About the Gilman International Scholarship Program

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program is an undergraduate grant program for U.S. citizens of limited financial means to enable them to study abroad, thereby internationalizing their outlook and better preparing them to assume significant roles in the increasingly global economy. The Gilman Scholarship is a program of the U.S. Department of State, supported in its implementation by IIE.

The program seeks participation by the broadest group of students from across the United States who have financial need and will benefit from the knowledge and skills they acquire when studying abroad. 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. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range of public and private institutions from all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. 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 and diplomacy).

Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray eligible study or intern abroad costs. These costs may include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.

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;
• Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship;
• Be in the process of applying to, or accepted for, a study abroad or internship program approved for academic credit by the student’s home institution for up to one academic year. (Note: Minimum period of study in a single country of at least two weeks for community college students and four weeks for students from four-year institutions.) Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement; and
• Note: Applicants will be pre-screened to ensure their program of choice is in a country not currently under a Travel Warning issued by the United States Department of State or otherwise determined ineligible for program participation. Students applying to Mexico may only apply for scholarships to support study in Mexican states where no advisory is in effect according to the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning list.

More information is available on our website.