Is the Duolingo English Test accepted in UK universities and for student visas in 2026?

The Duolingo English Test (DET) is accepted by a growing number of UK universities for admissions purposes - over 130 universities now accept it in some form - but it is NOT accepted by the UK Home Office for student visa applications. For your visa you must take a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Most Russell Group universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and Imperial, do not accept Duolingo for admissions either.

Duolingo Acceptance: UK Universities (2026)

Duolingo for UK Student Visa: Not Accepted

Duolingo is NOT accepted for a UK student visa. The Home Office requires a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT):

• IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

• PTE Academic UKVI

• Trinity ISE (SELT version)

• LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

Even if your university offer says "Duolingo 120 accepted," you still need a separate SELT test for your UK visa application.

Duolingo to IELTS Score Conversion

My Advice

This is where students get caught out most often: they see that a university accepts Duolingo, assume the visa is covered too, and only discover the problem when they file their visa application. My practical suggestion: use Duolingo early in your application cycle for university offers if it saves you prep time, but always book a UKVI-approved test separately once your offer is confirmed. Before booking Duolingo, verify acceptance directly with the specific department at your target university - policies can differ between faculties within the same institution, and admissions pages may not be updated quickly when policies change.