Are you an undergrad with a burning desire to spend a semester abroad or apply for an internship in another country? You don’t have to call it a pipe dream if you don’t have the funds to finance this trip yourself! The Gilman International Scholarship can come to your rescue.
This merit-based scholarship offers up to $5,000 to students in financial need. Keep reading to learn:
- What you can use the funds for
- Who is eligible for the scholarship
- How to apply for it
What Is the Gilman Scholarship? A Quick Introduction
The Gilman Program is a congressionally funded scholarship program that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, it offers 3,100+ scholarships to undergrads in need every year. Its goal is simple: make international experiences more accessible to those who wouldn’t be able to afford them otherwise.
Over the past quarter-century, the Gilman program has helped 50,000 students study or intern in 170+ countries around the world. The program has come a long way since its inception in 2001. Back then, only 300 scholarships were made available!
What You Get with the Gilman Scholarship
The first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the Gilman Scholarship study abroad is its $5,000 award. These funds can cover not just tuition fees but also most travel expenses, including local transportation, books, and passport and visa fees.
Plus, there are two more awards you might want to apply for:
- Critical Need Language Award. If you’re planning to go abroad to study a language important to national security, you can apply for an extra $3,000 award.
- STEM Supplemental Award. Planning to go abroad to study STEM or intern in a related field? This award can add an extra $1,000 to your scholarship.
What’s more, scholarship winners also gain 12 months of noncompetitive eligibility for federal employment. It’ll make it easier for you to land a job in the federal government. Plus, you gain access to an exclusive alumni network!
Who Can Apply for the Gilman Scholarship?
The Gilman Scholarship is both need- and merit-based. So, you’ll have to demonstrate your academic excellence and financial need. But eligibility requirements don’t end there. You also have to prove you’re:
- A U.S. citizen or national
- An undergraduate student at a two- or four-year institution
- Already receiving a Federal Pell Grant or will receive it while abroad
- Accepted into or applying for a credit-bearing program abroad
What Programs Does the Gilman Scholarship Fund?
The Gilman Program can finance participation in both study abroad programs and international internships. However, there’s a pretty important caveat for internships: they have to be credit-bearing.
As for the timing or duration of the program, you can apply for semester, summer, and academic-year programs alike. Just pay attention to their location: Travel Advisory 3 and 4 destinations make you ineligible. You can check the Travel Advisory for your destination here.
How to Apply for Gilman Scholarship in 5 Steps
Are you ticking off all the eligibility boxes? Great! Here’s how to throw your hat in the race for the Gilman Scholarship.
1. Pick an Eligible International Program
If you don’t have a study abroad or international internship in your sights yet, take your time to find the right one. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice at your college’s or university’s Study Abroad or Career Services office.
2. Make Headway with the Online Application
You’ll have to submit your application via a dedicated online portal. Answer the eligibility questions, provide information about your institution and advisors, and fill out personal information fields.
3. Write the Required & Optional Essays
You’ll have to submit four short essays to prove you match the spirit of the Gilman program. Each essay is up to 500 words long. Supplemental essays are required for extra awards.
4. Attach the Academic Transcripts
You’ll have to provide an official or unofficial transcript in your online application to prove you’re in good academic standing. An official transcript will be required if you win the scholarship.
5. Get the Advisor Certification
Advisors have their own deadlines to certify applications. It’s on you to make sure they do, so don’t hesitate to check in with them if needed!
Gilman Scholarship Requirements to Be Ready For
Don’t want to get caught unawares by a question or a document requirement in the application form? That’s understandable. Luckily, you can check out the PDF version of the form beforehand!
Overall, to be considered complete, your application has to include:
- Information about the study abroad program or internship
- Personal, institution, advisor, international experience, and financial aid information
- Official or unofficial academic transcript
- Required essays
- Advisor certifications
Tried-and-True Tips for Gilman Scholarship Essay
So, what are these four mandatory essays we keep mentioning again and again? Here they are:
- Your motivation: Why did you pick this program?
- Skill development: What skills do you expect to gain abroad?
- Citizen diplomacy: How will you represent the U.S. in your host community?
- Follow-on service project: How will you use the experience upon return?
To nail each Gilman Scholarship essay:
- Follow requirements. Don’t go over the word count limit (500 words for each essay). Make sure each essay fits on a single page, single-spaced.
- Don’t submit the first draft. Return to your essays with a fresh pair of eyes to proofread and edit them.
- Turn to your advisors for help. That’s what they’re for! Ask them for a second opinion on your essays or ideas for the follow-on project.
- Answer the prompt with precision. Some prompts consist of two or three questions. Address each of them. Don’t wax poetic; be straightforward.
How Winners Are Selected
First things first: $5,000 is the maximum award you can get, so keep that in mind. The final award you receive will depend on your financial needs and the expenses you’ll incur.
With that out of the way, here’s what the Gilman Program selection committee takes into account when selecting winners:
- Your academic performance
- Your financial need
- Your international experience
- The link between the program and your career and academic goals
- The proposed follow-on service project
Overall, the program prioritizes:
- Having students from all states and territories represented in its selection
- Applicants with no prior international program experience
- Participation in programs in countries with fewer U.S. students
Gilman Scholarship Deadline 2026
There are two cycles you can apply for. Here are their timelines in 2026:
- March cycle:
- Application opens: Mid-January 2026
- Student deadline: March 5, 2026
- Advisor certification deadline: March 12, 2026
- October cycle:
- Application opens: Mid-August 2026
- Student deadline: October 1, 2026
- Advisor certification deadline: October 8, 2026
Note: Check what the program’s website has to say about the Gilman Scholarship deadline before applying. Deadlines may change, after all.
4 Tips to Boost Your Chances of Winning
The Gilman Scholarship can get quite competitive. Here’s our experts’ tips for nailing your application — and making it as compelling as possible:
- Get ready in advance. Don’t wait till last moment to write that essay or ask for a transcript.
- Have your goals sorted out. Reflect on what you want out of your future studies and career. How does this experience abroad factor in?
- Take your time with the essays. They will tell the committee who you are beyond facts and figures. Don’t waste the opportunity to show your potential.
- Mind the community engagement part. The Gilman Program is looking for people who can represent the U.S. abroad and valorize their experience upon return. So, describe how you will do both in your essays.
In Closing
The Gilman Scholarship is but one funding opportunity. That said, if you already receive a Federal Pell Grant, applying for it is a no-brainer. The award may not be all that huge, but it can still help you pay for travel expenses like plane tickets!