More Than 6,500 Universities Accept the Duolingo English Test

Hi, Teacher Luke here,

Great news for you!

In Summer 2026, 77 more programs across 19 countries accepted the Duolingo English Test.

That means one very important thing:

More universities accepting the DET = more opportunities for students.

This is especially helpful if you are applying to universities and do not want to take IELTS or TOEFL.

The Duolingo English Test is fast, online, affordable, and accepted by thousands of programs around the world.

And now, even more institutions are saying yes to the DET.

New Universities and Programs Accepting the DET in Summer 2026

Some of the notable institutions from the July 2026 update include:

• Columbia University, USA — Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
• University of Texas at Austin, USA — undergraduate, graduate, and ESL
• Vanderbilt Divinity School, USA — graduate
• Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand — undergraduate and graduate
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany — undergraduate
• Montpellier Business School, France — undergraduate
• University of Canberra, Australia — undergraduate, graduate, and ESL
• University of Wollongong, Australia — undergraduate and graduate
• University of Fukui, Japan — undergraduate

This is another sign that the Duolingo English Test is becoming more accepted every year.

For students, this is excellent news.

It means you may have more choice, more flexibility, and a faster route to your university application.

Why This Matters for Students

If your university accepts the Duolingo English Test, it can be a very smart choice.

Why?

Because the DET is:

• online
• fast
• accepted by thousands of programs
• usually cheaper than IELTS or TOEFL
• easy to book
• quick for score delivery

For many students, this makes the application process much easier.

However, you must always check your university’s official admissions page before booking the test.

Some universities accept the DET for all courses.

Others only accept it for certain programs.

And some universities may ask for different scores depending on whether you are applying for undergraduate, postgraduate, business, law, medicine, or research degrees.

Top 50 Universities That Accept the Duolingo English Test

Below is a list of 50 well-known universities and institutions around the world that accept the Duolingo English Test.

Please remember: these scores can change.

Always double-check the official university website before applying.

United States

1. Columbia University, USA: 120–130, depending on school or program
2. University of Texas at Austin, USA: 115 minimum
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA: 120 minimum, 125 recommended
4. Yale University, USA: 120+ competitive
5. University of Pennsylvania, USA: 130+ competitive
6. Brown University, USA: 130 minimum
7. Cornell University, USA: 130 minimum competitive score
8. Vanderbilt University, USA: 130
9. Carnegie Mellon University, USA: 135
10. Rice University, USA: 115–130, depending on undergraduate or graduate program
11. University of Washington, USA: 120
12. Northeastern University, USA: 120–130
13. University of Notre Dame, USA: 120
14. New York University, USA: 120–135, depending on school or program
15. Dartmouth College, USA: 120

Canada

16. University of Toronto, Canada: 120 overall, with 120 in Production
17. University of British Columbia, Canada: 125 overall
18. University of Waterloo, Canada: 120 overall, with 125 in Literacy and Production
19. University of Calgary, Canada: 125 overall, with no subscore below 105
20. York University, Canada: 120
21. McMaster University, Canada: 120 overall
22. University of Ottawa, Canada: 120
23. Carleton University, Canada: 120 undergraduate / 125 graduate
24. Western University, Canada: 120
25. University of Alberta, Canada: 120

United Kingdom

26. University of Warwick, UK: 110–130, depending on course band
27. University of Bath, UK: 120–135, depending on course
28. University of Southampton, UK: 120–130, depending on course band
29. University of Exeter, UK: 110–130+, depending on English profile
30. Loughborough University, UK: 120 overall
31. University of York, UK: 120, depending on course
32. University of Reading, UK: 120, depending on course
33. University of Surrey, UK: 110–140, depending on course
34. University of Sussex, UK: 110–130, depending on course
35. University of Kent, UK: 110–130, depending on course

Ireland

36. Trinity College Dublin, Ireland: 120 overall
37. University College Dublin, Ireland: 120 overall, with minimum subscores
38. University College Cork, Ireland: 120 overall
39. University of Galway, Ireland: 120 overall
40. Dublin City University, Ireland: 120 overall, with minimum subscores

Australia and New Zealand

41. Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand: 105 for many bachelor’s degrees
42. University of Canberra, Australia: score varies by course
43. University of Wollongong, Australia: score varies by course
44. University of Auckland, New Zealand: check course page for equivalent score
45. University of Melbourne, Australia: check course page for accepted English tests and score

Europe and Asia

46. Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany: check course page for equivalent score
47. Montpellier Business School, France: 85 for some undergraduate English-track options
48. University of Hamburg, Germany: check course page
49. Bocconi University, Italy: check course page
50. University of Fukui, Japan: check course page

What DET Score Should You Aim For?

If you want a simple target, I recommend aiming for at least 120 on the Duolingo English Test.

Why?

Because many universities ask for scores around 110–130.

If you are applying to a more competitive university, graduate school, business school, or a high-demand course, you should probably aim for 130+.

Some top universities may even ask for 135.

Also, remember that your overall score is not always enough.

Some universities also check your subscores, especially:

• Speaking
• Writing
• Reading
• Listening
• Production
• Literacy
• Conversation
• Comprehension

So do not only focus on your overall score.

You need to build a balanced score across the whole test.

How to Check If Your University Accepts the DET

The best place to check is the official Duolingo English Test institution search page.

You can search for universities here:

https://englishtest.duolingo.com/test_takers/accepting_institutions

After that, go to your university’s official admissions page and check the exact score for your course.

This is important because the Duolingo website may show that a university accepts DET, but your specific program may still have its own rules.

Need Help Preparing for the Duolingo English Test?

If you need to prepare for the DET, there is no better place than DET Ready VIP.

Inside DET Ready VIP, you get:

• full Duolingo English Test courses
• live lessons with me
• speaking and writing feedback
• practice questions for every question type
• access to my AI practice platform
• downloadable PDFs and resources
• support from other DET students

My method is simple:

Learn → Practice → Feedback → Improve

If you want to boost your score and apply to universities with confidence, join me inside DET Ready VIP.

Final Thoughts

The Duolingo English Test is growing fast.

With 77 more programs across 19 countries accepting the DET in July 2026, students now have even more opportunities.

This is great news if you want a faster, more flexible, and more affordable English test for your university application.

Just remember:

Check your university.

Check your course.

Check the exact DET score.

Then prepare properly and aim for the highest score you can.

— Teacher Luke
DET Ready

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