Are you a Federal Pell Grant recipient looking to pursue education abroad? Studying abroad does not have to be a pricey enterprise. In this blog post, we’re highlighting the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship opportunity, which is among the many funding opportunities offered at The University of Texas at Austin.
What is the Gilman Scholarship?
A Gilman Scholarship provides up to $5,000 for a student from the United States to pursue education overseas. The program is spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State and offered to those with a demonstrated financial need who wish to study or intern abroad.
Students are eligible if they receive a Federal Pell Grant during the time of their study abroad application or while studying abroad. While there are no required fields of study, the scholarship encourages students to conduct STEM research and study critical languages (as designated by the State Dept.), with additional scholarship opportunities available for both.
In addition to the Gilman Scholarship, the Gilman-McCain Scholarship is designed specifically for active military personnel, their children and spousal dependents.
Goals of the Gilman Scholarship
The purpose of Gilman organization is to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations via expansion of the U.S. student population that studies and interns abroad. In addition, the Gilman Scholarship seeks to develop a generation of future leaders with international skills, who can represent American culture and values abroad.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to receive the Gilman Scholarship, students must be:
- Undergraduates in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education.
- U.S. citizens or nationals receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of their study abroad application, or showing proof that they will receive the grant during their time abroad.
- Applying for a credit-bearing study abroad program in a country or location with an overall travel advisory Level of 1 or 2, as designated by the State Department’s travel advisory system. Gilman scholars are not allowed to go to a country or area designated as a Level 3 (“reconsider travel to”) or Level 4 (“do not travel to”).
Application Requirements
Students are required to submit the following:
- A statement of purpose.
- Two community impact essays as outlined on the Gilman website.
- Transcripts both from UT Austin and any other institutions of higher education where credit has been attained.
- If applicable, optional essays for the Critical Need Language Award application.
- If applicable, an optional STEM Supplemental Award essay for students applying to conduct STEM-related research abroad.
Upon submission, a study abroad program coordinator and financial aid advisor must certify your application.
Application Tips
Most importantly: You must meet the application deadlines to be considered for the scholarship!
Please note that the Gilman Scholarship supports study abroad programs throughout the year, so the deadlines vary based on when you want to go abroad. The upcoming deadline for May 2024-Spring 2025 programs and internships is March 7, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Also, try to craft compelling essays that showcase your individual motivations and goals for studying abroad while also demonstrating your commitment to community engagement and service. Highlight your academic achievements and coursework relevant to your education abroad endeavor.
Finally, proofread your application carefully before submitting to ensure that all the information is accurate and free of errors.
Upcoming Events
The UT Austin Education Abroad team has planned a few events to help applicants polish their applications.
- Friday, February 9, 1:30-3 p.m.: A virtual Gilman Scholarship Info Session will provide more background and help students prepare a competitive application.
- Thursday, February 15, 12-1 p.m.: Education Abroad will host the Gilman Panel (location TBD). We will host Gilman alumni and recent recipients to speak about their Gilman Scholarship experiences (as well as those with the Follow-on Service Project) and detail how those experiences contributed to their time studying abroad.
- Friday, February 23, 1-4 p.m. in UTC 1.130: Education Abroad will host a Gilman Scholarship Writing Workshop for students in all stages of the application process, to help elevate their application essays with feedback from Gilman alumni and Education Abroad staff. Students are encouraged to bring drafts of their essays for evaluation.
For additional questions, please reach out to educationabroad@austin.utexas.edu.
Alek Blonk is an Education Abroad Peer Mentor providing support to students interested in studying abroad. Learn about this position and its services on the Peer Mentors Program webpage.
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