The U.S. Department of State recognized UC Davis as one of the U.S. colleges and universities that sent the most scholars abroad through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program in 2021-22. The Gilman Scholarship expands access and equity in study abroad and international internship opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students with high financial needs.

The Department of State announces the U.S. colleges and universities that have sent the most Gilman Scholars abroad each year. Institutions are recognized by size and type. As recently announced for the 2021-22 year, UC Davis received third place in the category of large institutions. This is the fourth time UC Davis has been recognized as a top producer in the last six years (2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22). UC Davis was also recognized in 2021 as being a 20-year overall top producer. 

“We are honored to be recognized as a top producer of Gilman Scholars. This program is vital to helping us ensure global learning is accessible to all UC Davis students. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, Scott Palmer from the Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships Office, and faculty and students across campus to further advance the Gilman program,” said Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of Global Affairs.

Gilman Scholarship Program Impact

Throughout its more than twenty-year history, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (Gilman) Program has reshaped study abroad to make it more accessible by providing scholarships to outstanding U.S. undergraduate students who, due to high financial need, might not otherwise go abroad. Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 41,000 Gilman scholars from all U.S. states, and Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories have studied or interned abroad in more than 155 countries.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides talented U.S. undergraduate students with life-changing opportunities to study or intern abroad despite financial circumstances. The Gilman Program aims to expand the population of U.S. students who study and intern abroad, ensuring more young Americans gain the professional skills, language abilities, and cultural humility needed for successful careers that contribute to the country’s economic prosperity and national security. The outstanding and diverse U.S. undergraduate students who study overseas with support from the Gilman Program build relationships, foster mutual understanding, and represent American culture and values in diverse destinations. The connections formed through study abroad lay a foundation upon which people and nations can work together to address shared global challenges, such as climate change, food security, and global health.

The Gilman Scholarship is a public diplomacy program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is implemented by the Institute of International Education.

Gilman Scholarship Program at UC Davis

It is a pleasure for UC Davis to receive this recognition from the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. This recognition signifies the strong global engagement of our students. The transformative experiences our students have studying and interning abroad will be immensely valuable to their future aspirations. I look forward to working with future applicants and continuing to see their successes" said Scott Palmer, Prestigious Scholarship Advisor, Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships Office.

The Gilman Scholarship Program is administered at UC Davis through a partnership between the Global Learning Hub, within Global Affairs, and the Financial Aid and Scholarships offices. The UC Davis Undergraduate and Prestigious Scholarships office, part of Financial Aid and Scholarships, provides information, resources, and support services to students for highly competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships.

UC Davis regularly hosts informational webinars, writing workshops and drop-in essay review sessions to help support students applying to the Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship application will open in mid-January 2024 for applicants who wish to study or intern abroad on programs with start dates ranging from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. Learn more about the Gilman Scholarship.