Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship 2027

Overview

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship funds U.S. undergraduates who receive Federal Pell Grants to study or intern abroad. The U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the programme. Nearly 3,000 awards are granted each academic year, with an average award of approximately $4,000. The October 2026 cycle covers programmes in Winter or January 2027, Spring 2027, Maymester 2027, Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and full academic year 2027-2028. Student deadline: 1 October 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Benefits

• Award of up to $5,000 toward tuition, housing, programme fees, and travel for study or internship abroad.
• Critical Need Language Award of up to $3,000 for study in a designated critical-need language country.
• STEM Supplemental Award of up to $1,000 for eligible STEM-field students.
• Average award across all recipients is approximately $4,000.
• Recipients join a national Gilman Scholars community and complete a required follow-on service project to share their experience with US students who lack study abroad opportunities.

Eligibility

• US citizen enrolled as an undergraduate at an accredited US two-year or four-year institution.
• Currently receiving a Federal Pell Grant, or confirmed to receive one during the term of the study abroad or internship programme.
• Applied to or accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad or internship programme.
• Programme must be in a country with a US Department of State Travel Advisory Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) or Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). Level 3 and Level 4 countries are not eligible.
• Programme must award academic credit from a US institution.

How to apply

1. Confirm your Federal Pell Grant status with your financial aid office before starting the application.
2. Apply to and secure acceptance into an eligible credit-bearing study abroad or internship programme.
3. Complete the Gilman online application at the source link, including a study abroad statement and a written follow-on service project proposal.
4. Have your institution’s study abroad or financial aid adviser certify your application by 8 October 2026 (one week after the student deadline).
5. Award decisions are announced in December 2026.