UC Davis Gilman Scholarship 2027 in the USA

The UC Davis Gilman Scholarship is not a scholarship funded directly by the University of California, Davis. It is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a U.S. Department of State program that helps eligible American undergraduate students with financial need study or intern abroad.

UC Davis supports its students through the Global Learning Hub and helps applicants understand the Gilman application, deadlines, essays, and advisor certification process. The national Gilman Program currently offers awards of up to $5,000 for eligible credit-bearing international study or internships.

For students planning to study abroad during 2027, it is important to choose the correct application cycle. The Fall 2026 Gilman cycle covers programs beginning from December 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027, while the Spring 2027 cycle covers programs beginning from May 1, 2027, through April 30, 2028.

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UC Davis Gilman Scholarship 2027 Overview

Scholarship	Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
UC Davis connection	UC Davis Global Learning Hub provides advising and certification support
Sponsor	U.S. Department of State
Award	Up to $5,000
Study level	Undergraduate
Study location	Outside the United States
Program type	Credit-bearing study abroad or eligible internship
Financial requirement	Federal Pell Grant
Citizenship	U.S. citizens or nationals
Fall 2026 application deadline	October 1, 2026
Spring 2027 application deadline	February 25, 2027
Fall 2026 advisor deadline	October 8, 2026
Spring 2027 advisor deadline	March 4, 2027
Application	Online Gilman application system

The award amount can vary according to the student’s financial need, program length, and selection recommendation. The maximum standard Gilman award is $5,000.

What Is the UC Davis Gilman Scholarship?

The UC Davis Gilman Scholarship is commonly used as a search term for UC Davis students seeking information about the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

The national program is administered by the Institute of International Education for the U.S. Department of State. Its purpose is to make international academic experiences more accessible to undergraduate students who have significant financial need.

UC Davis’s Global Learning Hub provides information sessions, essay review opportunities, and guidance for students applying for the scholarship. UC Davis also identifies specific study-abroad and financial-aid advisors who certify Gilman applications.

This means students should not treat the UC Davis Gilman Scholarship as a separate university-funded award. The funding comes through the national Gilman Program, while UC Davis helps eligible students prepare and complete the required certification process.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship Benefits

The main Gilman award provides up to $5,000 for eligible study-abroad or international internship costs. The award can support up to one academic year of undergraduate study abroad, although the actual amount depends on the student’s circumstances and program.

Eligible expenses are connected to the approved study-abroad program and related costs. Students should review the Gilman Program’s current rules before assuming that a particular expense will be covered.

There are also supplemental awards for some applicants:

Critical Need Language Award: up to $3,000.
STEM Supplemental Award: up to $1,000.

These supplemental awards are competitive and are not automatically granted to everyone who meets the basic conditions.

The Critical Need Language Award currently includes languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu, among others listed by the Gilman Program.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship Eligibility

Applicants must meet the national Gilman eligibility requirements. Being enrolled at UC Davis alone does not make a student eligible.

The main requirements include:

You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
You must be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited U.S. institution.
You must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant when applying or provide proof that you will receive a Pell Grant during the term of your study abroad program or internship.
You must be applying to or accepted into a qualifying credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.
Your program must take place in an eligible country or location under the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory rules.
The program must meet the Gilman requirements for international study or internship participation.

Permanent residents and other non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for the regular Gilman Scholarship. The official Gilman FAQ specifically states that the program is for U.S. citizens or nationals.

Graduate students, post-graduate students, and high school students are also not eligible for the regular Gilman Scholarship.

Study Abroad Program Requirements

The program you choose must be suitable for Gilman funding.

A qualifying experience can include traditional study abroad, intensive language study, student teaching, service learning, or an eligible career-oriented internship, provided it meets the program’s credit-bearing requirements.

Students should work with their UC Davis study-abroad advisor before applying. The program’s academic credit, location, dates, and other details must be correctly reported in the application.

Travel eligibility is also important. The Gilman Program currently requires eligible study-abroad destinations to have an overall U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2. Specific areas within an otherwise eligible country may still be excluded if they have a higher advisory level.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship 2027 Deadlines

There are two relevant application cycles for students planning 2027 study-abroad programs.

Fall 2026 Application Cycle

The Fall 2026 Gilman application is for programs beginning between December 1, 2026, and October 31, 2027. This includes Winter/January 2027, Spring 2027, Maymester 2027, Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and academic-year 2027–28 programs.

Application opens: Mid-August 2026
Student deadline: October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Advisor certification deadline: October 8, 2026
Notification: December 2026

Spring 2027 Application Cycle

The Spring 2027 cycle is for programs beginning between May 1, 2027, and April 30, 2028.

Application opens: Mid-January 2027
Student deadline: February 25, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Advisor certification deadline: March 4, 2027
Notification: May 2027

The Gilman Program uses Pacific Time, and late applications are not accepted. Students should therefore avoid waiting until the final minutes to submit their application.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship Application Process

The application is submitted through the official Gilman online application system. UC Davis students should also coordinate with the appropriate study-abroad and financial-aid advisors before the deadline.

Prepare your study-abroad information

Choose an eligible credit-bearing study-abroad or internship program and collect the information needed for the application.

Contact your UC Davis advisors

The application requires certification from both a study-abroad advisor and a financial-aid advisor. The study-abroad advisor verifies program information, while the financial-aid advisor verifies financial-aid information.

Write the required essays

The standard application includes four short essays. Each essay has a maximum of 500 words:

Motivations for Studying or Interning Abroad
Preparation and Skill Development
Gilman Scholars as Citizen Diplomats
Contributions to U.S. Communities and Follow-on Service Project Proposal

Students applying for the Critical Need Language Award or STEM Supplemental Award may need an additional essay of up to 300 words for the relevant award.

Submit the online application

Complete every required section and make sure both advisors have enough time to complete their certification. An application is not considered complete until the required advisor certifications are finished.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship Essays

The essays are an important part of the application because they allow selection panelists to understand the student’s goals, preparation, international experience plans, and proposed impact after returning home.

The first two essays focus on why the applicant selected the particular program and country, how the experience fits future academic or career plans, and what skills the student expects to develop.

The third essay focuses on how the student will engage with the host community and represent the United States as a citizen diplomat.

The fourth essay requires a Follow-on Service Project Proposal. Selected scholars must later complete a service project that promotes international education and helps other students learn about study-abroad opportunities and the Gilman Program.

Applicants should keep each essay distinct. The official Gilman guidance warns that substantially similar responses across essays can lead to disqualification.

Selection Process

The Gilman selection process is competitive. Applications first go through eligibility screening, followed by review and recommendation by selection panelists. The U.S. Department of State then reviews and approves recommended awards.

The official program reports that approximately one in five applicants is selected, although this figure can vary between application cycles.

Applicants are notified by email using the primary email address associated with their Gilman account.

Important Information for UC Davis Students

UC Davis students should not wait until the Gilman deadline to begin the application.

The Global Learning Hub provides information sessions and essay-review opportunities, while UC Davis identifies specific advisors for different types of study-abroad programs. For example, different advisors may certify UC Davis Summer Abroad, Quarter Abroad, UCEAP, and independent study-abroad programs.

Students should also remember that receiving a Gilman award may affect their overall financial-aid package. The Gilman Program notes that university financial-aid offices must follow applicable federal, state, and institutional rules when adjusting financial aid.

Is the UC Davis Gilman Scholarship Fully Funded?

No. The UC Davis Gilman Scholarship should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.

It is a study-abroad grant of up to $5,000 that can help reduce eligible costs. The actual award may be lower than the maximum, and students may still need other financial resources depending on their program expenses.

Students applying for the Critical Need Language Award or STEM Supplemental Award may be eligible for additional funding, but those awards are limited and competitive.

Tips for a Stronger Gilman Application

Start by explaining why this specific international experience matters to your academic or career plans rather than using general statements about wanting to travel.

Your essays should show preparation. Give concrete examples from coursework, employment, volunteering, leadership, campus activities, or other experiences that demonstrate how you will adapt to the host environment.

Your Follow-on Service Project should also be practical. The Gilman Program suggests projects such as campus presentations, study-abroad resources, mentoring, articles, workshops, or other outreach that encourages future students to consider international education.

Finally, have a trusted advisor, professor, mentor, or writing center review your essays before submission. UC Davis also offers Gilman-related advising and essay-review support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UC Davis Gilman Scholarship available to international students?

No. The regular Gilman Scholarship is for U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals who meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.

How much does the UC Davis Gilman Scholarship provide?

The Gilman Program provides awards of up to $5,000. The actual amount varies according to factors such as financial need, program length, and the selection process.

Can UC Davis students use Gilman funding for study abroad in 2027?

Yes, eligible UC Davis undergraduates can apply for programs falling within the appropriate 2026 or 2027 Gilman application cycle.

What is the Fall 2026 deadline for 2027 programs?

The Fall 2026 Gilman application deadline is October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. It covers qualifying programs beginning from December 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027.

What is the Spring 2027 Gilman deadline?

The Spring 2027 student deadline is February 25, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. This cycle covers qualifying programs beginning from May 1, 2027, through April 30, 2028.

How many essays are required for the Gilman Scholarship?

The regular application requires four short essays, with a maximum of 500 words for each essay. Additional 300-word essays may be required for the Critical Need Language Award or STEM Supplemental Award.

Does the Gilman Scholarship have a minimum GPA requirement?

The official Gilman FAQ states that there is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. Academic information is still part of the application and selection process.

Can I apply if I already received a Gilman Scholarship before?

A student can receive Gilman award funds only once. If a student previously declined a Gilman award, they may reapply if they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

Official Sources

Final Thoughts

The UC Davis Gilman Scholarship can provide meaningful financial support for eligible undergraduate students who want to gain academic or professional experience abroad. The program is specifically designed for U.S. undergraduate students with Federal Pell Grant support, so international students and graduate students should not treat it as a general scholarship for studying in the USA.

For students planning a 2027 international program, the most important steps are to confirm eligibility, choose the correct application cycle, coordinate with UC Davis advisors, prepare the four required essays carefully, and submit the complete application before the Pacific Time deadline.

UC Davis Gilman Scholarship 2027: Valuable Study Abroad Funding