The two scholarships are funded directly as a result of Greenwich staff's exceptional performance in the 2026 Duolingo Language Challenge.
The 2026 Duolingo Language Challenge was extended to UK universities for the first time, inviting staff from institutions across the country to compete alongside parliamentarians and public sector staff.
The University of Greenwich’s Professor Vanessa Lemm, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Jenny Marie, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Education, took first and third place respectively in the higher education category.
The scholarship comprises two awards of £3,500 each, open to applicants to the BA Hons Languages and International Relations programme. It is designed to support students building skills in up to two languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Italian.
As a flexible cash bursary, it can be used in a range of ways, from funding a final-year work placement with an international organisation, to participating in the Erasmus + student exchange programme.
Full eligibility criteria and application details are available on the scholarship page.
Professor Lemm said:
"I have always greatly enjoyed language learning and languages have become an integral part of my life and identity. I have always been curious about other cultures, wanting to learn more about other people and their traditions.
"Language learning has allowed me to immerse myself in other ways of life, relating to others and their different perspectives on the world."
Professor Marie said:
"I entered the competition to highlight the importance of Modern Foreign Languages in a global, connected world. I think this is a challenge of having one's native language being well spoken across the globe, in that we often fail to recognise the richness and broadening of understanding that other languages bring.
"I wanted to highlight that it doesn't matter which language you learn, it's about learning one."
