Gilman Scholarship

Gilman provides two application cycles annually. To be considered for the Gilman Scholarship, students must apply during the appropriate cycle based on their program dates. The timelines below are designed to assist you in planning and preparing your application. For the most current deadlines, please visit the Gilman Scholarship website.

March Cycle

• Opens: Mid-January
• Application Deadline: March 6, 2025
• *Certifier Deadline: March 13th, 2025
• Award notification: May 2025

October Cycle

• Opens: Mid-August
• Application Deadline: Early October
• *Certifier Deadline: Mid-October
• Award notification: December

*Your Study Abroad and Financial Aid Certifiers have one week after the Gilman application deadline to certify your Gilman application and confirm your study abroad program information and financial aid details are correct.

There are three essays required as part of the Gilman Scholarship application: the Statement of Purpose Essay and the two Community Impact Essays, which are the Building Mutual Understanding Essay and the Follow-on Service Project Proposal. For those applying for a Critical Need Language Award or for the STEM Supplemental Award, additional essays are required.

Here are our top 3 tips for a successful Gilman application:

1. Start early: This allows ample time for research, drafting, and revisions, ensuring high-quality submissions. This also reduces stress and provides opportunities for feedback, increasing your chances of success.
2. Utilize your resources: Utilize campus resources such as writing centers, study abroad coordinators, the study abroad Gilman peer advisor, and scholarship offices to enhance your scholarship application. These resources provide valuable guidance, feedback, and support throughout the application process.
3. Fully respond to the Gilman essay prompts: Ensure you fully answer the scholarship essay prompts by carefully reading each question, addressing all parts, and staying focused on the topic. Invest time in drafting, editing, and having others proofread your essays. Ask yourself the questions below as you draft your Gilman essays.

Statement of Purpose

5 Questions to Ask Yourself: Statement of Purpose Essay (7,000 characters including spaces)

1. Do you make a connection between your program, your destination country and your academic, professional and personal goals?
2. Do you share how you will be academically successful on your study abroad program?
3. Do you discuss any challenges you may have faced in your academic career?
4. Do you provide specific examples of how your own unique experiences have prepared you to overcome obstacles, develop skills, and thrive in new opportunities? Explain how you will use your strengths to navigate a new environment abroad.
5. In essence: What worlds do you come from, what worlds do you hope to be a part of, and how will your study abroad program help you bridge those worlds?

Building Mutual Understanding

4 Questions to Ask Yourself: Building Mutual Understanding (3,000 characters including spaces)

1. Do you explain how you plan to represent the U.S. and share your own background and experience as a U.S. citizen?
2. How does your identity, values, beliefs and culture reflect the diversity of the U.S.?
3. Do you discuss the opportunities you will intentionally seek, within your study abroad program and in your free time, to become more culturally engaged and build meaningful relationships within your host community?
4. What do you hope citizens of your host country will learn about the U.S. through you?

Follow-on Service Project Proposal

5 Questions to Ask Yourself: Follow-On Service Project Proposal (3,000 characters including spaces)

1. Does your Follow-on Service Project increase awareness of the Gilman Scholarship and study abroad?
2. Do you include your study abroad experience into your project?
3. Do you provide a feasible and detailed plan for your project?
4. Do you have an intended audience and did you include who you will collaborate with to reach this community?
5. Consider the barriers you faced to studying abroad. How can you help support other students in similar situations through your Follow-On Service Project?

Critical Need Language Award (optional)

4 Questions to Ask Yourself: Critical Need Language Award Essay (2,000 characters including spaces)

1. Do you describe your motivation to study the language and explain how it advances your personal, academic and professional goals?
2. Do you discuss your previous language learning experience, if applicable, and how it informs your current pursuit of language proficiency?
3. Do you outline your strategy for improving language skills during your study abroad experience, in and out of the classroom?
4. Do you explain how you plan to continue using the language after studying abroad?

STEM Supplemental Award (optional)

4 Questions to Ask Yourself: STEM Supplemental Award Essay (1,000 characters including spaces)

1. Do you provide a clear description of your STEM research you will conduct while abroad?
2. Do you explicitly state your commitment to your STEM field and how your study abroad experience aligns with your future goals?
3. Do you highlight how your research abroad will benefit your long-term academic and career journeys?
4. Do you address your financial needs related to your research expenses including items such as fees, equipment and transportation?

I am not sure if I received a Pell Grant. How can I check?

Log into your UAccess Student Center and navigate to the “Financial Aid” tab. Select “Financial Aid Summary” and click on your “Financial Aid Offers.” You will see all the federal and institutional financial aid you were offered and have accepted. You must receive a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application to Gilman or while you will be studying abroad.

What if I don't receive a federal Pell Grant, but do receive other federal financial aid? Am I still eligible to apply?

No, only students receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or at the time of the study abroad program are eligible for the Gilman Scholarship. Other forms of federal financial aid do not satisfy this eligibility requirement. We encourage you to visit our Scholarship Tracker and Scholarship Universe to view other available scholarships.

What are the chances of me receiving the Gilman scholarship?

Nationally, about 1 in 5 students are awarded a scholarship. Approximately 1 in 3 University of Arizona students who apply receive the Gilman scholarship. U of A students have received over $2 million dollars in funding from Gilman!

Do I need to apply to my study abroad program before applying to Gilman?

You must be in the process of planning to apply, currently applying, or accepted to a credit-bearing study abroad program to be eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship. You may find that the deadline for the Gilman Scholarship is earlier than the deadline for your study abroad program. Therefore, you may be applying to Gilman before applying to study abroad. If you are awarded a Gilman Scholarship, they will request proof of acceptance into the program listed in your application at that time.

How do I know if my study abroad program is eligible for the Gilman Scholarship?

First, you must ensure you will be earning academic credit for participating in your study abroad program. Next, you can check to see if the location of your study abroad program has an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System.

Who is my study abroad and financial aid advisor?

The Financial Aid Advisor for ALL Gilman applicants at the University of Arizona is Roger Graham. The Financial Aid Certifier will confirm the financial aid information you provided on your Gilman application.

Who is my Study Abroad Certifier?

Your Study Abroad Certifier is your study abroad coordinator. Your coordinator’s name appears in the “Program Facts” section of your selected study abroad program page. The Study Abroad Certifier will confirm the program information you provided on your Gilman application. If you are still not sure who to indicate as your Study Abroad Certifier, please email studyabroad@arizona.edu.

How can I be sure my certifiers will certify my application?

To ensure your application is certified, simply log in to your Gilman Application to check the status. You do not need to email them a reminder to certify your application, as Gilman will send automatic emails on your behalf.

Gilman is requesting information about my study abroad program cost. How do I find this?

The cost of your study abroad program can be found on the program page under the section titled “Costs & Funding.” You should provide the total amount at the bottom of the program budget.

When will I find out if I get the Gilman scholarship?

If you applied during the March cycle, Gilman will email selected students in May. If you applied in the October cycle, Gilman will notify students in December. Be sure to keep an eye on your email inbox, as all communication from Gilman will go to the email you registered your account with.

How do I receive a $500 Gilman Application Grant for applying to the Gilman scholarship?

Study Abroad will award a $500 grant to all committed study abroad students in an eligible program who apply to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship regardless of whether they are awarded the Gilman Scholarship. Study Abroad will determine your eligibility for this scholarship based on the Gilman Application Award requirements upon committing to an eligible study abroad program. Your $500 scholarship will be automatically disbursed to your bursar’s account after your study abroad program charges are billed.

I have additional questions about the Gilman scholarship, where can I find out more?

If you did not find the answers you were looking for, the Gilman website has additional resources and its own FAQ section. Additionally, you can email studyabroad@arizona.edu. Best of luck with your Gilman Scholarship application!