John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship)

The U.S. Department of State’s John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including 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) to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizen or national
• Undergraduate student in good academic standing
• Dependent (child or spouse) of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including 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)
• Recipient of any type of Title IV federal financial aid
• In the process of applying for, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program in a country with an overall Travel Advisory of 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory System

Award Amount
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship recipients are awarded $5,000 to be used toward the cost of study abroad or international internship programs. Students studying critical need languages are eligible for a supplemental award up to $3,000, and students conducting STEM research abroad are eligible for a supplemental award up to $1,000.

Application
Students are highly encouraged to apply as early as possible so that they can receive their scholarship payment in time for their departure. All applicants are notified of their status by email.

For additional information and to apply, please visit gilmanscholarship.org and contact your study abroad office.

• Complete the application at GilmanScholarship.org
• Contact your campus study abroad advisor as early as possible to inform them you are applying for the scholarship. They are a great resource!

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona. With the support of the U.S. Congress, this scholarship honors the Senator’s legacy of public service by enabling children and spouses of active or activated United States military personnel to develop the leadership and career readiness skills and global perspective to pursue careers of service and contribute to preserving the principles and alliances that are critical to an international order based on the rule of law, human rights, and democracy.