The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a U.S. Department of State award for eligible undergraduate children and spouses of active or activated U.S. military personnel. The current Fall 2026 cycle provides a $5,000 award for credit-bearing study or internship programmes abroad. Covered programme start dates run from December 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027.
The application is currently open and closes on October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university and receive, or be able to document that they will receive, qualifying Title IV federal financial aid during the relevant period. Because the deadline is less than seven days away, this is an urgent application cycle.
Gilman-McCain Scholarship Details
The scholarship operates under the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is specifically designed for eligible dependents of active or activated U.S. military personnel who plan to participate in a credit-bearing study or internship abroad.
The Fall 2026 application covers Winter or January term 2027, Spring 2027, Maymester 2027, Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and academic-year 2027–2028 programmes when the abroad start date falls within the official cycle window. The advisor certification deadline follows the student deadline on October 8, 2026.
Award | $5,000 |
|---|---|
Applicant group | Eligible undergraduate child or spousal dependents of active or activated U.S. military personnel |
Programme type | Credit-bearing study or internship abroad |
Current cycle | Fall 2026 application |
Programme start window | December 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027 |
Application deadline | October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT |
Advisor certification | October 8, 2026 |
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Scholarship Benefits
Each selected student receives a $5,000 scholarship that can support an eligible credit-bearing study-abroad or intern-abroad programme. The award is intended to expand international learning opportunities for military families and help recipients build leadership, career readiness, and global perspective.
The broader Gilman framework also offers supplemental opportunities for some students, including awards connected with STEM-related study, internships, or critical-need languages. Applicants should review the current official award guidance before assuming they qualify for any supplemental funding beyond the base Gilman-McCain award.
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Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals and must be undergraduate students at an accredited U.S. institution. They must be the child or spouse of active or activated U.S. military personnel during the application period and must receive qualifying Title IV federal financial aid, or provide evidence that they will receive such aid during the study-abroad programme or internship.
The proposed international programme must be credit-bearing, and the destination country must carry a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory of Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) or Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) at the time of application, in line with the current official application guidance. Applicants should confirm their military-dependent status, financial-aid documentation, destination advisory level, and programme dates before submitting because these conditions determine basic eligibility.
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Requirements and Required Documents
A complete application requires the online scholarship form and the academic and programme information requested by the official Gilman system. Applicants should also be prepared to provide transcripts and the documentation needed for advisor certification and citizenship or nationality verification.
Financial-aid eligibility is a central part of the programme, so applicants should coordinate with the appropriate financial-aid and study-abroad advisers at their institution. The official application also asks for programme details and written responses that help reviewers understand the applicant’s goals and preparation.
How to Apply for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship
Applicants submit through the official Gilman online application system linked from the Gilman-McCain Scholarship page. They should start early because institutional advisers must certify parts of the application after the student submission.
The student deadline and advisor certification deadline are separate. Submitting the student form by October 1 does not remove the need for the institutional certification step, so applicants should communicate with their advisers before the final days of the cycle.
Gilman-McCain Scholarship Application Deadline
The current Fall 2026 application deadline is Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. This cycle covers eligible abroad programmes and internships beginning from December 1, 2026 through October 31, 2027.
Institutional adviser certification is due on October 8, 2026. Applicants should submit before the final day and confirm that all required adviser steps are progressing on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions answer the most common queries about the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, covering the award amount, eligibility, and the Fall 2026 application timeline.
How much is this scholarship?
The current official award amount is $5,000 for an eligible credit-bearing study or internship abroad programme.
Who can apply for the scholarship?
The programme is for eligible undergraduate child and spousal dependents of active or activated U.S. military personnel who meet the citizenship, enrollment, and Title IV financial-aid requirements.
Can the award support an internship abroad?
Yes. The official programme allows eligible credit-bearing study-abroad and intern-abroad programmes within the applicable cycle dates.
When is the advisor certification deadline?
The current Fall 2026 cycle sets the advisor certification deadline at October 8, 2026, one week after the student application deadline.
Final Thoughts
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship gives eligible U.S. military dependents a $5,000 route to support credit-bearing study or internship experiences abroad. The Fall 2026 cycle includes many programmes that begin during 2027, making it relevant to students planning upcoming international study.
Eligible students should complete the online application immediately because the deadline is October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. They should also coordinate with their institutional advisers so the required certification is completed by October 8.
