How widely accepted is the Duolingo English Test (DET) compared to TOEFL and IELTS? Is DET considered an equivalent alternative by universities, immigration authorities, and scholarship programs?
The Duolingo English Test (DET) has transitioned from an emergency pandemic alternative to a permanent fixture in global education. While TOEFL and IELTS remain the undisputed legacy standard, DET has carved out a massive footprint because it is significantly cheaper (~$65 vs ~$245), faster (1 hour vs 2+ hours), and can be taken entirely at home.
However, "accepted" means different things depending on whether you are talking to a university admissions office, a government visa officer, or a scholarship board.
1. University Admissions: The Gap is Closing
For university admissions, DET is highly competitive, particularly in North America. As of 2026, DET is accepted by over 5,500 institutions globally. By comparison, TOEFL and IELTS maintain universal acceptance at 12,000 to 13,000+ institutions.
| Region | DET Acceptance | TOEFL / IELTS Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Near Universal: Accepted by 100% of Ivy League schools for undergrad and ~80% of top graduate programs. | Universal |
| Canada | Very High: Accepted by 100% of the U15 (top public universities) for undergrad, though graduate acceptance is slightly lower. | Universal |
| United Kingdom | Selective: Accepted by most Russell Group universities, but notable holdouts (like Cambridge) strictly require IELTS/TOEFL. | Universal |
| Australia | Growing: Accepted by many Group of Eight (Go8) schools, but less universal than in North America. | Universal |
Key insight: If your target list consists entirely of US or Canadian universities, the DET is functionally equivalent to TOEFL/IELTS for admissions and will save you considerable time and money.
2. Immigration and Visas: Proceed with Caution
This is where the distinction between a university and a government becomes critical. A university accepting your DET score does not guarantee the country's immigration authority will.
- United States & Canada (Student Visas): DET works perfectly for standard student visas (the F-1 in the US and the standard Study Permit in Canada). Both countries primarily look at the university's official acceptance letter; they do not dictate which test the school must use to evaluate your English.
- United Kingdom: If a recognized UK university accepts your DET and issues your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the UK government accepts it for a standard Student Visa. (Note: This does not apply to pre-sessional or foundation courses, which often require an official Secure English Language Test like IELTS UKVI).
- Australia (Subclass 500): Australian Home Affairs is much stricter. The DET is not universally recognized for Australian visa English requirements or points testing. Even if an Australian university accepts your DET for admission, you may still be forced to take IELTS or PTE for the government visa application.
- Permanent Residency & Work Visas: Immigration bodies (like Canada's IRCC for Express Entry) categorically reject the DET. For permanent residency and work permits, governments strictly require traditional, highly secure tests like IELTS General, CELPIP, or PTE Core.
3. Scholarship Programs: The Traditionalists
If you are applying for prestigious, government-funded, or legacy international scholarships—such as the Fulbright Program (US), Chevening Scholarships (UK), or Erasmus Mundus (Europe)—DET is rarely accepted.
These conservative organizations generally require TOEFL iBT or IELTS. Because the DET is taken entirely at home, some high-stakes scholarship boards still view traditional, test-center-based exams as the gold standard for security and comprehensive evaluation.
See how the test format and difficulty compare