Gilman International Scholarship
If you are a Pell Grant recipient and a U.S. citizen, you are eligible for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The Gilman Scholarship offers eligible students awards of up to $5,000 to help fund their study abroad. Students studying Critical Need Languages are eligible for an additional $3,000.
Applying for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Contact Us
Reach Out Now!Questions? Get in Touch! Reach out to our Study Abroad staff for personalized guidance!
Event Registration
Register Here!Please register for any upcoming Gilman Information Session in advance by filling out our Registration Form
Steps to Apply for FAMU students
- Review the Gilman website thoroughly. There is important information for applicants including the application overview, eligibility, essays, selection criteria, submission tips, deadlines, and much more!
- Note: Summer, Fall, and Academic Year program deadlines are typically in early March. You
can read more information about these deadlines on gilmanscholarship.org.
Spring and Calendar Year program deadlines are typically in early October. You can read more information about these deadlines on gilmanscholarship.org.
- Start your Gilman application. Complete all required fields. You will need an unofficial transcript as well as transcripts from all universities you've attended as an undergraduate. In the application, it will also ask for your study abroad and financial aid advisors. Please list Emily Maurer as your study abroad advisor. For your financial aid advisor, please list Bettye Colson.
- Need assistance writing your essay? Contact the FAMU Writing Resource Center!: If you need support writing your essay(s), contact the FAMU Writing Resource Center. The Writing Resource Center works with all students, in all genres, at all stages of the writing process, including prewriting, writing, and revising. You can schedule an appointment with the writing center here.
- Want a final review of your essay(s)? Our education abroad advisor is here to help!: Once you've visited the writing center, our education abroad advisor can provide a final review of your scholarship essay(s) before submission. A rubric for grading your essays is provided below in the FAQ for your use, along with a sample ranking score list from a real live review panelist in the past. Please note, we will only review your essays for content to ensure you are answering the essay prompts and will not spend more than 30 minutes on individual reviews. To take advantage of this service, share your essay(s) in a Google Doc with studyabroad@famu.edu (be sure you give us “editing” access). All essay drafts must be sent at least 1 week before the deadline or we cannot guarantee they will be reviewed.
- Submit Gilman application by the student deadline.
- After submission, FAMU Education Abroad and Financial Aid will certify your application by the advisor deadline (a week after the student deadline). There is no need to notify either office that you have submitted your application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Please click on the "+" to learn more about Applying for the Gilman Scholarship
Please list Bettye Colson as your financial aid advisor.
No. You do not need to contact FAMU Education Abroad or the FAMU Financial Aid Office about the submission of your Gilman Scholarship application. We are automatically notified of your submission. We will make sure your application is reviewed for certification by the adviser certification deadline (typically a week after the Gilman application deadline). Once the certification is completed, you will receive an auto-message from the Gilman Scholarship website.
You can download it here.
If you are in the process of applying for the Gilman Scholarship, below are several resources that we encourage you to take advantage of in writing and editing your essays:
- Gilman Application Process & Submission Tips
- Composing Competitive Gilman Essays (Video)
- Tips for Applying to the Gilman (University of Colorado Boulder)
- 33 Tips for Applying for the Gilman Scholarship from Past Gilman Winners (USAC)
- 8 Tips for Making Your Gilman Scholarship Essays Stronger (USAC)
- How to Study Abroad on a Gilman Scholarship (CAPA)
- Successful Gilman Essay Sample
The Follow-On Service Project essay of the Gilman Scholarship application is often a challenge for students. Your project idea should be both tangible and creative, and promote both the Gilman in particular and study abroad in general. Below are a few projects that students have completed in the past and that you may choose to use, or incorporate in some way. It is important to note, however, that these essays are always best when ideas are original and you can make personal connections to the project, its outcomes, and its intended audience.
- Promote the Gilman Scholarship at our Study Abroad Fairs
- Present about your experience applying for the Gilman and studying abroad at our Gilman Scholarship Information Sessions
- Help review Gilman essay drafts at our Scholarship Writing Workshops
- Join our team of Study Abroad Ambassadors (Peer Advisors) to promote study abroad and the Gilman Scholarship to your peers
- Give a presentation to an organization you’re involved with at FAMU or in the local community
- Create a blog or social media account for your time abroad, regularly posting content geared toward other students
- Write an article about your experiences abroad, including how you got the Gilman, and submit it to the FAMUan or another media outlet
Please contact:
Emily Maurer, M.Ed, MPA Coordinator Office of International Education and Development Florida A&M University 1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Suite. 302, Perry-Paige North Ph: 850-599-3295 (office), 850-412-7077 (direct) emily.maurer@famu.edu Book an Appointment on my Calendar