The Duolingo English Test, also called DET, is an online English test that many universities use to check a student’s English proficiency level for admission. If you are looking for Duolingo-accepted universities in the UK, this test is important because some UK universities accept it instead of IELTS or TOEFL for selected courses.
The test checks four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Your score is given on a 10 to 160 scale, in steps of 5. The test is adaptive so that the questions can become easier or harder based on your answers. Read the guide to know more.
Many UK universities accept the Duolingo English Test for admission, but the rules change by course. Most verified course pages ask for a DET score between 100 and 140. The test costs around US$70, takes about one hour, and gives results within two days. But Duolingo is not a UKVI-approved SELT, so always confirm whether your CAS will cover the visa English requirement. CAS means Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, a document/reference your UK university gives to show you have been accepted for your course and can apply for a Student visa.
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List of Top Universities Accepting Duolingo in the UK
Before you book the Duolingo English Test, check your exact course page. Some UK universities accept Duolingo for many courses, but the score can change from course to course. Some courses also ask for minimum scores in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
| University | Duolingo Requirement | What You Should Check |
|---|---|---|
| University of Southampton | Southampton accepts the Duolingo English Test as an online English test. Its English bands show different DET scores, such as 120 or 130 overall, depending on the course band. | Check the English band for your course before you book the test. |
| University of Surrey | Surrey links Duolingo scores to IELTS scores. For example, IELTS 6.0 equals DET 110, IELTS 6.5 equals DET 120, IELTS 7.0 equals DET 130, and IELTS 7.5 equals DET 140. | Match your DET score with the IELTS score required for your course. |
| University of Sussex | Sussex accepts Duolingo. Its standard level asks for 110 overall with at least 105 in each component. Its advanced level asks for 130 overall with at least 120 in each component. | Your DET should be taken within two years of your course start date. |
| Loughborough University | Loughborough lists DET 120 overall, with minimum scores in speaking, writing, reading, and listening. | Do not check only the overall score. Check each skill score, too. |
| University of Westminster | Westminster lists DET 115 for courses that need IELTS 6.0 and DET 125 for courses that need IELTS 6.5. | Your required score depends on the IELTS level of your course. |
| University of Hertfordshire | Hertfordshire lists DET 105 for IELTS 6.0 level and DET 120 for IELTS 6.5 level. | Check both the overall score and the minimum score in each skill. |
| Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield Hallam lists DET 105 for IELTS 6.0, DET 120 for IELTS 6.5, and DET 130 for IELTS 7.0. | Use the course page to find the IELTS level first, then check the matching DET score. |
| De Montfort University | De Montfort University lists DET 105 for IELTS 6.0 level and DET 120 for IELTS 6.5 level. | A good overall score is not enough if one skill score is too low. |
| University of Greenwich | Greenwich accepts DET results dated from 1 July 2024 onwards. Its table shows DET 95 for IELTS 5.5, DET 105 for IELTS 6.0, DET 120 for IELTS 6.5, and DET 130 for IELTS 7.0. | Check the test date and the score before you apply. |
| University of West London | UWL lists Duolingo scores such as 100 overall for Integrated Foundation Year courses and 105 overall for undergraduate courses. | Check the exact course page if you are applying for a postgraduate course. |
| Solent University | Solent’s India page lists DET 100 overall with at least 90 in each component for undergraduate study. For postgraduate study, it lists DET 110 overall with at least 90 in each component. | Some courses may ask for a higher score, so check the course page too. |
| University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth says that if you have taken Duolingo, your English condition will be cleared after a successful credibility interview. | Do not treat this as a score-only rule. The interview also matters. |
Top Universities Accepting Duolingo: Explained
Several UK universities accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) for direct degree admission, but the required score is not the same everywhere. Some universities use English-language bands, while others match DET scores to the IELTS level required for a course. Many also set minimum Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores, so checking only the overall DET score is not enough.
Here are some of the top UK universities accepting Duolingo in 2026, based on their current official English-language requirements.
1. University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a Russell Group institution with major strengths in engineering and marine research. It is home to the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, works alongside the National Oceanography Centre, and its Boldrewood Innovation Campus has a long-standing partnership with Lloyd's Register. The university also has established teaching and research in electronics, electrical engineering and computer science.
- Location: Southampton, Hampshire, on England's south coast.
- Popular courses: Computer Science, Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Business Analytics, MBA.
- Tuition fees: Fees are course-specific. For 2026, overseas postgraduate examples include £26,200 for Maritime Law, £32,500 for Maritime Engineering Science and £35,600 for the MBA.
- Deposit: Overseas students on most full-time postgraduate courses need to pay a £2,000 tuition-fee deposit. Where required, this must be paid before Southampton can issue the CAS.
- DET requirement: 120 overall for Bands C, D and E; 130 overall for Bands G, H and I, with different skill minimums for each band.
- Worth knowing: Southampton assesses the newer individual DET subscores, not the integrated subscores.
2. University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a campus university in Guildford with a strong focus on professional experience, including its Professional Training placement scheme. It is home to the 5G/6G Innovation Centre, bringing together university researchers and industry partners. Surrey is also highly ranked for hospitality and tourism, including 1st in the UK and 18th globally for Hospitality and Leisure Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
- Location: Guildford, Surrey, under 35 minutes from central London by train.
- Popular courses: MSc Data Science, MSc Artificial Intelligence, Hospitality and Tourism Management, LLB, Engineering.
- Tuition fees: Fees vary by programme. For 2026, examples include £23,700 for undergraduate Accounting and Finance, £27,000 for Aerospace Engineering and £25,900 for the Infrastructure Engineering and Management MSc.
- Fee increases: Overseas undergraduate and postgraduate taught tuition fees increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded to the nearest £100.
- DET requirement: 100 for IELTS 5.5-equivalent courses, 110 for IELTS 6.0, 120 for IELTS 6.5, 130 for IELTS 7.0 and 140 for IELTS 7.5, with component minimums at every level.
- Scholarships: Surrey's International Excellence Award provides £5,000 off tuition fees for selected eligible self-funded international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
3. University of Sussex
The University of Sussex was founded in 1961, and its distinctive campus was designed by architect Sir Basil Spence in the South Downs. The campus is also home to the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), both established there in 1966. Sussex offers programmes across areas including international relations, development, psychology, business, media and the sciences.
- Location: Falmer, near Brighton.
- Popular courses: International Relations, Development Studies, Psychology, Media, Business and Management.
- Tuition fees: Standard international fees for 2026/27 are £23,500 or £27,300 per year, depending on the course. Fees are set to increase by 3% annually during the degree.
- Entry requirement: English requirements vary by course. Sussex uses Standard, High and Advanced levels for postgraduate study, broadly corresponding to IELTS 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0.
- DET requirement: Undergraduate courses use 110 Standard or 130 Advanced. Postgraduate courses can require 110 Standard, 120 High or 130 Advanced, with respective component minimums of 105, 110 and 120.
- Scholarships: The Sussex India Scholarship provides £5,000 for eligible Master's students from India. The Chancellor's International Scholarship also provides £5,000 to selected eligible international applicants.
4. Loughborough University
Loughborough University has been ranked 1st in the world for sports-related subjects for 10 consecutive years, from 2017 to 2026, in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Beyond sport, it offers programmes across engineering, business, computing, design and other disciplines. Its London campus is based at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and focuses on postgraduate education, research and enterprise.
- Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire, plus a London campus at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- Popular courses: Sport and Exercise Science, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, MSc Artificial Intelligence, Design Innovation, Business Analytics.
- Tuition fees: International undergraduate fees for 2026 range from £24,700 to £33,000. Postgraduate examples include £26,300 for Business Analytics, £30,900 for Artificial Intelligence and £33,000 for the MBA.
- Scholarships: Loughborough invests more than £1 million annually in scholarships and bursaries for international students. Its Global Impact Scholarship can provide 100% off Master's tuition fees for one year.
- DET requirement: 120 overall, with Speaking 110, Writing 115, Reading 110 and Listening 105.
- Worth knowing: Clearing 120 overall is not enough on its own. You must meet all four skill minimums, and some courses can set higher English requirements.
5. University of Westminster
The University of Westminster was founded in 1838 as the Royal Polytechnic Institution. Its Regent Street Cinema hosted the first public moving-image screening in the UK in 1896, when the Lumière brothers presented their Cinématographe. Today, Harrow is the university's main creative hub for areas such as film, television, media and communication, while business and architecture are based at Marylebone.
- Location: Central London campuses at Regent Street, Marylebone and Cavendish, plus Harrow in north-west London.
- Popular courses: Film and Television Production, Journalism, Business Management, Architecture, International Relations.
- Tuition fees: Fees are course-specific. For 2026, Film BA costs £17,600 per year for international students, while Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast) MA costs £18,000.
- Placement year fee: £1,955 for students from the 2025/26 intake onwards taking a work-placement year.
- DET requirement: 115 overall with no subscore below 100 for IELTS 6.0 courses; 125 overall with no subscore below 115 for IELTS 6.5 courses.
- Worth knowing: Westminster will not combine scores from separate DET attempts. DET scores are valid for two years.
6. University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire has long-standing links with the aerospace industry, including decades of collaboration with organisations such as de Havilland and BAE Systems. Its aerospace programmes use facilities including flight simulators, wind tunnels, specialist laboratories and industry-standard software. Its newer Spectra building brings together physics, engineering and computer science facilities, including a £2 million suite of wind tunnels.
- Location: Hatfield, Hertfordshire, just over 20 minutes from central London by train, with the university's campuses linked by a free shuttle.
- Popular courses: MBA, MSc Cybersecurity, MSc Data Science and Analytics, Aerospace Engineering, Games Development.
- Tuition fees: Standard international undergraduate tuition is £17,450 for 2026/27. Standard one-year postgraduate fees range from £17,950 to £22,950, while non-standard postgraduate courses can range from £19,950 to £23,450.
- Additional cost to plan for: Students requiring Student Visa sponsorship normally need to pay a minimum £5,000 tuition-fee deposit before their CAS is released, with some courses requiring more.
- DET requirement: 105 overall with no band below 95 for IELTS 6.0-equivalent courses; 120 overall with no band below 95 for IELTS 6.5-equivalent courses.
- Worth knowing: Hertfordshire accepts certain Indian Standard XII English Language results, with 65% for undergraduate and 70% to 75% for postgraduate entry, subject to its requirements.
7. Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University offers career-focused programmes across business, computing, engineering, health, education and the built environment. Practical learning forms an important part of many courses, particularly in health and social care, where students can spend up to 50% of their degree on placement. Its main City Campus is located in central Sheffield.
- Location: Sheffield City Campus, on Howard Street in central Sheffield.
- Popular courses: MSc Computing, MSc Cyber Security, MSc International Business Management, Global MBA, Construction Project Management.
- Tuition fees: £18,000 per year for undergraduate study in 2026/27. Postgraduate taught fees range from £18,600 to £21,375, with the Global MBA at £21,375.
- Fixed-fee policy: International undergraduate and postgraduate taught tuition fees are not subject to an annual inflationary increase for courses lasting more than one year, subject to the university's stated exceptions.
- DET requirement: 105 for IELTS 6.0 courses, 120 for IELTS 6.5 and 130 for IELTS 7.0, with Reading 100 and Listening, Speaking and Writing at 95.
- Scholarships: The Transform Together Scholarship offers a 50% tuition-fee waiver for eligible full-time international undergraduate and postgraduate taught students. It is not automatic; students must apply.
8. University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich operates across three campuses: Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway. Its Greenwich Campus sits within a World Heritage Site on the River Thames and is centred on historic buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren for the Royal Navy. The Medway campus in Kent has facilities supporting areas including science and engineering.
- Location: Three campuses, Greenwich and Avery Hill in London, plus Medway in Kent.
- Popular courses: MPharm, Nursing, MBA, MSc Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Biotechnology.
- Tuition fees: Fees are programme-specific. Many standard international undergraduate courses for 2026/27 list £17,975 per year, while postgraduate fees vary by course.
- Entry requirement: For Indian applicants, standard undergraduate entry normally requires 65% in Standard XII. Master's applicants normally need 55% in the final year of a bachelor's degree, with a 50% threshold accepted for graduates of certain named Indian universities.
- DET requirement: 95 for IELTS 5.5, 105 for IELTS 6.0, 120 for IELTS 6.5 and 130 for IELTS 7.0, with at least 95 in every skill.
- Worth knowing: Greenwich accepts DET results dated 1 July 2024 onwards. Its pre-sessional English programmes require UKVI IELTS.
9. Solent University
Solent University is based in Southampton and includes Warsash Maritime School, which provides maritime education and professional training. Much of Warsash's Merchant Navy officer and marine engineering provision has moved to the university's city-centre campus, while specialist maritime facilities such as the Ship Handling Centre continue to support professional training. Solent also offers courses across sport, media, business and computing.
- Location: Southampton city centre, with additional specialist maritime training facilities.
- Popular courses: Maritime and Marine Operations, Sport Studies, Media and Film Production, Business, Computer Science.
- Tuition fees: International tuition fees are published by individual course and level of study, so students should use the fee shown on their current 2026 course page.
- DET requirement (general guidance): For Indian applicants, the general country page lists 100 overall with at least 90 in each component for undergraduate study, and 110 overall with at least 90 in each component for postgraduate Master's study.
- DET requirement (course level): Several active 2026 undergraduate courses, including Computer Science and Accountancy and Finance, require 115 overall with at least 95 in each component. Current postgraduate examples commonly require 115 overall with at least 100 in each component, so the individual course page should take priority over the country-level guidance.
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What DET Score Do You Need for UK Universities?
There is no single Duolingo score required by UK universities. Based on the current official requirements above, the score can range from around 105 for some standard English requirements to 130 or 140 for courses with higher English-language requirements.
More importantly, most universities do not judge the overall score alone. Southampton, Surrey, Sussex, Loughborough, Westminster, Hertfordshire, Sheffield Hallam, Greenwich and Solent all publish individual skill or subscore requirements alongside their overall DET requirement.
Before booking DET, check these three things for every course on your shortlist:
-
Required overall DET score
-
Minimum Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores
-
Whether your specific course uses a higher English-language requirement than the university's standard level
Your course page should always take priority over a general university or country page when the two show different requirements, as the current Solent pages demonstrate.
Duolingo to IELTS Conversion
Duolingo to IELTS conversion is not the same everywhere. Each university can set its own score table.
For example, Surrey accepts DET 120 for IELTS 6.5. Westminster asks for DET 125 for IELTS 6.5. This means the same Duolingo score may work for one university but not for another.
Do not depend only on random conversion charts online. The safest option is to check the official English requirement page for your course.
UK Student Visa Rule: Admission and Visa Are Different
One important distinction to understand is that Duolingo acceptance for university admission does not automatically mean it will meet the English-language requirements for a UK Student visa. The UK Home Office has its own list of approved Secure English Language Tests, also called SELTs. Duolingo is not on this approved SELT list. For a UK Student visa, you may need to prove your English through an approved route. If you are going for a degree-level course, your university may be able to check your English itself and mention it on your CAS. But this depends on the university and your course. So, before you depend only on Duolingo, ask your university this question: “Will my CAS confirm that I meet the English requirement, or do I need a UKVI-approved English test?”
How to Apply for UK Universities
- Shortlist the UK universities and courses you want to apply for.
- Open the official course page for each university. Do not rely only on the university name.
- Check the English-language requirement section and see if Duolingo is accepted for that course.
- Note the total Duolingo score required for the course.
- Check if the course also asks for minimum scores in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Book the Duolingo English Test and take it from home.
- Wait for your certified result. Duolingo usually gives results within two days.
- Send your certified Duolingo score to your selected universities through your Duolingo account.
- After you receive an offer, read the English-language conditions carefully.
- Check whether the university has fully accepted your Duolingo score or still needs another English test.
- Ask the university if your CAS will confirm that you meet the English-language requirement.
- If your CAS confirms English, you may not need a separate SELT for the Student visa.
- If your CAS does not confirm English, you may need a UKVI-approved test such as IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert, Trinity, or PSI.
DET vs IELTS for UK Applications
| Factor | Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic / IELTS for UKVI |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Around US$70 | Usually higher than DET |
| Format | Online from home | Test centre or approved format, depending on test type |
| Duration | About one hour | Longer than DET |
| Results | Usually within two days | Depends on the IELTS type and test mode |
| Useful for admission | Yes, where the university or course accepts it | Widely accepted |
| Useful for a UK visa | Not a Home Office-approved SELT | IELTS for UKVI is an approved SELT route |
Note: DET is useful when your selected university accepts it for admission and can confirm your English requirement through the CAS. IELTS for UKVI may be safer if you want one test that can support both admission and visa requirements where a SELT is needed.
If you’re still deciding between the two tests, our Duolingo vs IELTS comparison breaks down their cost, difficulty and university acceptance side by side, helping you choose the better option for your UK application before booking your test.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not assume every UK university accepts Duolingo. Always check the official course page.
- Do not assume a university-level list applies to every course. Some departments and regulated courses may have stricter rules.
- Do not ignore subscores. Many universities require minimum reading, writing, listening, and speaking scores.
- Do not use a third-party IELTS conversion chart as your final proof. Use the university’s own table.
- Do not assume Duolingo will work for the visa. Confirm whether your CAS will show that you meet the English requirement.
Conclusion
The Duolingo English Test can be a good option if you want a quick, online, and low-cost English test for UK university admission. Many UK universities accept it, but the rule is simple: always check your exact course page before booking the test. Also, remember that admission and visa rules are different. A university may accept Duolingo for your offer, but Duolingo is not a UKVI-approved SELT. Before you apply for your visa, confirm whether your university will mention your English requirement on the CAS or whether you need a separate UKVI-approved test. So, use Duolingo smartly. Check the course requirement, check the score, check the skill-wise minimums, and confirm the visa rule with your university.
