The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies and interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and world regions. The program also encourages students to study languages, especially critical need languages (those deemed important to national security). Veterans of military service are encouraged to apply, and preference is given to veterans when other factors are equivalent. By supporting undergraduate students who have high financial need, the program has been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including but not limited to first-generation college students, students in STEM fields, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students attending HBCUs or other minority-serving institutions, students attending community colleges, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
- Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship;
- Be in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, or a virtual international program. Virtual programs and internships will be eligible until summer 2022. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
- Be applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or area with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System. However, certain locations within these countries or areas may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either “Do not travel to” (Level 4) or “Reconsider travel to” (Level 3) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to these specific locations.
Timelines
The October deadline application will typically open in mid-August for applicants whose programs start between December of the current year and October of the following year. This cycle encompasses upcoming spring, summer, autumn and academic year programs. Applicants should note the application deadline typically falls during the first week of October and applicants are notified of their status via email in December.
The March deadline application will typically open in mid-January for applicants whose programs start between May of the current year and April of the following year. This cycle encompasses summer, autumn, academic year and following spring programs. Applicants should note the application deadline typically falls during the first week of March and applicants are notified of their status via email in May.
If an applicant is not selected during their application cycle, they may reapply for the next cycle as long as they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Information Session
For answers to common questions and more details on the scholarship application process, view this recorded information session.
Application Process
Review guidelines, dates and apply directly on the Benjamin A. Gilman website.
Contact
Louise Yahiaoui
Global Education Specialist
180A Enarson Classroom Building
Office of International Affairs
yahiaoui.2@osu.edu
614-292-6101
Program Sponsor
The Gilman Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by the Institute of International Education.