For many Pakistani students the hardest part of applying abroad is not the university application — it is the English test. IELTS means a test centre, a fixed date and a fee of several hundred dollars. The Duolingo English Test (DET) is different: it costs $70, takes about an hour, and you sit it at home. That is why the list of Duolingo English Test accepted universities has grown to more than 5,500 institutions in over 110 countries, including 95% of the top 100 US universities and most of Canada's top universities. This guide lists the universities that accept it in the USA, the UK and Canada, the scores they ask for, and the one visa catch that matters.
Duolingo English Test accepted universities: the test in 60 seconds
The Duolingo English Test is a one-hour online English test you take on your own computer, with your camera and microphone on. It is adaptive: the questions get harder or easier depending on your answers. Your score runs from 10 to 160, in steps of 5, and you also receive four subscores — Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production — on the same 10–160 scale. Results usually arrive within 48 hours, and scores are valid for two years. The fee is $70 for a single test (revised in February 2025; a two-test bundle costs $118), and you can send your results to as many universities as you like at no extra charge. There is no fixed test date: you can book any time, which makes it the fastest English test to arrange when a deadline is close.
Duolingo English Test accepted universities in the USA
The USA is where the Duolingo English Test is strongest: more than 3,100 US institutions accept it, including every Ivy League university and 95% of the top 100 universities in the US News rankings. Typical minimum scores are 105–115 for most universities, 115–130 for the top 50, and 120–135 for competitive graduate programmes. Reported minimums at well-known universities include Harvard 125, Stanford 125–130, MIT 120–125 and Columbia and NYU in the 120–130 range. Aim for 120 or above if you are applying to a selective university: a score of 120 now converts to roughly IELTS 6.5 under Duolingo's revised comparison chart, so 120 is the new competitive benchmark, not 110 as older guides suggest. For the F-1 student visa, the US government does not prescribe a specific English test — if your university accepts Duolingo for admission, the test is enough for the visa process as well.
Duolingo English Test accepted universities in Canada
Canada has more than 400 institutions accepting the test, and 90% of the country's top universities by international enrolment accept it for undergraduate admission. Reported minimums include the University of Toronto 120, the University of British Columbia 125–130 and McGill 115–125. Typical scores are 110–125 for most programmes and 120–130 for the most competitive ones. Canada is also the most visa-friendly destination for Duolingo: IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) accepts the test for study permits, so you do not need a second test for your visa. That makes Duolingo the cheapest complete route to Canada — one $70 test covers both admission and the study permit.
Duolingo English Test accepted universities in the UK
More than 130 UK universities accept the Duolingo English Test for admission, including many Russell Group institutions — Imperial College London is reported at 115–135, and other Russell Group universities typically ask for 110–135 depending on the programme. The UK catch is the visa: the Duolingo English Test is not on the Home Office's list of approved Secure English Language Tests (SELTs), so it cannot be used for a UK Student visa. If your university accepts Duolingo for admission but the visa needs a SELT, you will have to take IELTS for UKVI (or PTE Academic UKVI) as well. Before you book anything, check two things separately: the university's English requirement and the visa's English requirement. They are not the same list, and many students discover the difference too late.
What score should you aim for?
| Target | Duolingo score to aim for | Rough IELTS equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation or pathway programme | 85–95 | 5.0–5.5 |
| Undergraduate, most universities | 100–115 | 5.5–6.0 |
| Undergraduate, top 50 universities | 115–130 | 6.0–6.5 |
| Postgraduate, competitive programmes | 120–135 | 6.5–7.0 |
The average Duolingo score in 2024–25 was about 110–112, so a score of 120 already puts you above average. The test's adaptive format rewards consistency: a careless mistake early on can pull the difficulty — and your ceiling — down, so treat the first ten questions seriously. You get one free practice test, and you should take it: the question types (read-and-select, interactive writing, interactive speaking) are unlike IELTS, and familiarity is worth several points.
How to check whether your university accepts it
Duolingo publishes the only authoritative directory of accepting institutions, and it changes constantly — universities join and leave, and minimum scores move every cycle. Search the directory on the Duolingo English Test website for your exact programme, then confirm the minimum score on the university's own admissions page. Do not trust a blog list alone: the minimums in this guide are reported figures from 2026, and the university's own page is the only source that counts. Also check whether the score applies to your level — some universities accept Duolingo for undergraduate admission but not for graduate programmes, and some accept it only for certain faculties.
Frequently asked questions
Which universities accept the Duolingo English Test? More than 5,500 institutions in over 110 countries, including 95% of the top 100 US universities, 400+ in Canada and 130+ in the UK. Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Toronto, UBC, McGill and Imperial College London are among the best-known names.
Is Duolingo accepted for a UK student visa? No. The UK Home Office does not list the Duolingo English Test as an approved SELT, so you need IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI for the visa, even if your university accepts Duolingo for admission.
Is Duolingo accepted for a Canada study permit? Yes. IRCC accepts the Duolingo English Test for study permits, so one test can cover both admission and the visa.
How much does the Duolingo English Test cost? $70 for a single test, or $118 for a two-test bundle (2026 prices; confirm on the Duolingo website before you book). Results arrive within 48 hours and are valid for two years.
Related guides on Pakunii
IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo Comparison 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide · TOEFL iBT 2027 Guide · Study in the USA 2027
Sources and verification: Duolingo English Test (fee $70 single / $118 two-test bundle, revised February 2025; score 10–160; results within 48 hours; valid 2 years; 5,500+ institutions in 110+ countries; 3,100+ US institutions, 95% of US News top 100; 400+ Canadian institutions; 130+ UK universities; UK visa: DET is not a Home Office-approved SELT; IRCC accepts DET for study permits; reported minimums Harvard 125, Stanford 125–130, MIT 120–125, Toronto 120, UBC 125–130, McGill 115–125, Imperial 115–135; DET 120 roughly equals IELTS 6.5 after the 2025 revision). Confirm every minimum on the university's own admissions page — requirements change every cycle.