Eligibility

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Please note the following updates to our current program eligibility, below in bold italics. To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must be:

• A citizen 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 for, a study abroad or internship program or a virtual international program of at least two weeks for community college students and three weeks for students from four-year institutions, eligible for credit from the student’s home institution. Multi-country, multi-area, and multi-city programs are eligible and have no minimum requirement on length of time spent in one country, city, or area.  The entirety of the program abroad must be at least two weeks (14 days) for community college students and three weeks (21 days) for students from four-year institutions. There are no maximum or minimum number of countries, cities, or, areas within the required time frame of two weeks (14 days) for community college students and three weeks (21 days) for students from four-year institutions. Travel days do not count toward the minimum day requirement. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
• Applying for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country or area with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System. However, certain locations within these countries or areas may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either “Do not travel to” (Level 4) or “Reconsider travel to” (Level 3) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to these specific locations. Moreover, students are not eligible to apply for programs in a country or area with an overall Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory.

Please note that if the country where you choose to study abroad in 2021 is at a Level 3 or 4 only due to COVID-19 at the time of application, the Gilman program will still consider that eligible. In the event that an applicant is selected for the Gilman Scholarship and if the destination country is still at a Level 3 or 4, even if only due to COVID-19, by the time the program starts, then the recipient will be required to change their program location.

The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to request program changes for specific countries or areas if deemed necessary during any stage of the application, selection process, or program period. Final awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the security situation in country. Furthermore, programs in progress may be suspended in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in country during the course of the program.

The Gilman Program, under the direction of the U.S. Department of State, aims to work with students to make scholarship experiences a success. Should a Travel Advisory change to a Level 3 or 4 after the student has been granted the award, the program will coordinate with participants to select a different destination study site that falls within the guidelines provided by the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory system. In determining a grantee’s status, the Gilman Program, under the direction of the U.S. Department of State, is the final decision making authority regarding the continuation of a student’s participation as a grantee of the Gilman Program.

The modification to the travel advisory-related eligibility criteria is a system update that has been incorporated into both the student application and advisor certification portals, in light of COVID-19.

For reference, below is a sample travel advisory that shows when a country’s level is based on COVID-19 conditions:

Reconsider travel to Country X due to COVID-19.

Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Country X due to COVID-19.

Visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Country X.

If you decide to travel to Country X:

• See the U.S. Embassy’s web page regarding COVID-19.
• Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Crime and Safety Report for Country X.
• Have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.

Click here to determine the Travel Advisory Level of a country or area.

Click here to view a video on determining the Travel Advisory Level of a country or area. 

If you are unsure about your eligibility status, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions.