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The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program aims to broaden the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.

The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to support a diverse range of students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad, including but not limited to:

• Students with high financial need
• Students interested in studying in diverse countries, especially those outside of Western Europe and Australia
• Students attending community colleges
• Students with diverse ethnic backgrounds
• Students from diverse range of institutions including two-year, four-year, public, private, minority-serving, etc.
• Students with disabilities

The program strongly encourages students to choose non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe and Australia. The program strongly encourages students from community colleges to apply.

The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range of colleges and universities including, but not limited to: two and four-year public and private colleges, Tribal Colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other Minority-Serving Institutions from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.


All recipients are required to carry out a Follow-on Service Project that promotes the Gilman Scholarship Program at the students' home institution or community. The Follow-on Project Proposal, Statement of Purpose essay and academic progress are criteria that are closely considered during the selection process.


Eligibility Requirements:

• The applicant must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of his/her study abroad.
  

• The applicant is applying to or has been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by the student's accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.
  

• The applicant is studying abroad for at least 28 days in one country. Programs going to more than one country are eligible if the student will be studying in one country for at least 28 consecutive days.
  

• The applicant is studying abroad in any country except Cuba or a country on the State Department's current Travel Warning list. 

To be eligible applicants must meet all of the criteria listed above and must be majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field.

Deadlines:

• October 6, 2009  - Student Deadline for submission of online application.

• October 9, 2009 - Postmark Deadline for official, university undergraduate transcripts. Applicants must submit three copies of their undergraduate transcript from their current university and most recently attended transfer institution, if applicable.
  

• October 13, 2009 - Advisor Deadline for submission of online Study Abroad Advisor and Financial Aid Advisor certification. 
  

• Early December - All Applicants are notified of the status of their application via email. Study Abroad and Financial Aid Advisors will be notified of scholarship recipients via email.

How to Apply:

Online Application


Selection of Winners:

• Diversity of Applicant
• Statement of Purpose Essay
• Follow-on Project Proposal Essay
• Academic Progress and Performance
• Fields of Study
• Country of Destination
• U.S. Institution and State Distribution
• Length of Study
• Lack Previous Undergraduate Study Abroad Experience

Image courtesy of Gilman Scholarship Program.