Deadline: Friday, October 3, 2025, at 11:59pm Pacific Time

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) supports students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001.

The program encourages students to study or intern abroad in all world regions and from all U.S. states, academic fields, and types of institutions.  Almost 60% of all Gilman scholars come from small towns or rural communities across the United States.

In addition to the standard Gilman award, the Gilman Program offers limited supplemental funding opportunities for students who want to conduct STEM-related research abroad as part of their study abroad or international internship program and students studying critical languages (those deemed important to national security).

The October 2025 Deadline application will open in mid-August 2025 for applicants whose abroad programs or internships start between December 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026. This cycle encompasses Winter or January term 2026, Spring 2026, Maymester 2026, Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and academic year 2026-2027 programs. The application deadline is Friday, October 3, 2025, at 11:59pm Pacific Time, and the advisor certification deadline is Friday, October 10, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Please be aware that the application deadline is in Pacific Time and take into consideration any time difference as you prepare to submit your application.

All applicants will be notified of their status via email in December 2025. All advisors will also be notified of scholarship recipients via email and will have access to the status of each student in their Gilman advisor account.