38 USC § 3476 - Education outside the United States

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s3476"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 3476 - Education outside the United States"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "3476"
section_name: "Education outside the United States"
chapter_number: 34
chapter_name: "VETERANS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "ENROLLMENT"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 89–358, § 2, Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 17, § 1676; amended Pub. L. 94–502, title II, § 211(9), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2389; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, § 307(b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2193; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3476, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 103–446, title VI, § 604(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4671.)"
---


# § 3476. Education outside the United States

An eligible veteran may not enroll in any course offered by an educational institution not located in a State unless that educational institution is an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may deny or discontinue educational assistance under this chapter in the case of any veteran enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in a State if the Secretary determines that such enrollment is not in the best interest of the veteran or the Federal Government.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 89–358, § 2, Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 17, § 1676; amended Pub. L. 94–502, title II, § 211(9), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2389; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, § 307(b), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2193; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3476, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 103–446, title VI, § 604(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4671.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in , , , which was classified to former section 1620 (second and third sentences) of this title, prior to repeal by .

### Amendments

1994— amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: “An eligible veteran may not enroll in any course at an educational institution not located in a State unless such course is pursued at an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary.”

1991— renumbered  as this section.

1989— substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

1980—, among other changes, substituted reference to an eligible veteran not enrolling in any course for reference to an eligible veteran not pursuing a program of education, inserted provision that the course be approved by the Administrator, and substituted reference to any veteran enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in a State for reference to any veteran in a foreign educational institution.

1976— substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his” and “if the Administrator finds” for “if he finds”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

> “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to courses approved on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , except as otherwise specifically provided, see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .