Exciting Scholarship Opportunity: Apply for the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

Ednah Carrick September 11, 2025

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Closing Date: 3 October 2025

Exciting Scholarship Opportunity: Apply for the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

Program Overview

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) supports students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to its national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman International Scholarship Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception.

Why Gilman?

The Gilman Program supports American students to gain proficiency in a variety of languages and cultures, skills that are critically important to their academic and career development. The program encourages students to study or intern abroad in all world regions and from all U.S. states, academic fields, and types of institutions. Almost 60% of all Gilman scholars come from small towns or rural communities across the United States.

In addition to the standard Gilman award, the program offers limited supplemental funding opportunities for students who want to conduct STEM-related coursework or internships abroad as part of their study abroad or international internship program and students studying critical languages (those deemed important to national security).

Mission of the Gilman Program

Develop a generation of future American leaders with the career skills and international networks to advance U.S. national security and economic prosperity.
Support young Americans to gain the professional skills, language abilities, and knowledge of the world needed for successful careers.
Expand the destinations where U.S. students study and intern abroad, in order to build relationships, foster mutual understanding, and represent American culture and values, critical to national security.

Award Benefits

Nearly 3,000 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study or intern abroad.

Award Recipients

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

Noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) for Federal employment

Gilman scholars are eligible for 12 months of noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government, with the possibility of extensions if certain criteria are met. NCE allows U.S. federal government agencies to hire eligible exchange program alumni outside of the formal competitive job announcement process and to compete for certain federal employment jobs that are only open to federal employees. In other words, a Gilman alumna/us can receive a job offer with as little as an open position and a résumé that reflects the necessary experience and education for an agency.

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit application by student deadline.

The following are critical components of the application:

4 Required Short Essays (and optional supplemental essays)
Transcripts (unofficial and official both accepted)
Abroad Program Details (only credit-bearing programs are eligible)
Certifying Advisors (select your study abroad and financial aid advisor)

Step 2: Both Study Abroad and Financial Aid Certifying Advisors must certify your application by the advisor deadline.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that both advisors have certified their application by the advisor deadline.
All applicants must contact the appropriate offices at their home institutions to determine the correct study abroad and financial aid certifying advisors they should select to certify their application.
If an advisor is not listed within the online application, reach out to the appropriate advisor(s) at your institution and ask them to register as a Gilman advisor prior to the application deadline. Once they are registered you will be able to select your institution and advisors in your application.
Applications without certifications will not be considered.