Applying for the Benjamin A. 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. For more information and to apply, visit gilmanscholarship.org.

Summer, Fall, and Academic Year program deadlines are typically in early March. You can read more information about these deadlines on gilmanscholarship.org.

Winter, Spring, and Calendar Year program deadlines are typically in early October. You can read more information about these deadlines on gilmanscholarship.org.

Steps to Apply

1. 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!
2. 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 Ashley Bayman as your study abroad advisor. For your financial aid advisor, see below.
   
   • Students with last name A - L: Luis Melgoza luamelgo@ucsc.edu or Maria Orozco mrorozco@ucsc.edu
   • Students with last name M - Z: Maria Orozco mrorozco@ucsc.edu
   • IMPORTANT: Complete the Outside Agency Scholarship Authorization to Release Information Form. This allows Financial Aid to verify your aid information as they are certifying your Gilman application. You can access the OAS Authorization to Release Information form by going to the Forms page of the UCSC Financial Aid Website or requesting it from financial aid directly. When completing the form, you may list Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program under both the "name" and "agency" sections. Use the following information for the contact fields: email: gilman@iie.org,  phone: 1-800-852-2141 Ext 1, street address:Institute of International Education -1800 West Loop South, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77027. Once you have filled out the form, email it to financial aid at finaid.specialprograms@ucsc.edu
3. Need assistance writing your essay? Contact the UCSC Writing Center!: If you need support writing your essay(s), contact the UCSC Writing Center. The Writing Center works with all students, in all genres, at all stages of the writing process, including prewriting, writing, and revising. See their services here. You can schedule an appointment with the writing center here.
4. Want a final review of your essay(s)? Our global learning advisors are here to help!: Once you've visited the writing center, our global learning advisors can provide a final review of your scholarship essay(s) before submission. 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. The writing center can provide detailed feedback about grammar and syntax. To take advantage of this service, share your essay(s) in a Google Doc with globallearning@ucsc.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.
5. Submit Gilman application by the student deadline.
   For more information about the scholarship essays, please refer to our Gilman Scholarship Application Guide.
6. After submission, UCSC Global Learning 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

Check your UCSC Financial Aid Award Letter for a Pell Grant. You can also check with the Financial Aid Advisors. You can visit them during drop-in hours OR email them at finaid.specialprograms@ucsc.edu

It may, depending upon your aid package. The UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid Office has federal, state and institutional guidelines they must follow when awarding financial aid packages. You can only receive financial aid (including scholarships, grants, and loans) up to the total study abroad program cost. The Gilman scholarship becomes part of your regular financial aid packaging, with the aim of replacing loan eligibility with scholarship funds where possible. Please meet with a Financial Aid Advisors during the drop in hours or email them to learn more.

Please list Ashley Bayman as your study abroad advisor.

• Students with last name A - L: Luis Melgoza luamelgo@ucsc.edu or Maria Orozco mrorozco@ucsc.edu
• Students with last name M - Z: Maria Orozco mrorozco@ucsc.edu

• For UCSC-designed programs, including global seminars, partner programs, and global internships, you can find your program information under the programs tab of our website. Please note, UCEAP, Other UC, and Independent Program information can be found on their respective websites.

If the information for your program is not available yet, please email us at globallearning@ucsc.edu with any questions.

No. You do not need to contact UCSC Global Learning or the UCSC Financial Aid & Scholarship 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. PLEASE note that in order for Financial Aid to release information to Gilman about your aid package, you must complete an OAS Authorization to Release Information Form.

Where do I go if I have more questions?

Please visit the FAQ section of the Gilman website first or email Gilman directly at gilman@iie.org.