Gilman Scholarship

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. With this in mind, 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 so as to develop a generation of future American leaders with the career skills and international networks to advance U.S. interests. Almost 60% of all Gilman scholars come from small towns or rural communities across the United States. The program encourages students to choose non-traditional study and intern destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, in order to expand the destinations where U.S. students study and intern abroad, in order to build relationships, foster mutual understanding, and represent American culture and values critical to national security. In addition to the standard Gilman award, the Gilman Program offers limited supplemental funding opportunities for students who want to conduct STEM-related coursework or internships abroad as part of their study abroad or international internship program and students studying critical languages (those deemed important to national security). Gilman Scholars receive non-competitive eligibility (NCE) for future employment. This is a special hiring authority granted by the U.S. government.