The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is pleased to announce that the online application system is open for students participating in credit-bearing study abroad programs and international internships during the spring 2018 and summer 2018 terms. Spring 2018 applications and Summer 2018 early applications are both due Tuesday, October 3, 2017 by 11:59pm (central). 
 
Advisors have until October 10, 2017 to certify spring 2018 applications and summer 2018 early applications. 
 
Students applying for any academic term must meet the eligibility requirements below: • U.S. citizen; • Undergraduate student in good academic standing at an accredited two- or four-year U.S. higher education institution; • Current Federal Pell Grant recipient or provide proof of receipt of a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship; • Accepted for, or in process of applying to, a study abroad or internship program approved for academic credit by the student’s home institution and is no less than three weeks (21) days in length – or two weeks (14 days) for current community college students – in one country or no more than one academic year; and • Study abroad program of choice may not be in a country currently under an official issued by the U.S. Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html. 
 
Students applying to programs in Mexico may only apply for scholarships to support study in Mexican states where no advisory is in effect according to the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning. 
 
Applicants who are studying a critical need language while abroad in a country in which the language is predominantly spoken can apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000, for a combined total of $8,000. This award is competitive and offered to a limited number of Gilman scholars each year. In addition to receiving additional funds for language study, students who are awarded the Critical Need Language Award and complete their Gilman Scholarship requirements will be offered the opportunity to take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). This test and the results will serve as both an evaluation measure of the award and as a credential for the award recipient.  
 
To be considered for the Critical Need Language Award, a brief additional essay is required and can be submitted as part of the Gilman application. Some key points to keep in mind are:  
 
• The language the student is studying while abroad must be considered a Critical Need Language by the U.S. Department of State. View a list of Critical Need Languages: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/program/program-overview/. Any other language study is not eligible for the Critical Need Language Award. • The student studying the Critical Need Language must do so in a country where it is predominately spoken. • In the Critical Need Language Award application essay, the student will be asked to explain the level of intensity of their critical need language study while abroad and how the pursuit of this language relates to their academic and career goals. 
 
The Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Gilman Scholarship Program offers grants of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students of high financial need participating in credit-bearing study abroad programs or international internships.? Students studying a critical need language could be eligible to receive a grant of up to $8,000. The Gilman Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting U.S. undergraduates who might otherwise not consider these unique and valuable opportunities due to financial constraints. For more information, please visit http://www.gilmanscholarship.org/.