Gilman Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program is a grant program under the U.S. Department of State. The program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. It is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Pell Grant funding and planning to study or intern abroad during any term.
In particular, the program seeks to support 1) students studying or interning in nontraditional destinations and 2) underrepresented students in study abroad – including, but not limited to, first-generation college students, students in STEM fields, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.
Successful applicants will receive awards up to $5,000 to defray eligible study/intern abroad costs. Awards amounts vary depending on the length of study and student need. Applicants who are studying a critical language while abroad in a country where the language is spoken will be automatically considered for the Critical Need Language Award, for a total award of $8,000.
For more information, please visit the Gilman Scholarship website.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application
- Applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship
- Applicants must be in the process of applying to (or have already been accepted into) a study abroad program or internship abroad that is at least four weeks in length
- Applicants must be in good academic standing and meet the requirements for their study abroad program (please consult with Georgetown’s Office of Global Education)
Selection Criteria
The Gilman Scholarship Program reviews applications according to the following criteria:
- Academic preparedness and impact of the study/intern abroad program on the applicant’s academic and career trajectory
- Diversity of background and experience
- Choice of program and destination (note: applicants may make themselves more competitive for the Gilman by considering more nontraditional destinations, i.e. countries beyond Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand)
- Impact to community
Applicants need to be prepared to articulate how their chosen study/intern abroad program in their chosen country is a good fit given their academic and professional goals. Doing research into the various components of your chosen program will help you to get more specific in your application materials and thereby make your application more compelling.
Application Process
Applicants are encouraged to seek guidance from the Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) when preparing their Gilman applications. Email fellowships@georgetown.edu with questions or to schedule an individual advising appointment.
Applicants are also strongly encouraged to review the essay application tips on the Gilman website before beginning their application essays.
Applicants must apply through the online portal on the Gilman page.
Deadlines
- Applications are due in either March or October. See Gilman Scholarship website for more detail.
Note that Gilman deadlines are in Pacific Time (PT)