Duolingo English Test or IELTS: which will universities accept?

From each university's own admissions page, as read for our university guides. Where Duolingo is accepted, most universities also set subscores, so check your program page.

A university offer is only half the journey. In the UK, if you need a SELT, Duolingo is not one: GOV.UK lists tests from the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson, PSI and Trinity (GOV.UK). At degree level a UK university may assess your English itself (GOV.UK), so a Duolingo-accepting university can still sponsor you. Australia's Student visa list has no Duolingo (Home Affairs), Canada's study permit document list has no language test (IRCC), and Ireland's study visa accepts Duolingo 75 for degree courses (Irish Immigration Service).

Choose Duolingo if every university on your list accepts it, your visa route does not need a SELT or an Australian-approved test, and you need a result quickly from home.

Choose IELTS if even one target university does not list Duolingo, if you are applying to Australia, if you might need a UK SELT or later need the score for work or migration, or if you want a test that graduate schools such as Berkeley and McGill accept. Check your level first with a free IELTS mock test.