Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

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 the Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.

Academic performance, particularly in the applicant’s major is important, though there is no minimum grade point averaged for this scholarship. Applicants must demonstrate the maturity needed to benefit from their experience abroad, and they should be able to describe the expected outcome of their program participation towards their future academic and career objectives.

The program seeks participation by the broadest group of American undergraduate students with financial need who will benefit from the knowledge and skills hey acquire when studying abroad supporting students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including but not limited to, first-generation college students, students in STEM fields, racial and ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students attending minority-serving institutions and community colleges, and students from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.

A successful application will demonstrate a coherent link between their proposed program abroad activities and their future academic and/or career plans, as well as personal development goals. The program encourages students to study and intern in a diverse array of countries and world regions.

Upon return to the United States, Gilman Scholars have the opportunity to inspire the next wave of students to study or intern through the required Follow-on Service Project. The goal of the Follow-on Service Project is for Gilman Scholars to increase awareness of study abroad and the Gilman Scholarship among their peers in their home communities and campuses.

A successful applicant should demonstrate a strong motivation to achieve proficiency in the language that extends beyond their study abroad experience, and into their future academic and career goals.

More information regarding this scholarship can be found here: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org