Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The FY 2025 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically within the U.S. Study Abroad Branch of the Office of Global Educational Programs. The program is rooted in the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, which aims to expand access to international educational opportunities for American undergraduate students with limited financial means. The program supports efforts to prepare these students to participate meaningfully in a globalized world and economy by enabling them to engage in academic or internship experiences abroad. The primary objective of the Gilman Program is to offer scholarships to U.S. undergraduate students who might otherwise be unable to study abroad due to financial constraints. The scholarships fund credit-bearing academic study or internships in foreign countries, with the intent to broaden recipients’ perspectives and equip them with skills and experiences valuable for global participation and leadership. The program serves to promote diversity in international education and fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. This grant opportunity is a cooperative agreement with a fixed award amount of $16,826,696. Only one award is expected to be distributed under this opportunity, and no cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed on applicants. The funding will be administered in accordance with the requirements of the ECA, and successful applicants will need to demonstrate the capacity to manage the scholarship program effectively, including outreach, selection, financial administration, and participant support. Eligible applicants for this opportunity include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status, and other qualified entities as detailed in the full announcement. Organizations must demonstrate experience with scholarship administration and international educational programs, as well as robust financial and administrative systems to manage federal funds. Applications for the FY 2025 cycle must be submitted by June 30, 2025. The opportunity was posted on April 30, 2025, and last updated on May 1, 2025. Details about application components, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements are provided in the full announcement. Applicants are encouraged to consult the complete document to ensure compliance with all requirements. For further assistance, potential applicants may contact Program Officer Theresa Gagnon at GagnonTF@state.gov. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs can also be reached at (202) 632-6000. Additional information and resources for applicants are available through the ECA’s Organizational Funding portal.