Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE) since 2001.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. To be eligible, applicants must 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.

The program aims to encourage students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries or areas 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. The program has been successful in supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad (first gen college students, ethnic minority, students with disabilities, attending HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) or other minority-serving institutions, students attending community colleges, rural students.

This a congressionally funded program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late congressman Benjamin A. Gilman from New York. With his support, the program was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. Shortly thereafter in 2002, Congressman Gilman retired after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must be:

• A citizen or national of the United States;
• An UG student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
• 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;
• In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
• Applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or area with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System, or is on the list of approved Travel Advisory Level 3 countries/areas.

Application Essays

There are three essays required as part of the Gilman Scholarship application:

1. Statement of Purpose Essay
2. Two Community Impact Essays
   1. Building Mutual Understanding Essay
   2. Follow-on Service Project Proposal.

*For those applying for a Critical Need Language Award, an additional essay is required.

Selection Criteria

Award amounts range from $100 to $5000 (with the opportunity to receive a Critical Need Language Award of up to $8000). Financial need is based on the study abroad expenses provided by the applicant’s advisor and additional financial aid information submitted through the application. A Gilman Scholar’s final award amount will be determined by financial need, program length, overall program costs and the strength of the application during the selection panel recommendation process.

Application deadline

• Opens Mid-August 2023
• Application Deadline – Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 11:59pm Pacific Time

Learn more at https://www.gilmanscholarship.org