Pell-Eligible Students

The Office of Global Opportunities strives to reduce barriers to studying abroad or away for our Pell-eligible students in several ways: 

• Advising students how to maximize their financial aid in support of a global opportunity 
• Supporting multiple scholarships focused on need and access 
• Connecting students to other funding and support services 
• Offering passport grants that cover the cost of a 10-year US passport 

For students participating in Bobcats Student Orientation (BSO) during summer 2023:

• OGO is offering a Pell-specific Passport Grant Drawing
  • Submit your application in Qualtrics: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8Dqk0vXZ68CnRnU 
    • You will need your OHIO credentials to log in, as well as your PID to complete this form.
  • Awardees will be randomly selected from each BSO session and announced by July 15.
  • Awardees will receive additional information and support through the passport application process during their fall semester. 
• Students who are not awarded a Passport Grant during this BSO drawing will have an additional opportunity to apply to our general First-Passport Grant during the fall semester. An email announcement will be sent to all Pell recipients once the second round has opened. 

Interested in an international study abroad experience while at OHIO?

OHIO students are able to receive advising and application support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. 

• Nationally competitive award geared specifically to students receiving the Pell Grant 
• No minimum GPA, no minimum program duration 
• Awards up to $5,000, with the possibility of a supplemental award of up to $3,000 for students studying a critical need language 
• OHIO students have a good track record of receiving this award! (OHIO News Article) 

In addition to providing advising/application support for the Gilman award, OGO also offers a Gilman Incentive Grant of up to $1,000.  To be eligible for this grant:

• Meet all eligibility requirements for the Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship and submit a complete application by the posted deadline. 
• Participate in an application essay review with Catherine Marshall, Director of Global Opportunities and Gilman Certifying Study Abroad Advisor; Kim Jeffers, Associate Director for Experiential Access and Engagement; or Chris Lewis, Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards no later than 4 business days prior to the posted deadline for the Gilman Scholarship 
• Meet with Financial Aid certifying advisor Beth King no later than 4:00 pm on the posted Gilman Scholarship deadline.

Students who complete the above steps will receive $1,000* towards the cost of their international experience, regardless if they receive the Gilman Scholarship.