26 University of Maryland students were recently awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State, a record number since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted study abroad in 2020.
The combined total of $87,000 will help fund study abroad experiences in 22 destinations, including Ghana, Brazil, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The average scholarship award for UMD student recipients is $3,300.
The Gilman Scholarship Program awards up to $5,000 to enable student recipients of limited means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to the nation’s security and economic prosperity. Students must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible to apply for the award, including being a recipient of the Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or during their term abroad.
Furthermore, applicants who are studying languages deemed critical to U.S national security interests are eligible to apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000 through the Critical Needs Language Award, as well as a supplemental award of up to $1,000 for Gilman scholars who conduct STEM research through their programs or internships abroad.
This fall, to further increase student participation in global learning regardless of economic background, Education Abroad (EA) invested an additional $225,000 in Pell Grant and Gilman-eligible students to launch the Gilman Guarantee initiative. All eligible UMD applicants received a $500 EA scholarship on completion of their Gilman application through the National Scholarships Office. EA will award an additional $2,000 scholarship to all UMD students who did not receive a Gilman award to ensure all eligible students receive a minimum $2,500 scholarship to support upcoming experiences abroad.
In 2021, the University of Maryland was recognized as a top 20 producer of Gilman scholars. 323 UMD students have received the award since the scholarship program’s inception in 2001.
Make an appointment with a Global Learning Advisor to learn more about funding opportunities for study abroad experiences.