Unlocking Global Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to the Gilman Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers a remarkable opportunity for undergraduate students in the United States to study or intern abroad. By providing financial support to students receiving Federal Pell Grants, the Gilman Program aims to diversify the population of students studying abroad, foster international relationships, and encourage the learning of world languages. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the Gilman Scholarship requirements and provides essential tips for crafting a compelling application.

Understanding the Gilman Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a U.S. Department of State program that enables students who are currently receiving or will receive a Federal Pell Grant to study abroad during their undergraduate experience. This program’s main core values lie in diversifying the population that studies abroad, fostering international relationships with host countries, and encouraging the learning of world languages.

Molly McNeill, a fourth-year world language education and Spanish double major from Afton, Iowa, received a Gilman Scholarship to study in Spain. As a Pell Grant recipient, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship was critical in making study abroad a real possibility for me. In fall 2023, I was fortunate enough to live and study in Seville, Spain. This experience was truly life changing. I met so many great people, formed strong relationships with new friends, my host mom, and my professors, and engaged directly with the Spanish language and culture. My greatest wish is that other undergraduate students can have similar experiences, especially those with financial concerns.

Awards range from $100 to $5,000 for a semester or the entire academic year, and the amount depends on the student’s financial needs.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Read also: Gilman Scholarship Essay Tips

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.
Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term abroad.
Be in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.

Gilman scholarship recipients can only receive the scholarship once.

Program and Location Considerations

Applicants should also be aware of the following considerations regarding their chosen program and destination:

The U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System is a key factor. It is important to note that certain areas within a country or location that has an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2 may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either Level 3 or Level 4; Gilman scholars will not be allowed to travel to these specific areas.
The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to request program changes for specific countries or locations if deemed necessary during any stage of the application, selection process, or while on program.
Final awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the health and security situation in a country or location.

The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Application Timeline and Deadlines

The fall application opens in mid-August and closes in early October. The spring application opens mid-January and closes in early March.

2. Gathering Essential Documents

Transcripts: Request transcripts from any institution you have attended as a degree-seeking student. One copy of your undergraduate transcript (either official or unofficial) from your current college or university. Your current institution transcript must include your name, institution, and your current “in progress” term. Transcripts may be unofficial at the time of application, but if you are selected as a Gilman scholarship recipient you will be asked to provide an official copy. One copy of your undergraduate transcripts (either official or unofficial) from any previous institution you have attended and listed in your application. If you were not a “degree seeking student” at an institution, it is not required for you to list this institution in your application or to upload this transcript(s). If this is your first academic term at your home institution, you can upload an “in progress” transcript or an official enrollment verification letter, including your academic courses, issued from your registrar’s office in place of your home institution transcript. After you upload your transcripts, preview the file to make sure that you uploaded the correct transcript(s) and that the pages are legible. If selected to receive a Gilman scholarship, you will be required to upload the official transcript from your currently enrolled institution listed in your online application. Many institutions require several days to process your transcript before giving it to you.
Financial Aid Information: Gather all necessary financial aid information, as it is required on the application.

3. Seeking Guidance from Advisors

Advisors are integral to your application. Your study abroad advisor may be able to assist you with the application process, proofread your essays, and support what you outlined in your Service Project. Your financial aid advisor can inform you of your financial aid information, which is required on the application. Both advisors will be required to certify the information you provided in order for your application to be complete.

Contact Your Advisors: Before you submit your application, contact your Financial Aid and Study Abroad advisors. It is important to meet with your advisors to let them know you will be submitting an application and that they will need to certify the application online.
Advisor Certification: Your application must be certified by your Financial Aid and Study Abroad advisors at your institution. Before submitting your application, reach out to your advisors so that they know to expect a notification from Gilman. This is also very helpful in the event that your advisors are not registered as Gilman advisors. Registered advisors will appear in the online application, and you will be able to select them. They will receive a notification from Gilman, and they will then complete their portion of the application certification by the advisor deadline.
Proofread Essays: Has someone else, preferably your study abroad advisor, proofread your essays? Your advisors may have experience advising students for the Gilman Program and will have good insight on what to include in your essays - or what not to include.

4. Completing the Essays

During the application process, you will write three essays. These essays should be written in a word processing application, such as Word, and should be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins. If you are applying for the Critical Need Language Award or a STEM Supplemental Award, you will have additional essays. Find more information here.

Read also: Study Abroad Scholarships

Statement of Purpose

The first essay is your Statement of Purpose. This should be a maximum of 7,000 characters and should detail your reasons for studying abroad. You should address the following questions:

How will studying or interning abroad help you achieve your future academic or professional goals? A successful Gilman applicant will describe how a specific program and destination will support the applicant in reaching their academic and/or career goals.
Why did you select your specific program and host country?
How are you academically prepared to be a successful scholar abroad? If you have faced significant academic difficulties, tell us about those and how you are overcoming them.
What examples of knowledge, skills, and experiences will you draw on to meet the challenges of going abroad?

Community Impact Essays

Second, you will write two Community Impact essays: the first on Building Mutual Understanding, and the second a proposal of your Follow-On Service Project.

Building Mutual Understanding

Gilman Scholars are expected to foster mutual understanding with the people they meet in their host country by sharing their experiences on what it means to be an American while learning about the host culture. citizen, how will you represent and share what it means to be an American during your program? How will you seek opportunities to become more culturally engaged and have meaningful interactions with people and cultures different from your own during your abroad program?

Follow-On Service Project Proposal

The final essay you will have to write is the Follow-On Service Project Proposal. This project is designed to increase awareness of study abroad while also sharing information about the Gilman Scholarship Program. This can be conducted in your home or campus community. Upon returning to the United States, Gilman Scholars inspire the next generation of American students to study or intern abroad through the required follow-on service project.

5. Critical Need Language Award and STEM Supplemental Award

The U.S. Department of State is dedicated to supporting American students who are studying a critical need language (those deemed important to national security). Applicants are considered for this category if, while abroad, they are taking a course conducted in a critical need language, while studying in a location where the critical need language is predominantly spoken.

Read also: Study Abroad Funding

The U.S. Department of State is dedicated to supporting students who are focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields (defined as agriculture, engineering, health professions, math and computer science, and physical and life sciences) during their higher education. Applicants are considered for this category if while abroad they are conducting STEM-related coursework as part of their study abroad or international internship program. A successful applicant should provide a clear description of the STEM-related coursework they will conduct abroad and demonstrate a strong interest in their STEM field(s) and how this coursework experience extends beyond their time abroad, and into their future academic and career goals.

If you are applying for the Critical Need Language Award or a STEM Supplemental Award, you will have additional essays.

6. Finalizing and Submitting the Application

Double-Check Details: Are your name and contact information spelled correctly with proper punctuation and capitalization? Are your abroad program dates correct? Double check to make sure you have entered the correct year. For example, if your program begins in January, be sure to list the new year in your program dates. If you still have not received your exact program dates, please enter the best estimated dates.
Ensure Proper Grammar and Punctuation: All materials will be reviewed exactly as submitted. Please make sure your essays and all application questions are submitted using proper punctuation and grammar.
Submit Your Completed Application: Be sure to submit your application through the online application portal by the deadline!

Tips for a Successful Gilman Scholarship Application

Start Early: Start writing your essays early. You will want to revise them and ask peers or advisors to help you look over them.
Be Personal: The Gilman selection panelists want to hear about you. Make your application as personal as possible while still bearing in mind that it is an academic scholarship.
Use Your Experiences: Use your experiences, goals, and academic history to back up your responses to the essays! I always knew I wanted to study abroad during my undergraduate years, but financial constraints placed a huge barrier in my way. When I learned of the Gilman Scholarship Program, I realized that it could bridge the financial gap and turn my dreams into a reality.
Highlight Academic and Career Goals: A successful Gilman applicant will describe how a specific program and destination will support the applicant in reaching their academic and/or career goals.
Address Challenges: If you have faced significant academic difficulties, tell us about those and how you are overcoming them.
Demonstrate Cultural Engagement: As a future U.S. citizen, how will you represent and share what it means to be an American during your program? How will you seek opportunities to become more culturally engaged and have meaningful interactions with people and cultures different from your own during your abroad program?
Craft a Meaningful Service Project: This project is designed to increase awareness of study abroad while also sharing information about the Gilman Scholarship Program. This can be conducted in your home or campus community.
Take Advantage of Campus Resources: At the University of Iowa, the contact is Teresa Kout, participant services coordinator in International Programs. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research.

Additional Resources

Need additional application resources? Once you begin an application, you can monitor your progress throughout the online process, including when your submitted application is certified by your advisors. Are you receiving them? The Gilman Program highly encourages cooperation between advisors and applicants.

Gilman Scholars as Citizen Diplomats

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, Gilman Scholars’ roles as citizen diplomats are more important than ever. The Benjamin A. Department of State is committed to ensuring that Gilman Scholars are successful on their programs abroad.

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