The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a U.S. Department of State program that pays up to $5,000 for undergraduates who receive a Federal Pell Grant to study or intern abroad for credit. Nearly 3,000 scholarships are awarded this academic year. The next deadline is February 25, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, for programs that start between May 1, 2027, and April 30, 2028.
The facts below come from the program’s own site, gilmanscholarship.org, including its eligibility, deadlines and essays pages.
Who is eligible for the Gilman Scholarship
According to the Gilman eligibility page, you must be:
- “A citizen or national of the United States.”
- “An undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States.” Two-year and four-year colleges both count.
- “Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application,” or able to show you will receive one during your program abroad.
- “In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.”
There are also destination limits. Your program must be in a country or location with an overall State Department Travel Advisory of Level 1 or 2. Gilman does not fund programs in Level 3 or 4 countries, or in Level 3 or 4 areas inside an otherwise eligible country. Programs that involve an overseas institution on the Section 1286 NDAA list are not eligible.
The Pell rule is the gate. If you have not filed a FAFSA for the year you plan to go abroad, do that first, since Pell is awarded through it.
What the award pays
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum award | Up to $5,000 |
| Awards this academic year | Nearly 3,000 |
| What it funds | Credit-bearing study abroad and career-oriented internships abroad |
| Extra funding | Limited supplemental funding for students studying critical languages |
The program also runs the Gilman-McCain award and the Gilman Skills for America Scholarship, which has “no additional application essay or minimum program length requirement.” Gilman’s pages do not publish the amount of the critical language supplement, so check with your Gilman advisor.
How selection works
The scholarship is merit-based. You apply online, and your study abroad and financial aid advisors certify your application after you submit. According to the Gilman essays page, the application requires four short essays of up to 500 words each:
- Motivations for Studying or Interning Abroad
- Preparation and Skill Development
- Gilman Scholars as Citizen Diplomats
- Contributions to U.S. Communities and Follow-on Service Project Proposal
Two optional essays of up to 300 words each apply for extra awards: the Critical Need Language Award essay and the STEM Supplemental Award essay.
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Deadlines and timeline
Gilman runs two application cycles a year. The deadlines page lists the next one:
| Spring 2027 application | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | Mid-January 2027 |
| Student deadline | Thursday, February 25, 2027, 11:59 p.m. PT |
| Advisor certification deadline | Thursday, March 4, 2027 |
| Email notification | May 2027 |
| Programs covered | Start dates from May 1, 2027, to April 30, 2028, including Maymester, summer, fall 2027, spring 2028 and academic year 2027-28 |
The Fall 2026 application, which covered spring 2027 programs, is closed. “Late applications are not accepted.” Because advisors must certify within a week of your deadline, tell your study abroad and financial aid offices before you submit.
How to make a strong Gilman application
- Keep each essay separate. Gilman warns that “each essay must provide a distinct and original response to its specific prompt.” Do not repeat the same story across all four.
- Plan the service project around a real audience. Gilman asks you to name a primary audience and explain why you chose it. Common types are K-12 outreach, academic department outreach and campus office outreach. Study abroad office outreach is the most common, so a project built around your own background stands out more.
- Ask your study abroad office what your campus needs. Gilman suggests this directly, and it gives your project a real purpose.
- Write the optional essays if they fit. If you are studying a critical language or are a STEM major, the 300-word essays are your only route to the supplemental awards.
- Check the travel advisory early. A program in a Level 3 or 4 location is ineligible, so confirm before you commit.
Similar programs to consider
The Boren Scholarship pays more for long language programs but requires federal service. Students in ocean and climate science can compare the paid internship in the NOAA Hollings Scholarship. Confirm your status with our guide to Pell Grant eligibility and how to fill out the FAFSA, then search more awards in the scholarship finder.
Gilman Scholarship questions
Can community college students apply?
Yes. Undergraduates in good standing at any accredited U.S. college, two-year or four-year, are eligible if they receive Pell.
Does the program have to give academic credit?
Yes. Study abroad programs and internships must be credit-bearing.
Can I use Gilman for an internship abroad?
Yes. The program supports career-oriented internships abroad as well as academic study.
What is the follow-on service project?
It is a project you carry out after you return to promote international education and the Gilman Program. You propose it in Short Essay 4.