The Gilman Scholarship

While there are a variety of scholarships available to students who are studying abroad, the Gilman Scholarship is one of the largest and most well-known scholarships available.

Founded in 2001, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is a congressionally funded program that provides the opportunity for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. It is named in honor of the retired congressman who believed wanted to make it easier for all students to extend their education overseas.

“Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates. Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of their place in the world, encouraging them to be a contributor, rather than a spectator in the international community.”

-Benjamin A. Gilman

Hundreds of USAC students have received the Gilman Scholarship, but the process is competitive. Below are eligibility requirements, important deadlines, and tips from previous award recipients on how to make sure your application gets noticed and selected.

Eligibility

• 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 a recipient of a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof of receiving a Pell Grant during the term 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 four 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;
• Request to study in a country not currently under a Travel Warning issued by the United States Department of State* or otherwise determined ineligible for program participation.