Study Abroad

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Every year, more than 10 percent of cadets pursue an international learning experience.

By combining an intellectual quest with firsthand exposure to different cultural traditions, cadets gain a global perspective and acquire important life skills—critical thinking, independence, flexibility, resilience, and the ability to interact and communicate across differences. Cadets often describe their education abroad experiences as extremely rewarding and life-changing.

On this page, you can find links to program opportunities as well as critical information on financial aid, policies, and guidelines.

Start your adventure!

The Office of Global Education (OGE) is ready to assist you with the study abroad process. Please come by our office in Old Post Hospital or send an email to globaled@vmi.edu to make an appointment with our staff to explore your options.

Explore Your Options

Significant international experience is an important part of a VMI education. To help facilitate this, VMI faculty lead and/or direct several programs each summer for cadets from a wide variety of majors.

Cadets are encouraged to study abroad for a semester during their time at VMI. Programs are available for every major and in almost any location in the world.

Stay engaged with our office and find upcoming events, application and aid deadlines, and program insights by following us on Instagram, @vmi_global_education.

Financial Assistance

Scholarships and Awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and their families, VMI currently has five funds to support cadet study abroad. The funds have different requirements for eligibility, but awards can be used to support any aspect of study abroad on VMI-approved programs: program costs, travel, room/board, etc.

The deadline is generally in early November for spring and summer programs and in mid-March for fall programs. Interested cadets should contact VMI’s study abroad advisor at globaled@vmi.edu.

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Using Your Financial Aid Funds for Study Abroad

You can use your financial aid award while you study abroad, as long as you attend an approved program. Your financial aid account will pay for your education as if you were present at VMI. Cadets are responsible for any balance due after aid disbursement.

Return the respective program verification form at the financial aid office (307 B Letcher Avenue) to be completed and submit a copy of your study abroad invoice.

Financial Concerns

The average cost of a semester abroad is $12,000 and varies significantly by location. There are several ways to help offset these costs:

Military Exchanges – VMI has direct exchanges with St. Cyr, the French Military Academy; the Bundeswehr University in Hamburg, Germany; L’Ecole Polytechnique; the Military Academy of Lithuania; Zrinyi Miklos National Defense University in Hungary; and Salford University in the United Kingdom. When cadets participate in one of these programs, they pay approximately what they would pay to attend VMI, plus airfare.

Scholarships – VMI has many scholarships available. Additionally, all cadets studying through third party providers are strongly encouraged to apply for a scholarship from the provider. A large percentage of applicants receive awards.

Spending money – Before leaving the United States, cadets and their families should discuss how the cadet is going to access money. In most cases, an ATM or credit card is the most efficient way to get funds in the local currency at the best rate. It is important that cadets ask their banks in advance what fees there are for overseas transactions and if those can be waived while abroad. Also, notify the bank before going overseas to prevent ATM or credit card accounts from being “frozen.”

Process & Policies

First Steps:

Following initial contact with our office, cadets meet with a study abroad advisor to discuss their program and course selections. A pre-departure orientation focusing on logistics, safety, and cultural issues is provided near the end of the semester.

Cadets must register with the U.S. Embassy before departing. It is essential to check VMI email regularly so that they receive timely information about important matters, including pre-registration for the following semester.

While cadets are abroad, our office fields questions and concerns. When the cadet returns, our office makes sure that transcripts are appropriately processed for credit transfer and that the transition back to VMI and living in the United States is a smooth one.

Action Checklist:

Apply for a passport or passport renewal well in advance. Passports can take 6-8 weeks to process.
Check with the consulate of the host country and be aware of visa requirements.
Complete all relevant financial aid paperwork
Make flight arrangements as soon as you have been accepted and have the dates of the program.

Tips for Families:

Be sure that at least one parent/guardian holds a valid passport in case of emergency.
Keep photocopies of your son or daughter’s documents and contact information, including Social Security card, passport, and foreign address.
Be sure that your cadet has signed a Release of Information Form so that our office can give you information while he or she is abroad.
Discuss in advance how you plan to communicate with your son or daughter while he or she is abroad.

VMI Policies

Cadets must have at least a 2.5 CUM GPA to study abroad during a semester. (This does not apply to summer or short-term programs.)
Cadets may study abroad only one semester during their cadetship. (Summer programs do not count.)
Cadets cannot be on ACPRO or CONPRO to be approved for study abroad.
VMI does not authorize study abroad or visits to countries that are under a State Department warning. The current warning list at travel.state.gov.
All cadets studying abroad must certify that their health insurance will cover them while abroad or purchase a student policy that will provide coverage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website has country-specific health information.
All study abroad applicants are required to register with the Office of Global Education. Applicants to third-party programs and other non VMI faculty led programs will be charged a study abroad fee of $250 in addition to the program fees assessed by the provider.
Please refer to General Order 73 for details concerning VMI study abroad policies and contact the Office of Global Education at GlobalEd@vmi.edu for specific operating procedures and current timelines for study abroad.

Additional Resources: