Duolingo Starts Registration for DETermined Scholarship for Indian Women in STEM

Duolingo English Test (DET) is soliciting applications for the DETermined scholarship on the Manthan portal. The scholarship was introduced earlier this year in association with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) as the knowledge partner.

The DETermined Scholarship will offer a one-time award of USD 30,000 to Indian women pursuing STEM fields to take a bachelor's or master's degree at a US university which accepts the DET for Spring '26 semester admissions.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for the DETermined 

Scholarship:

Be a woman and an Indian citizen.

Live in India and have a good academic performance (60 per cent and above) in a science background from an accredited Indian institution.

Plan to pursue a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate STEM programme at a partner US university in the spring semester of 2026.

Have obtained a DET score of 120 and above.

Show leadership abilities, STEM innovation, and dedication to addressing issues of society.

Plan to return to India and demonstrate the capability to convert innovative thought into a sustainable startup.

Application process

The applications are open now on the Manthan portal and will continue till June 30. At the first level of the application process, the candidates will need to apply with a DET score of 120, excellent academic performance and a proposal outlining their vision for innovation in STEM areas.

Then, the shortlisted candidates will need to identify an urgent global or local issue that pertains to STEM and suggest an innovative solution to the same. The submission can be made in the form of a brief proposal (not more than 1000 words) or a five-minute video, demonstrating their innovativeness, research, and potential impact.

The shortlisted candidates will each participate in a virtual interview with the panel of judges. The scholarship winner will be revealed in September 2025, and the USD 30,000 will be credited towards the tuition fee of the successful applicant for the Spring semester of 2026.