Duolingo English Test (DET) Acceptance: Country-by-Country Guide

โ€ข2 min read
A comprehensive country-by-country guide on where the Duolingo English Test (DET) is accepted for university admissions and student visas. Covers DET policies in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, including updated visa rules and key tips for international students.

The Duolingo English Test is currently accepted by 5,700+ programs in over 110 countries. Here's a breakdown of DET acceptance in popular study-abroad destinations.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

โœ… Accepted by almost all major colleges and universities, including:

  • 95 of the top 100 U.S. News & World Report schools
  • All Ivy League institutions
  • Top universities like MIT and Stanford
  • 75% of high-enrollment graduate programs

โœ… Accepted for F-1 student visas.
The U.S. government does not mandate an English test for a visa, but your DET score may be requested at the visa interview. Strong spoken English is essential.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: If your school accepts DET and your spoken English is solid, youโ€™re all set for both admission and visa.

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada

โœ… DET is accepted by:

  • 90% of Canadaโ€™s top universities
  • Nearly half of English-medium graduate programs

โœ… No English test is required for a Canadian study permit if you've been accepted by a university.

Note: As of Nov 8, 2024, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was discontinued. Now you can use DET freely.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: DET is enough for both admission and your visa.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

๐ŸŸจ DET is accepted by many universities, such as:

  • Imperial College London
  • University of Southampton
  • University of Warwick
  • University of York

โœ… DET can be used for visas if youโ€™re issued a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: If your university issues a CAS and accepts DET, no additional test is needed.

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland

โœ… 15 out of 18 Irish universities accept DET.
โœ… DET is officially recognized for Ireland Study Visas.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: DET is accepted for both university admission and your student visa.

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ New Zealand

โœ… DET is widely accepted by New Zealand institutions.
โœ… No English test is required for the fee-paying student visa.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: If your school accepts DET, youโ€™re covered for both admission and visa.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia

๐ŸŸจ DET is accepted by some universities, such as:

  • Flinders University
  • University of Newcastle
  • Monash University (Foundation Program)
  • UNSW (Foundation Program)

โŒ DET is not accepted for all student visas.
Use Australiaโ€™s official visa checklist tool to see if you need IELTS or another approved test.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Bottom Line: DET may be enough for admission. Check if your visa requires a government-approved test like IELTS.