Program Overview
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. Students can receive up to $5,000 if awarded the Gilman for a study abroad program. See the ‘Supplemental Awards’ section below to learn about additional funding and see how UT is supporting student at every step!
- Spring 2022 cycle: 26 UTK students were awarded a collective amount of $100,000 – A record-high number of VolsAbroad recipients! (Read more)
- Fall 2022 cycle: 9 UTK Gilman Scholarship recipients were able to fund dreams and go abroad due to Gilman. (Read more)
- Spring 2023 cycle: 13 UTK students were named Gilman Scholars and awarded a collective amount of $42,000! (Read more)
Eligibility Criteria
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must be:
- A citizen or national of the United States;
- An undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
- 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;
- In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
- Applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in 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.
Dates & Deadlines
There are two application cycles per year for the Gilman. These cycles allow students to apply to the Gilman Scholarship a year in advance of their study abroad program. Students who are not selected for the scholarship in the one cycle may apply again in the next cycle, as long as their study abroad term in still accommodated.
UTK Abroad Term |
Gilman Application Deadline |
Award Disbursement |
|
Cycle 1:October 5, 2023 |
December 2023/January 2024 |
|
Cycle 2:March 5, 2024 |
May/June 2024 |
|
Cycle 1:October 10, 2024 |
December 2024/January 2025 |
UTK Resources for Gilman Application Assistance
Programs Abroad in the Center for Global Engagement and Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, a division of Student Success, work together to support UTK students at every stage of the Gilman Application process.
For a full list of UTK-hosted Gilman Info Sessions and Workshops, go to https://studentsuccess.utk.edu/urf/gilman-international-scholarship/.
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Ryan LeeUndergraduate Research and Fellowships Coach |
VacantPrograms Abroad Program Coordinator and Gilman Certifying Advisor |
Gilman Resources for Application Assistance
Check out https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/ to lean more about the application, requirements, resources and upcoming events like student writing workshops and more!
Supplemental Awards
Applicants who are studying a critical need language while abroad in a country or location in which the language is predominantly spoken can apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000.
More InformationIn support of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the Gilman Program is providing supplemental awards of up to $1,000 each for a Gilman Scholar to conduct STEM-related research abroad as part of their study abroad or international internship program. Students can select to be considered for the STEM Supplemental Award through the Gilman application.
More Information
Gilman-McCain Scholarship
This scholarship is intended for children or dependents of active duty military members who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid. It provides students with a $5,000 award if selected for a credit-bearing study abroad program. The application is identical to the Gilman scholarship. So far, Gilman-McCain scholarships have been reviewed on a rolling basis.
More Information