Duolingo English Test Acceptance: Which Universities Recognize It

United States: broad acceptance for admission

DET reached acceptance at all eight Ivy League schools for undergraduate admission, and around 95 percent of US News Top 100 universities accept the test as proof of English. US visa rules do not set a language test requirement the way some other countries do, so this US acceptance runs into your admission decision only, without a matching visa gap to plan around.

Canada: accepted by universities, not by IRCC for the work permit

Over 400 Canadian universities and colleges accept DET for admission, including every member of the U15 research-intensive group such as the University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of British Columbia. Admission acceptance does not carry over to Canadian immigration paperwork. Since November 1, 2024, most Post-Graduation Work Permit applicants must submit results from one of five approved tests , CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. DET does not appear on that list, so a DET score gets you into a Canadian program but does not carry your language proof through to a post-graduation work permit later.

United Kingdom: admission yes, visa depends on your route

A growing number of UK universities, including Imperial College London and the University of Bristol, accept DET for admission decisions. DET is not a UK Home Office approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), the formal category IELTS for UKVI and a handful of other tests hold. Many UK universities hold a track record as trusted sponsors, which lets them confirm your English level internally without requiring a separate SELT, so a DET score sometimes carries you through to your Student visa if your specific sponsor and course fall under that arrangement. Confirm with your university's international office whether your course needs a formal SELT before you rely on a DET score alone.

Australia: admission at some universities, not the student visa

DET is accepted for admission at universities including Flinders University and the University of Newcastle, and for foundation programs at Monash University and the University of New South Wales. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept scores from at-home or online English tests, DET included, for a Student visa application. You still need IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced or the Occupational English Test sat at an official test center to meet the visa requirement, even if your university accepted a DET score at the admission stage.

Reading a DET score

DET reports an overall score from 10 to 160 in increments of 5, plus sub-scores for literacy, comprehension, conversation and production. There is no single global cutoff. Each university sets its own required score on its own admissions page, so check that page directly rather than assuming a score that worked for one school applies everywhere. Many undergraduate programs set a DET minimum somewhere between 100 and 115, while competitive programs and graduate schools commonly ask for 120 or higher. Treat these as a rough starting point only, since the number that matters is the one on your target program's own admissions page.

Why universities adopted DET quickly

DET runs on demand rather than on fixed test dates, so you sit it any day of the week without waiting for the next open slot at a physical center. Universities receive your full recorded interview and writing sample alongside your score, giving admissions staff a way to check your English beyond a single number. The lower price compared with TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic also makes it an easier ask for applicants juggling several application fees at once.

Sending your score to multiple schools

DET lets you send your score report to every institution on your list at no added cost, unlike TOEFL and IELTS, which charge a fee once you go past a small number of free recipients. That matters if you plan to apply broadly across several countries at once, since you are not stuck choosing in advance which schools receive your official score.

Choosing between DET and a traditional test

DET works well when speed and cost matter most, or when your target university already lists it as accepted. It works less well when your path also needs a visa or work permit that names a specific approved test, since you would need to sit that test separately anyway. Many applicants sit DET first for a fast admission decision, then book IELTS, TOEFL or PTE Academic once they know which visa route they need to satisfy.

Checking acceptance before you register

Universities update their accepted test list from time to time, so confirm current DET acceptance on your target school's own admissions page rather than relying on a general list. Duolingo also publishes a searchable list of accepting institutions on its own site, a faster first check before you dig into individual university pages one by one.

Bottom line for ASEAN applicants

• Use DET to speed up your university application if your target school accepts it, especially for a fast turnaround before a deadline.

• Do not rely on a DET score alone if your route needs a UK, Australian or Canadian visa or work permit, since each has its own approved test list.

• Check both your university's admissions page and your destination's official immigration site before you decide which test to sit.