Deadline: October 2, 2018
Applications for the 2019 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship are now open. 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 prosperity. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001.
A Gilman Scholarship enables American students to gain proficiency in diverse languages and cultures, skills that are critically important to their academic and career development. 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).
Award
Over 2,900 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study or intern abroad.
- 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 ranking process.
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 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 for, a study abroad or internship program of at least two weeks for community college students and three weeks for students from four-year institutions, in a single country and eligible for credit from the student’s home institution. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
- Veterans of military service are encouraged to apply, and preference is given to veterans when other factors are equivalent.
- Students are eligible to apply for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System. Certain areas within these countries 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 areas.
Students are not eligible to apply for programs in a country with an overall Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory.
The Gilman Program, under the direction of the U.S. Department of State, aims to work with students to make scholarship experiences a success. Should a Travel Advisory change to a Level 3 or 4 after the student has been granted the award, the program will coordinate with participants to select a different destination study site that falls within the guidelines provided by the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory system.
Gilman Scholarship recipients can only receive the scholarship once. If a student previously declined the Gilman Scholarship, they are welcome to re-apply, as long as they still meet all eligibility requirements as listed above.
Selection Criteria
Applications are reviewed holistically, with consideration of the following:
- Academic preparedness and impact on student’s academic and career trajectory
- Diversity of background and experience
- Choice of program & destination
- Impact to community
- Critical need language award
Application
The student application deadline for Spring and Early Decision Summer 2019 terms is Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (CST).
Components
- Online application which includes uploading transcripts (either official or unofficial).
- Online certifications from the applicant’s study abroad and financial aid advisor.
Both components must be completed by the deadlines in order for your application to be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered and extensions cannot be granted.
For more information, visit Gilman International Scholarship.
