Gilman Scholarship: The Gilman-McCain Scholarships offer $5,000 grants. These grants help military family members study abroad. This opportunity makes foreign education more affordable.
Studying abroad and living in a military family? This scholarship could help you. It can lead to a life-changing education experience in 2025–2026.
About the Gilman Scholarship
The U.S. Department of State has a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This bureau funds the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families. It is also called the Gilman-McCain Scholarship.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program of the State Department created this. It honors Senator McCain’s legacy of public service.
Of Note:
- Specifically created for military families
- $5,000 scholarships for study or internships overseas
- Credit-bearing programs only
- Part of the larger Gilman Scholarship framework
- Emphasis on honing leadership abilities and global viewpoints
Who Is Qualified to Apply?
Candidates for a Gilman Scholarship must satisfy the following requirements:
- Must Be an undergraduate student in good standing at a recognized U.S. institution of higher education (including both two-year and four-year colleges)
- Be a citizen or national of the United States
- Be a dependent—child or spouse—of active or activated United States military troops throughout the application period
Eligible military services:
Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps.
Method of Application and Important Deadlines for Gilman Scholarship
The application process is rather clear-cut:
Current Situation and Future Scheduling:
· The March 2025 Deadline application is closed. This cycle includes Maymester 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025, the academic year 2025-2026, and Spring 2026. Programs started between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
· Programs that begin between September 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, will have the Gilman-McCain application available. This will happen in mid-June 2025.
· The August application deadline is Pacific Time, Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 11:59pm. For the August cycle, advisor certification deadline is Thursday, August 14, 2025.
· Emails in September 2025 will notify candidates of their status.
Application Requirements for Gilman Scholarship:
1. Apply using the Gilman online application system while applications are open.
2. Send paperwork proving dependant military ID status.
3. Show evidence of Title IV federal financial assistance.
4. Finish mandatory certificates and essays.
5. Send transcripts together with other supporting documentation.
Crucially Important Safety and Program Issues
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship gives student safety great weight:
Programs must be located in nations with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2 based on the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System; even within qualified nations, scholars cannot travel to specific areas designated as Level 3 (“Reconsider travel to”) or Level 4 (“Do not travel to”).
Final awards depend on available funds and the security situation in the destination country. The U.S. Department of State can ask for changes to the program. This can happen if there are security concerns.
These concerns can arise at any point in the application process or during the program itself. Programs that are currently running may be paused. This will happen after talking with the U.S. Embassy in that country. This is necessary if security problems arise.
Goal and Objective:
Beyond only financing international education, the Gilman-McCain Scholarship seeks to:
- Honor Senator McCain’s legacy of public service
- Enable military dependents to develop leadership and career readiness skills
- Help participants develop global perspectives necessary for successful careers
- Prepare scholars to contribute to preservation of principles of rule of law, human rights, and democracy
- Support military families in their educational endeavors
Optimising Your Application
To present a strong Gilman-McCain application:
- Clearly explain how your academic and professional objectives relate to your foreign experience
- Start early and follow all application criteria and deadlines
- Explain how your background as a military dependent has prepared you for this opportunity
- Develop careful plans for sharing your experience upon return
- Emphasize how the international perspective you will acquire relates to service and leadership