Applicants FAQ

Q. I’d like to intern abroad. How do I know if it’s an eligible program?

A. All education abroad programs must meet the Gilman Program’s eligibility criteria. Most important in selecting an international internship program is to make sure it is a credit-bearing, career-oriented internship. Work with your Study Abroad/International Program’s office and your Career Services office on campus to assist you with identifying the best internship for your professional aspirations.

Q. What if I don’t receive a Federal Pell Grant, but do receive other federal financial aid? Am I still eligible to apply?

A. No, only students receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or at the time of the study abroad program are eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Other forms of federal financial aid do not satisfy this eligibility requirement. If you are not sure if you receive a Federal Pell Grant, please contact your university’s financial aid office.

For information on other study abroad scholarships and grants for which you might be eligible, consult Other Study Abroad Resources.

Q. WHAT COUNTRIES ARE eligible FOR THE GILMAN program?

A. Any country or location (and area within a country or location) with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System is eligible. Gilman scholars are unable to participate in programs located in a country or location (or an area within a country or location) that is designated as either a Level 3 (“Reconsider travel to”) or Level 4 (“Do not travel to”). All eligible countries or locations will be available in the application.

Q. I have never traveled or studied abroad before. Should I apply?

A. Yes! A principal objective of the Gilman Program is to expand international education opportunities by encouraging applications from students who have not previously studied abroad for undergraduate academic credit.

Q. I am a community college or two-year institution student. Is this program for me?

A. Yes! Community college students, both two-year and transfer, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Q. I am a Permanent Resident or non-U.S. citizen, am I still eligible to apply?

A. No, only U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals are eligible to apply for a Gilman scholarship. If you are in the process of applying for your citizenship, and you will be a United States citizen before your study abroad program begins, then you may apply for the Gilman scholarship.  You will be prompted within the online application to enter your naturalization date.  Here you will enter the future date that you estimate to be naturalized.  However, please note that although your application will be reviewed, and in the event you are awarded, you will not be able to receive your Gilman scholarship funds if you cannot provide proof that you are a United States citizen.  This proof must be either a copy of your naturalization certificate or a copy of your passport.

Q. I am a high school, graduate, or post-graduate student, can I apply?

A. No, only U.S. citizens currently enrolled as undergraduate students at a U.S. institution of higher education are eligible for the Gilman scholarship.

For information on other study abroad scholarships and grants for which you might be eligible, consult the Other Scholarships page.

Q. I am not participating in a study abroad program; instead I am applying for a full-degree program overseas whereby I will receive my degree directly from an international institution. Am I eligible to apply?

A. No, only U.S. citizens currently enrolled as undergraduate students at a U.S. institution of higher education and participating in a study abroad program of up to one academic year are eligible. The Gilman Program does not fund full-degree study overseas.

One avenue you should explore is to see if the institution you wish to attend abroad is eligible to receive federal financial aid. There are a number of institutions abroad that are eligible to receive U.S. financial aid and you can search for these online at the FAFSA website. On the Federal School Code Search page, select Foreign Country as the school state. A list of institutions abroad that are eligible to receive federal financial aid will then pop up. If your school is listed you would use their designated school code to apply for financial aid just as you would if you were attending a U.S. institution.

You should also contact the university abroad directly to find out if they offer any financial aid or scholarships for incoming international students. Some countries will also allow student visa holders to work on a part-time basis, which might also help fund your degree overseas. The international student office at your university abroad should be able to assist you in learning about the relevant regulations for students studying in your host country.

Q. WHAT IS THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF STUDY REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY? ARE SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE?

A. The Gilman Program does not have a minimum program length requirement, so short-term programs are eligible. However, the program must otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, including being credit-bearing.

Q. I’m applying to a multi-country program. Is this eligible?

A. Multi-country/area programs are eligible and have no minimum requirement on length of time spent in one country and no maximum requirement on number of countries in a program. The Travel Advisory Level for all locations and areas that are part of your program must be a level 1 or 2. Gilman scholars are unable to participate in programs located in a country/area that is designated as either a Level 3 or Level 4.

Q. Does the Gilman Program approve or sanction particular study abroad programs or program providers?

A. No, there are no lists of Gilman-preferred programs nor does the Gilman Program endorse a particular institution, organization or group’s sponsorship. A Gilman scholarship is a source of portable financial assistance that can be used to support any credit-bearing study abroad program or internship. The choice of a particular program for study abroad should be made in consultation with your campus advisor. Programs must be credit-bearing and can include any of the following options or combination of: traditional study abroad, intensive language, internship, student-teaching, and service-learning. It is best to choose your program based on its overall quality and select the program that best meets your academic, career and personal goals.

If you would like to search for study abroad programs online, the Institute of International Education maintains a free searchable study abroad program database called IIE Passport. This site will allow you to search for programs by country, field of study and language of study.

Q. Are previous recipients eligible to re-apply?

A. A recipient can only receive Gilman award funds once. If you previously declined the Gilman award funds, you are welcome to re-apply for another application cycle, as long as you still meet all eligibility requirements. For other study abroad scholarship opportunities, visit the Other Scholarships page.

Q. Am i eligible for gilman if my abroad program occurs during the term in between my transfer from my community college to a 4-year institution?

A. Yes. Transfer students may apply for Gilman if they are participating during the term between their community college graduation and their enrollment in the 4-year institution.

Q. When should I apply?

A. It is important that students apply for the correct application cycle according to their program dates. Please consult the Deadlines & Timeline page for more information on when to apply.

Q. How do I apply?

A. Once the application is open you will be able to apply through the Gilman Online Application System. The online application will be available approximately one-and-a-half to two months prior to the application deadline for each cycle. Please consult the Deadlines & Timeline page for more information.

Q. ARE THE GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP AND THE GILMAN-MCCAIN SCHOLARSHIP TWO SEPARATE SCHOLARSHIPS?

A. Yes, the Gilman Program offers two scholarships:

The Gilman scholarship is for undergraduate students who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant and meet our program eligibility requirements. You can review the eligibility criteria for the Gilman scholarship here.

The Gilman-McCain scholarship is available to child or spousal dependents of active or activated military members and who are receiving any type of Title IV Federal financial aid. You can review the eligibility criteria for the Gilman-McCain scholarship here.

Q. What should I do if my email address, phone number or mailing address changes?

A. If your contact information changes, please be sure to log into the online application and update your Account Information. Communication will be primarily conducted via email so it is important to ensure that a current, working email address is on file at all times. The Gilman Program is not responsible for incorrect email addresses or contact information.

Q. How do I know who administers my study abroad program?

A. The administrator is the institution or organization that is administering your study abroad program. The online application contains a drop down list of the most common program administrators given by Gilman applicants. If your program administrator is not listed, then you would select “other” and type the name into the provided field. This will most often be your home university, a different university in the U.S., or a study abroad consortium or other program provider. If you are unsure who the program sponsor is, please contact your university study abroad advisor.

Q. What’s included in the total cost of my program?

A. Estimated study abroad program costs include all program fees, tuition, room and board, airfare, books, local transportation, and insurance and disability related accommodation expenses. This excludes personal expenses such as entertainment, souvenirs, clothing and accessories, electronics, and travel independent of the study abroad requirements.

Q. I have submitted an application to my chosen study abroad program, but will not receive notification of acceptance until after the application deadline for the Gilman Program, can I still apply?

A. Yes, we recognize that many students will submit applications to specific study abroad programs and for the Gilman Program simultaneously, with expected notification for each at a different date. Should you be awarded a Gilman scholarship you would be required to provide proof of acceptance into the program listed in your application at that time.

Q. I am applying to two different study abroad programs, but there’s only room to enter one on the Gilman application. What should I do?

A. If you are applying to more than one program for the same term you should enter your top choice on the Gilman application. If you are accepted to the program you did not list in your Gilman application, please contact the Gilman Program immediately. If you are applying to two separate programs in consecutive terms, you should only indicate the program for the term in which you are applying.

Q. DO I HAVE TO SELECT ADVISORS TO SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?

A. Yes, both a financial aid advisor and study abroad advisor from the applicant’s home institution are necessary to complete your Gilman application. These two advisors will complete an online certification verifying specific information in your application.

• The study abroad advisor will need to certify your study abroad program information.
• The financial aid advisor will certify your financial aid information.

It is very important that you contact your university’s study abroad and financial aid office prior to submitting your application to ensure that your advisors’ information is available to select in your application before the deadline. The Gilman Program is not responsible for contacting your advisors to create an account with the online application system.

Your application is not considered complete until all sections are completed by the stated deadlines. It is your responsibility as an applicant to ensure that advisors are aware of and complete their portion of your application by the stated advisor deadlines. Please consult the Deadlines & Timeline for more information. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Q. MY Institution is not listed in the application, what do i do?

A. It may be that there are no advisors registered to be Gilman certifying advisors from your current institution. You will need to identify a faculty or staff member at your institution who is able to certify your study abroad program information and ask them to register as a Gilman Study Abroad Advisor prior to the application deadline. You will also need to ask someone in the financial aid office to register as a Gilman Financial Aid Advisor so they can certify your Pell Grant information. Please have your advisors reach out to [email protected] so that we can get them set up with a verified Gilman advisor account. Once they are registered, you will be able to select your institution and advisors in your application.

Q. who should i select as my advisors?

A. The available advisors will auto populate in your application once you have selected your current institution. You may select any of the advisors listed. We recommend you reach out to them too. Let them know you applied for the Gilman Program and ask them to certify your application. If you prefer to select a specific advisor that is not listed, you will want to ask them to register for an advisor account. Have your advisor reach out to [email protected] so that we can get them set up with a verified Gilman advisor account.

Q. My university does not have a study abroad office or designated Study Abroad Advisor. What should I do?

A. In this case you should contact your undergraduate academic advisor at your home university and ask them to register as a certifying advisor with the Gilman Program.

Q. My university financial aid office does not assign students an individual Financial Aid Advisor. What should I do?

A. Contact your university financial aid office to find out who the correct advisor would be to complete the financial aid advisor portion for a study abroad scholarship. This need not be an advisor assigned specifically to you. However, it must be an advisor working in the financial aid office at your home institution.

Q. How will I know when my advisors complete their portions of the application?

A. You can view the status of your advisor certifications by logging in to your Gilman application and viewing the ‘Certification Status’ by each of your advisor’s names. Remember, it is your responsibility as an applicant to ensure that advisors are aware of and complete their portions of your application by the stated deadlines. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Q. At the time of my Gilman application I will be a freshman at my home institution and will not have completed a term yet. What do I indicate as my GPA?

A. If you have not completed a single term at your home institution at the time of your Gilman application, then you will indicate your GPA as 0.00. Additionally, if this is your first academic term at your home institution you can upload an Official Enrollment Verification Letter, including your academic courses, issued from your registrar’s office in place of your home institution transcript. In addition, if you are a freshman, you are encouraged to include your high school transcript in your application. Please note that there is not a minimum GPA requirement to apply for Gilman and it will not affect your eligibility.

Q. What is a Critical Need Language award and what do I need to do to be considered for the award?

A. Applicants who are studying a critical need language while abroad in a country in which the language is predominantly spoken have the option to be considered for the Critical Need Language Award (CNLA). To be considered for the Critical Need Language Award, a brief supplemental essay is required and can only be submitted in the same Gilman application. The CNLA is a supplemental award of up to $3,000.

Q: Is there a PDF version of a blank application to reference?

A: Yes, you can view a PDF version here. However, all applicants will need to submit an electronic application through the portal during an open application cycle. Only applications submitted through the online portal will be considered.

Q. How many essays do I need to submit?

A. There are three required essays as part of the Gilman application: the Statement of Purpose Essay and the two Community Impact Essays (Building Mutual Understanding Essay and the Follow-on Service Project Proposal).

For those eligible and applying for a Critical Need Language Award and/or the STEM Supplemental Award, additional essays are required. The supplemental essays can only be submitted in the same Gilman application.

You can find all of the guidelines and required essay prompts here.

Q. What is the Statement of Purpose essay about?

A. The Statement of Purpose essay is essentially a personal interview on paper. You should talk about the impact of study abroad on your academic and professional goals, and personal growth, as well as how the Gilman scholarship can help you accomplish these goals. You should describe examples of how your skills and personal experiences will help you overcome any anticipated challenges of studying abroad.

Q. What is the Building Mutual Understanding essay about?

A. The Building Mutual Understanding essay requires you to answer how you will be a U.S. representative abroad and how you will seek opportunities to become more culturally engaged and have meaningful interactions with people from different cultures on your abroad program.

Q. What is the Follow-on Service Project Proposal about?

A. The Follow-On Service Project Proposal requires you to answer how you will represent the Gilman Program upon your return home by requiring you to design a project to promote the Gilman Program. In this essay, students are asked to map out a potential project for them to complete upon their return to the U.S. that will encourage others to study or intern abroad and spread awareness of the Gilman Program.

For more information and recommendations, please check out our VIDEO on the Follow-on Service Project Proposal. Hear from Gilman alumni about their successful projects in this VIDEO.

Q. What is the Critical Need Language Award (CNLA) essay about?

A. In this essay you will explain why you chose your particular location and the benefits and resources for studying the selected critical need language there. Applicants should make a strong case for studying the critical need language by describing how they intend to improve their critical need language skills, their motivations for doing so, and how their study of the language relates to their academic and professional goals.

Q. What is the STEM Supplemental Award essay about?

A. Applicants will need to share details about their STEM research associated with their study abroad program. Applicants should demonstrate a strong motivation to their STEM field(s) and how this research experience will extend beyond their time abroad, and into their future academic and career goals.

Q. How do I Write my Follow-on service Project essay before I even go abroad?

A. Keep in mind that the Follow-on Service Project is a required part of your application.  We know that you haven’t gone abroad yet and you might not know exactly how your experience will impact you; however, you do know that the goal of the project is to encourage others to consider international experiences and apply for the Gilman Program.

Think of different people or groups that would benefit from learning about these opportunities and how you would want to get the word out about study abroad, the Gilman Program and share your experience with them.  You can develop the exact content of your project, once it’s time to carry out your project and are able to discuss study abroad and being a Gilman scholar from firsthand experience. For more Follow-on Service Project details, visit the Essays page.

Q. What if I don’t have any connections at my institution or with other organizations? How can I create them?

A. We recommend starting by thinking about which groups, offices, schools or organizations you are already connected to, such as: an academic department that you’ve taken courses in; a school you’ve previously attended; a student organization you are a part of; an organization you’ve volunteered with; a newspaper you love; study abroad or financial aid advisors you’ve worked with, etc.  It’s best to build off of existing connections or interests.  If there aren’t any relevant connections that you currently have, we recommend identifying an office, group or organization that you would like to work with to conduct what you outlined in your Follow-on Service Project Essay and reaching out to introduce yourself, provide context for what the Gilman Program is, and ask if they would be willing to work with you on carrying out this project should you be selected to receive the Gilman scholarship.  Be sure to approach them with an idea already in mind of what you would like to do and inform them of the proposed timeline.

Q. What are some appropriate audiences to focus on for my follow-on service project essay?

A. The goal of the Follow-on Service Project Essay is to encourage others to pursue study abroad opportunities and spread the word about the Gilman Program.  Your audience should be current undergraduate students, future college students and people that work with these populations.  Some audiences to target include students on your campus, local middle or high schools, youth groups, local organizations that work with high school students to prepare them for college, parents, teachers, professors, advisors, etc. Keep in mind that your target audience should not be those who are citizens of your study abroad host country, as they would not be eligible for the Gilman Program.

Q. Can I volunteer for my follow-on service project?

A. The goal of the Follow-on Service Project is to encourage others to pursue their own international experiences and to spread the word about the Gilman Program to relevant populations, such as current or future undergraduates and those who work with these groups.  If the population you are volunteering with include relevant populations, sharing about study abroad and Gilman would be an acceptable plan. However, volunteering without any promotion of study abroad and Gilman or to a population unconnected to current or future undergraduates, while commendable, does not fulfill the goals of the Community Impact essays.

Q. How much effort does my follow-on service project have to take?

A. Your Follow-on Service Project Essay should be an intentional rather than passive plan to promote study abroad and the Gilman Program.  There is not a specific amount of time and effort that is required to complete your project; however, it should succeed in encouraging relevant audiences to pursue their own international education experiences and spread the word about the Gilman Program.  You can view examples of projects to give you ideas.

Q. I’m not good at public speaking. Are there other ways I can fulfill the follow-on service project?

A. Not all Follow-on Service Projects have to be in the form of a presentation. Many scholars in the past have done other types of outreach, such as blogging for their university, creating study abroad and Gilman Program resources, working with your school and/or local newspaper to write an article about your experience abroad and the Gilman Program, etc. You can see additional examples of projects on the Gilman Program’s website. If you are looking to improve your public speaking skills, this can be a great opportunity to do that while spreading the word about study abroad and the Gilman Program.

Q. Can I keep a personal blog as my follow-on service project?

A. If you choose a personal blog for your Follow-on Service Project, you should keep in mind that the goal is to encourage others to study abroad and learn about the Gilman Program. Your Follow-on Service Project Essay should include your plans for marketing and sharing your blog so that it reaches a target audience beyond just your close friends and family or general public. Additionally, the content of your blog should be reflective about your experience and informative for those who read it and are considering studying abroad and applying to the Gilman Program. In the past, Gilman scholars have worked with their host university, study abroad program, and/or travel blog groups to promote their blog. In addition to your personal blog, you could also consider following up in-person with any groups that were following your blog, once you’ve returned to the U.S. Or find other interactive ways to connect to and engage with your audience.

Q. Can I conduct or start my follow-on service project while I am still abroad?

A. It is possible to conduct or start working on your Follow-on Service Project while you are still abroad, but you must keep in mind the goals of the project and the fact that your target audience should be American students or those that work with American students.  Some Follow-on Service Project plans conducted abroad have included writing and promoting a blog about your experience, writing articles for school or local newspapers from abroad, virtually connecting with relevant audiences in the U.S., or collecting materials, photos or video footage to later complete your project.

Q. I plan to conduct a thesis or research project while abroad. Can this count as my Follow-on Service Project?

A. Your research project in and of itself does not constitute a Follow-on Service Project plan. However, it can be included as a part of your plans.  For example, if you have plans to formally present your thesis findings, part of your Gilman Follow-on Service Project plans could be to include information about how study abroad helped you to collect your research findings and how Gilman helped fund your program abroad.

Q. I plan to post pictures and information about my abroad experience on my social media accounts and to tell my friends and family about it when I get home. Does this count as a Follow-on Service Project?

A. Your Follow-on Service Project should be an intentional promotion of international education and the Gilman Program.  We ask that you put effort into planning a formal project that will reach a larger audience than just your friends and family, as you will likely already share with these people about your experience abroad.

Q. How detailed does my Follow-on Service Project Essay have to be?

A. We encourage you to be as detailed as possible in your essay. Some important details to include are your proposed timeline for your plans, what resources you will use, what contacts or groups you will work with to carry out your plans, the audience you hope to impact, etc. Please keep in mind that your Follow-on Service Project should be feasible, as you will have to carry it out within six months of your return to the best of your ability. With that in mind, you may not know every detail about what your plans will involve, but your essay should indicate that you have thought it through and will be ready to move forward with its completion upon you return to the U.S. If you plan to work with a particular group or office to carry out your Follow-on Service Project, we do recommend reaching out to them to ensure they are aware of and are willing to be involved in your plans.

Q. Can I change my Follow-on Service Project later?

A. You are expected to carry out the plans you proposed in your application as this is the information evaluated for scholarship selection.  We understand that sometimes things change and you may realize that you would like to expand on or update your project, or circumstances do not allow you to complete your project as originally proposed. Please keep in mind that you are still required to complete a Follow-on Service Project and must propose and have your updated plans approved by the Gilman Program.

Q. If I extend my time abroad, will my Follow-on Service Project still be due within six months of my original program end date?

A. Your Follow-on Service Project will be due within six months of the date you return to the United States from your program. If you choose to extend your time abroad, you need to log in to the Gilman portal to update your expected return date and to request an extension for your project in the Abroad section of the system.

Q. Can I collaborate with other Gilman Scholars on my Follow-on Service Project?

A. Collaborating with another Gilman scholar can be an aspect of your Follow-on Service Project, but this collaboration should expand on the scope and impact of your project. Please also keep in mind that there is no guarantee that all potential collaborators will receive the scholarship.  If one person is selected, that person would still be responsible for completing the Follow-on Service Project proposed in their essay, even if the other person was not selected.

Q. Who funds the Gilman Program?

A. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is supported through an annual Congressional appropriation.

Q. What is the financial value of a Gilman award? If I receive a Gilman award, what may it be used for?

A. Awards of up to $5,000 are made for up to one academic year of undergraduate study abroad. Award amounts will vary based on student’s recommendation group in the selection process, their financial need and length of program. Gilman Program funds may only be used to cover eligible study abroad program costs and related expenses which are included on the eligible and non-eligible expenses document.

Students who apply for a Gilman scholarship to study abroad may also be eligible to apply for an additional supplemental Critical Need Language Award (CNLA) of up to $3,000, if they are studying a critical need language while abroad and/or an additional STEM Supplemental Award (STEM) of up to $1,000, if conducting STEM-related research as part of their international program. Note that these supplemental awards are limited and competitive and not all students who meet these requirements will receive the awards.

Recipients of the Gilman scholarship are never contacted by phone or email to provide personal bank information. If selected for a Gilman scholarship, recipients will utilize the password protected and secure Gilman Recipient Portal to input all fund distribution information.

Q. What are my chances of winning a Gilman scholarship?

A. The Gilman Program is a national, highly competitive scholarship. Approximately 1 in 4 Gilman Program applicants are selected to receive the scholarship. Please see the Selection Criteria and Program Statistics pages for further information.

q. Is there a health insurance requirement if I receive a Gilman scholarship?

A. Yes, if you are selected as a recipient, you must furnish evidence of international insurance coverage, to include health, accident, emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains insurance. More information on the insurance requirement will be provided at a later date to all recipients.

Q. May I participate in an internship or work part-time while on my abroad Program?

A. The Gilman Program is designed to support participation in a full-time study abroad program for undergraduate academic credit, not paid work abroad. However, applications will be considered for those who propose an internship as an integrated and meaningful component of their study abroad program. Also, students studying in countries which allow those on student visas to work part-time may do so as long as they maintain full-time enrollment in their study abroad program and are not in violation of any laws or regulations of their program or host country.

Q. What if I receive a Gilman scholarship, will that impact my university financial aid package?

A. It may. University financial aid offices have federal, state and institutional guidelines they must follow when awarding financial aid packages. The Gilman Program has no control over this process though we do encourage institutions to reduce loan amounts first if the receipt of this award does affect a student’s financial aid package.

Q. When and how will I be notified of the status of my application?

A. All applicants will be notified of their status via the primary email address given in their Gilman online account. Please consult the Deadlines & Timeline for more information regarding the timeline of award notifications.

Q. If i am selected as a recipient, what happens next?

A. If you are selected as a recipient, you will need to do the following things to accept your award:

• Agree to the Gilman Program’s Terms and Conditions Contract
• Provide proof of your U.S. Citizenship
• Provide an acceptance letter from your study abroad program or host institution in English. Please note that the Gilman Program will not accept nomination or conditional letters as proof of acceptance.
• Provide proof of international health insurance coverage
• Provide an official transcript from your home institution including your most recent term
• Provide proof of receiving a Pell Grant during the term of application or term of study abroad if your financial aid advisor did not already confirm your Pell Grant status (Official documentation from the Financial Aid Office, such as financial aid award letter or package, is acceptable and should include the institution name, student name, and date/term of Pell Grant)
• Provide proof of STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) enrollment 
• Complete a one-time registration with IIePay (Zelle) to ensure your bank account can receive your payment

You can check here for more information about recipient requirements.