Gilman-McCain Scholarship 2027 for Study Abroad

What is the Gilman-McCain Scholarship?

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship helps children and spouses of US military members study or intern abroad during college. Its full name is the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families, named after the late US senator John McCain.

The scholarship is funded by the US Congress and run by the US Department of State. It's part of the well-known Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The goal is to help military families build leadership skills, career readiness, and a global outlook.

Important dates

Fall 2026 application (for programs starting December 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027)

• Application deadline: October 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific Time)
• Advisor certification deadline: October 8, 2026
• Results: December 2026

Winter application (for programs starting February 1, 2027 to October 31, 2027)

• Applications open: Mid-November 2026
• Application deadline: January 7, 2027 (11:59 PM Pacific Time)
• Advisor certification deadline: January 14, 2027
• Results: February 2027

Who can apply?

• You must be a US citizen or national.
• You must be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited US college or university. Two-year and four-year schools both count.
• You must be the child or spouse of an active or activated US military member at the time you apply. This covers all branches, including the Reserves and National Guard.
• You must receive any type of federal (Title IV) financial aid, or show that you will receive it during your program.
• You must be applying to, or accepted into, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.
• Your program must be in a country rated Level 1 or 2 on the US State Department's travel advisory list.

What do you get?

• A $5,000 award to put toward the cost of your study abroad program or international internship.
• 100 awards are available this academic year.
• You may also qualify for the Critical Need Language Award if you study one of the listed languages.
• There is no application fee.

How to apply

1. Choose a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, and apply to it.
2. Get your military dependent ID (DD Form 1173) ready. You'll need it to prove your eligibility.
3. Complete the online application on the Gilman website.
4. Ask your study abroad advisor and financial aid advisor to certify your application before their deadline.
5. Submit before October 1, 2026 (Fall) or January 7, 2027 (Winter).

Simple tips

• Talk to your study abroad and financial aid advisors early, since they have to certify your application.
• If your parent or spouse is active at the time you apply, you're still eligible even if they are no longer active when you go abroad.
• If you're eligible for both the Gilman and Gilman-McCain scholarships, apply for Gilman-McCain. You can only receive one.
• Missed the October deadline? Get ready for the Winter round in January.

Apply here

Use the button on this page to go to the official Gilman-McCain Scholarship page. It has the full details and the link to the online application. For questions, you can email gilman@iie.org.

https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/program/gilman-mccain-scholarships/

WorldOpportunitiesHub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of State or the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Always verify details on the official website before applying.

Field	Value
Organization	U.S. Department of State (Gilman Program)
Region / Country	Study abroad worldwide (for US students)
Deadline	Oct 1, 2026 (Winter round: Jan 7, 2027)
Level	Undergraduate
Funding	$5,000 award