The Infosys Foundation STEM Stars Scholarship is a CSR programme of Infosys Foundation for women studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics at degree level. It offers up to Rs 1 lakh per year for as long as the course lasts, subject to meeting academic conditions. Applications are handled through the Buddy4Study platform. One listing mentions an expected deadline of around 31 October 2026, but it is flagged as unconfirmed, so check the portal today.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Infosys Foundation (CSR arm connected with Infosys) |
| Application platform | Buddy4Study (helpdesk email: [email protected]) |
| Who can apply | Women who have passed Class 12 and are in the first year of a UG STEM course |
| Family income limit | Up to Rs 8 lakh a year |
| Amount | Up to Rs 1,00,000 per year |
| Duration | Up to 4 years for UG courses, up to 5 years for integrated or dual degrees |
| Selection basis | Merit-cum-means |
| Last date, current cycle | Not confirmed. A listing says around 31 October 2026. Last checked October 2026 |
What is the STEM Stars scholarship?
Women are still under-represented in many engineering and science classrooms in India, and cost is one reason. Infosys Foundation set up STEM Stars to help meritorious women from modest families get through a STEM degree. News coverage of the 2024-25 launch described it as an award of Rs 1 lakh for female students. The money is meant for real study costs, such as tuition, study material and living expenses, and a hostel and mess charge where it applies.
The money is paid yearly to your bank account against receipts for academic expenses, according to the listing we read. This is worth remembering: keep every fee receipt.
Who runs it?
Infosys Foundation is the sponsor. Buddy4Study is named as the partner that runs the online application and the helpdesk ([email protected] and a New Delhi phone line listed on the aggregator page). We could not open the Infosys Foundation website itself during research, so whether Buddy4Study is the only entry point should be confirmed on infosys.com or the foundation’s own page.
Eligibility
- You must be a woman and an Indian citizen.
- You should have completed Class 12 and be admitted to the first year of an undergraduate STEM course. Second-year B.Arch students and students of five-year integrated or dual degrees are also mentioned.
- The college should be NIRF-ranked or an eligible government institution. The exact ranking cut-off is not clear to us from the pages we read, so check the current rules.
- Annual family income must not be more than Rs 8 lakh.
- The scholarship is open to all categories and all states.
- You should not be getting another scholarship for the same expenses.
How much money, and for how long?
The ceiling is Rs 1 lakh a year. A four-year B.E. or B.Tech could therefore bring up to Rs 4 lakh in total, and a five-year integrated course up to Rs 5 lakh. These totals are our simple multiplication, not a promised figure. ‘Up to’ means that actual payment follows your receipts and your category of expense.
How to apply
- Open the programme page on Buddy4Study (search ‘Infosys STEM Stars’ on buddy4study.com) and register or log in.
- Fill in the online application with personal, academic and family details.
- Upload the documents listed below.
- Submit and save your application number. The helpdesk can help if you face a technical problem.
Documents
- Passport-size photograph
- Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate
- JEE Main, CET or NEET scorecard, wherever it applies
- Government ID such as Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or ration card
- Proof of admission for the current year
- Government-issued family income certificate
- BPL or Ayushman Bharat card, if you have one
- Electricity bills for the past six months
- Bank passbook or cancelled cheque
- Receipts of academic expenses
How selection works
Selection is merit-cum-means, so academic record and family income are both weighed. For engineering and related courses a minimum CGPA of 7 is mentioned as a condition. We could not find the scoring weights, the number of scholarships, or whether there is an interview. Do not trust any website that claims to know the number of seats for sure.
Renewal
The scholarship can be renewed every year if your academic progress is satisfactory. Engineering students are told to maintain a CGPA of at least 7. For MBBS students the rule reported is that all subjects must be cleared to continue. Submit receipts and marksheets on time and in the format the portal asks for.
Dates: what to do right now
Today is 24 October 2026. The only date we found for this cycle is an ‘expected’ deadline of around 31 October 2026 on a third-party site, which itself says it is not confirmed. Open the Buddy4Study programme page today and read the status and last date shown there. If the form is open, start with the documents that take time, namely the income certificate and receipts. If it is closed, note down the usual season and prepare for the next one.
Tips for a cleaner application
Make sure the name on your Aadhaar, marksheet and bank account match exactly, because small spelling differences are a common reason for delays. Scan documents clearly and keep each file within the size the portal allows. If you are given a statement or answer box, write plainly about your family situation and why the degree matters to you. Honest answers are better than dramatic ones.
Beware of scams
A genuine scholarship never asks you to pay a fee to get selected. Be careful about WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels and ‘agents’ who promise a guaranteed Infosys scholarship for a payment. Never give your OTP, UPI PIN or bank password to anyone. Apply only through the official Buddy4Study link, reached from the Infosys Foundation page or by typing buddy4study.com yourself.
What we could not verify
- The Infosys Foundation’s own page for the 2026-27 cycle, which we could not open
- The final application deadline
- Number of awards and the exact NIRF cut-off for colleges
- Whether the payment is made to the student or to the college in every case
Final word
If you are a first-year woman in a STEM degree with family income under Rs 8 lakh, this is worth a serious application. Do not rely on any date in a blog, including this one. Check the portal, apply early, and keep every receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can apply for the Infosys STEM Stars scholarship?
Women who have passed Class 12 and are in the first year of an undergraduate STEM course, with family income up to Rs 8 lakh a year.
How much money does STEM Stars give?
Up to Rs 1 lakh a year, for up to 4 years in UG courses and up to 5 years in integrated or dual degrees.
Where do I apply?
Through the Buddy4Study programme page, reached from the official Infosys Foundation page. Do not use unofficial agents.
Is the scholarship renewable?
Yes, yearly, if academic progress is satisfactory. Engineering students are told to keep a CGPA of at least 7.
What is the last date for 2026-27?
It is not confirmed. A listing says around 31 October 2026. Check the portal before relying on it.
