Eligibility
This scholarship provides over 3,000 awards of up to $5,000 (plus an additional $3,000 supplement for critical languages and $1,000 for STEM-related research abroad) for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue winter break, summer, semester, or year-long study abroad opportunities in other countries. This is a need-based award, and to be eligible, students currently must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant.
What They’re Looking For
The Gilman Scholarship selects students based on 1) the impact of the program and destination on the student’s academic and career trajectory, 2) their community impact abroad and upon the student’s return home, 3) their diversity of background and experience, and 4) their academic preparedness.
Informational Events:
Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm: Informational session in 514 IUB.
Friday, January 30, 2026 from 9:00am – 10:00am: ONLINE Gilman Information Session. Register Here.
Friday, January 30, 2026 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm: Workshop on how to craft your application essays in 514 IUB.
Informal Review
If you are interested in obtaining feedback on your Gilman essays, please send drafts of your essays to us as an email attachment at topscholars@illinois.edu, along with a few times you are available to meet 2-3 days later to receive our feedback. We are willing to work with students through numerous revisions.
Final Submittal Deadline
March 5, 2026
The applicant is responsible for submitting his or her application online. Components include:
- A meaningful activity you participate in (200 words)
- Choice of Institution (300 words)
- Leadership (300 words)
- Challenge that inspires you (300 words)
- Funding statement (150 words)
- Personal statement (700 words)Example of leadership experience and what learned from the experience (300 words)
- PDF copy of official transcript (order and save electronic one)
- References: two individuals who know you professionally; at least one must be an instructor
The Final Stages
All candidates are notified in late March as to whether or not they made the first cut. From this shortlist, individual institutes will select finalists to a video interview and then make final selections in May. Please keep us informed as your progress through the competition! We will coordinate mock interviews for those students called to an interview.
UK Summer Fulbright Website & Application
Visit our Canvas page for additional tips and samples of winning applications.
For official information on the UK Summer Fulbright Scholarship (which supersedes any information provided here) and access to the online application, please visit the UK Summer Fulbright website.