The Gilman Scholarship Program, established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, supports undergraduate study abroad for US students who receive Federal Pell Grant funding. Administered by the US Department of State and implemented by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the program offers scholarships of up to $5,000 (with a potential additional $3,000 for Critical Need Language awards) to enable US undergraduates to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for a Gilman Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or national
- Be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited US institution of higher education
- Receive a Federal Pell Grant during the application period or show proof of eligibility for the grant during their study abroad program or internship
- Be applying to or accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, with proof of acceptance required before disbursement of the award
- Apply for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or location with a Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2 according to the US Department of State’s Travel Advisory System
It’s important to note that the US Department of State may request program changes for specific countries or locations based on changing circumstances. Final awards depend on fund availability and the health and security situation in the destination country or location. Additionally, Gilman scholars cannot participate in programs in areas designated as Level 3 or 4 by the Travel Advisory System.
Selection Process
The Gilman Scholarship Program seeks to support a diverse array of students who have historically been underrepresented in study abroad experiences. This includes individuals with significant financial need, those studying in non-traditional destinations beyond Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, students from various ethnic backgrounds, attendees of a wide range of institutions such as four-year universities, community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions, as well as students with disabilities.
Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Official transcripts from current and transfer universities
Method of Application
The Statement of Purpose essay, the Essay on Fostering Mutual Understanding, and the Project Proposal for Continued Services are the three required essays for the application. Additional essays are required for those applying for the Critical Need Language Award or the STEM Supplemental Award.
Essay Guidelines
- Write your essays in a word processing program and then upload them to the online application. Ensure that your document has 1-inch margins and is formatted with Times New Roman at 12-point size.
- Essays should be in paragraph format, not as numbered responses.
- The Statement of Purpose Essay should not exceed 7,000 characters (including spaces).
- The Building Mutual Understanding Essay should not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces).
- The Follow-on Service Project Proposal should not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces).
- Optional essays for the Critical Need Language Award and the STEM Supplemental Award have character limits of 2,000 and 1,000 respectively.
- Ensure that your essays address the prompts provided.
- Preview your essays after uploading to confirm the correct files were submitted.
For More Information,
Application Deadline: October 10, 2024.
