
If you have further questions or concerns, contact us at (707)VSA-PLAN
info@veteranstudyabroad.com.
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Veteran Study Abroad Limited is a limited company registered in
England and Wales. Registered number: 10952474. Registered office:
Kemp House, 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, UK.
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