The John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps) to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Applicants must be recipients of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship.
How To Apply
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship application is now open, and you will be able to apply through the Gilman online application system.
The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps) to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona. With the support of the U.S. Congress, this scholarship honors the Senator’s legacy of public service by enabling children and spouses of active or activated United States military personnel to develop the leadership and career readiness skills and global perspective to pursue careers of service and contribute to preserving the principles and alliances that are critical to an international order based on the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.
To be eligible for a Gilman-McCain 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);
- Dependent (child or spouse) of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps);
- Recipient of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during 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. It is important to note that certain areas within a country or location that has an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2 may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either Level 3 or Level 4; Gilman scholars will not be allowed to travel to these specific areas. Gilman scholars are unable to participate in programs located in a country or location — or an area within a country or location — that is designated as either a Level 3 (“Reconsider travel to”) or Level 4 (“Do not travel to”).
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-McCain August 2025 Deadline application is now open for applicants whose abroad programs or internships start between September 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. The application deadline is Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time, and the advisor certification deadline is Thursday, August 14, 2025.
All applicants will be notified of their status via email in September 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.
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.
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.
During application eligibility review, all eligibility criteria will be reviewed including review of the dependent military ID documentation confirming child or spousal dependent status of an active military member. All complete and eligible Gilman-McCain Scholarship applications will then be reviewed in selection panels separate from other applicants.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship recipients are awarded $5,000 to be used toward the cost of study abroad or international internship programs.
Q: Can a veteran or dependent of a veteran apply for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship?
A: The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is specifically for dependents of active or activated Untied States military personnel during the time of application. If you are not eligible for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, please consider the Gilman Program. You can find the Gilman Program eligibility requirements here.
Q: If a student is not receiving a Federal Pell Grant, how can they apply for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship?
A: We recommend that any eligible child or spousal dependent of an active military member should complete the Gilman-McCain Scholarship application. Applicants must be a child or spousal dependent of an active military service member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard) and be receiving any type of Title IV federal financial aid. If any eligible child or spousal dependent applies for the Gilman Scholarship, the Gilman Program will automatically consider them a Gilman-McCain applicant as long as they provide the proof of their child or spousal dependent status when they submit their application.
Q: Is a student eligible for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship if their parent or spouse is an active military member at the time of their application, but no longer active when the student goes abroad?
A: Yes, the student is eligible when their parent or spouse is an active military member at the time the student applies for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship.
Q: If a student is a child or spousal dependent of an active military member and is receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of the application or while abroad, which application should they fill out?
A: We recommend that any student eligible for both scholarships should complete the Gilman-McCain Scholarship application. If any eligible child or spousal dependent applies for the Gilman Scholarship, the Gilman Program will automatically consider them a Gilman-McCain applicant as long as they provide the proof of their child or spousal dependent status when they submit their application.
Q: Can students apply for Gilman and Gilman-McCain and receive both scholarships?
A: If a student is receiving a Federal Pell Grant and is also a child or spousal dependent of an active military member, then the student is eligible for both scholarships; however, the student can only receive one. If they are eligible for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, then they will no longer be considered for the Gilman Scholarship.
Q:Can Gilman-McCain applicants apply for the Critical Need Language Award?
A: Yes, if a Gilman-McCain applicant is studying a critical need language in the specified locations, they are eligible for the Critical Need Language Award.
Q: How many Gilman-McCain awards are available?
A: The Gilman-McCain Scholarship offers 100 awards of $5,000 each for the current academic year.
Q: Are dependents of military personnel who died while an active military member eligible to apply to the Gilman-McCain Scholarship?
A: No, only dependents of current active military members are eligible for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship.
For information on other study abroad scholarships and grants for which you might be eligible, consult Other Study Abroad Resources.
Q: Is there an application fee for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship?
A: There is no application fee for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship. It is completely free to submit an application.
Q: Are child or spousal dependents of reservists eligible?
A: Child or spousal dependents of all active U.S. military members are eligible (assuming all other eligibility criteria are met). This includes active duty in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps. All applicants will need to provide their child or spouse dependent military ID (DD1173 Form), which confirms guardian or spouse’s active military member status.
The study abroad advisor certification will be required for Gilman-McCain Scholarship applicants.
The financial aid advisor certification will be updated to reflect the same statements provided under the Application Overview Page. This means that information on Federal Financial Aid status and total financial aid amount will be captured.
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