For most UK universities that accept the Duolingo English Test in 2026, the working numbers are 105 overall for an IELTS 6.0 requirement, 120 overall for IELTS 6.5, and 130 overall for IELTS 7.0, with minimum subscores that are usually 10-15 points below the overall. That pattern holds at Hertfordshire, Sheffield Hallam, York, Sussex, UCLan and many others. But the more important fact is this: a number of well-known UK universities do not accept the DET at all – Nottingham Trent, the University of East London and Birmingham say so explicitly, and Manchester and Greenwich do not list it among their approved tests.
So the first question is never “what score do I need?” – it is “does this university take the DET at all, for my course, this intake?” Below is the verified 2026 position for fifteen UK universities, taken from their own English language pages, plus the CAS and UKVI rules that decide whether a DET result is enough for your Student visa. All figures were checked in September 2026; universities change these tables every cycle, so confirm with admissions before you book.
- Most common UK requirementDET 120 overall (IELTS 6.5 equivalent) for a Master’s
- Typical undergraduateDET 105 overall (IELTS 6.0 equivalent)
- Competitive / Russell GroupDET 130 overall, often 120-130 in each component
- UKVI statusDET is NOT a Secure English Language Test (SELT)
- Why it still worksAt degree level, a compliant university can assess English itself and confirm it on your CAS
- Score scale10-160 in 5-point steps, 4 subscores, valid 2 years
UK universities that accept the DET – verified scores
These come from each university’s own English language requirements page. Where scores are published by IELTS equivalent rather than degree level, the equivalent is shown.
| University | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Subscore rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hertfordshire | 105 overall (= IELTS 6.0) | 120 overall (= IELTS 6.5 with 5.5) | No band below 95 |
| Sheffield Hallam University | 105 (IELTS 6.0) | 120 (IELTS 6.5); 130 for IELTS 7.0 courses | Reading 100; Listening, Speaking, Writing 95 |
| University of York | 105 (IELTS 6.0 courses) | 120 (IELTS 6.5); 130 (IELTS 7.0) | 95 each at 105; 105 each at 120; 120 each at 130 |
| University of Sussex | Standard 110 | High 120; Advanced 130 | 105 / 110 / 120 in each component |
| University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) London | 105 overall | 120 overall | 100 each (UG); no subscore below 110 (PG) |
| University of Southampton | Band C: 120 | Band E: 120; Bands G-I: 130 | Individual (not integrated) subscores, e.g. Writing 130 at Band E |
| University of Portsmouth | Accepted – refers to Duolingo’s own equivalency table | Accepted, same basis | Offer conditions confirmed after a credibility interview |
Southampton shows how strict a competitive department can be. At its Band E, an overall 120 is not enough: you also need Listening 115, Reading 120, Writing 130 and Speaking 120. Plenty of students hit 120 overall and miss the offer on the Writing component – see our Interactive Writing guide.
UK universities that do NOT accept the Duolingo English Test
This list matters more than the first, because students lose whole weeks of preparation assuming the DET is universal. As of September 2026:
| University | Position |
|---|---|
| Nottingham Trent University | States explicitly: “We do not accept qualifications such as Duolingo, EF or ELLT.” |
| University of East London | States explicitly: “Duolingo isn’t currently accepted.” |
| University of Birmingham | Duolingo is absent from the approved test list (TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge, LanguageCert, Trinity ISE, Oxford ELLT) |
| The University of Manchester | Not listed among accepted tests for degree or below-degree level |
| University of Greenwich | Not listed in the published English language requirements policy |
| Coventry University | Not listed on the English requirements page; the university points applicants to SELTs and assesses other tests case by case |
Third-party “Duolingo accepted universities” lists frequently include several of these names; some were accurate two intakes ago and were never updated. Trust the university’s own page or an email from admissions, and nothing else.
Three more – Leeds, Glasgow and Sheffield – do not publish a DET row in their public equivalency tables. Sheffield publishes only the IELTS benchmark (6.5 with 6.0 in each component, UG and PG). If one of these is your target, email admissions before you book.
Commonly reported but unverified – check these yourself
These requirements circulate widely in 2026 admissions blogs and may well be correct, but we could not confirm them on the institution’s own site. Treat them as a starting point for your own check, not a decision:
| University | Commonly quoted DET requirement |
|---|---|
| University of Bath | 120 overall with 120 in each component |
| London School of Economics (LSE) | 120+ |
| University of Reading | 130 overall with 105 in each component |
| Loughborough University | 105-120 depending on course |
| University of Westminster | 115 (UG), 125+ (PG) |
| University of East Anglia | 115 |
| Anglia Ruskin University | 100-110 |
| Imperial College London | 115 |
A single email saves a wasted attempt. Ask the admissions team: “Do you accept the Duolingo English Test for entry to [course] in [intake], and what overall and component scores do you require?” Keep the reply.
The UKVI and CAS question – the part most articles get wrong
Two separate hurdles exist for a UK Student visa, and the DET sits in a specific place between them.
Hurdle 1 – the university’s academic entry requirement. This is the table above. If the university accepts a DET 120, a DET 120 gets you the offer.
Hurdle 2 – the Home Office English language requirement. The Duolingo English Test is not on the list of approved Secure English Language Tests. The approved SELT providers are Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT, Pearson and (outside the UK) PSI Services UK.
That sounds fatal, but it is not, because of how the Student route works at degree level. Home Office guidance states that student sponsors must assess their students’ English language ability before issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Where the sponsor is a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, the sponsor can do that assessment itself and confirm on the CAS that the applicant has been assessed at CEFR B2 and by what method. That is the route a DET result travels: the university accepts the DET, assesses you as B2, states the method on your CAS, and the caseworker relies on the CAS rather than a SELT certificate.
Where this breaks down:
- Below degree level. A foundation year or a course at a private college that is not a HEP with a track record of compliance normally requires a genuine SELT. A DET will not do.
- Pre-sessional English with a combined CAS. Guidance requires a SELT at B1 with the CAS confirming you will reach B2 by the end of the course. Many universities will accept a DET for the main degree but demand IELTS UKVI for the pre-sessional attached to it – an expensive surprise if you find out in August.
- Nationality-based scrutiny. Some universities run credibility interviews before confirming offer conditions for DET applicants (Portsmouth says so openly). Be ready for one.
So the practical rule: if you are going straight onto a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD at a mainstream UK university that accepts the DET, the DET is normally enough for both the offer and the CAS. If any part of your route is below degree level or involves a pre-sessional, ask the university in writing which test they need for the CAS.
How to choose your target score
Work backwards from the offer, not from what feels achievable.
- Find the IELTS requirement on your course page. Almost every UK course still states IELTS first.
- Convert it. IELTS 6.0 to DET 105, IELTS 6.5 to DET 120, IELTS 7.0 to DET 130 is the pattern most UK universities publish. IELTS 5.5 usually maps to DET 95.
- Add the subscore check. This is where offers are lost. If the course needs 6.0 in each IELTS band, the DET equivalent is typically 95-105 in each component.
- Add a safety margin of 5-10 points. DET scores move in 5-point steps and your score on the day is not always your practice average. Targeting 125 when you need 120 saves you a re-sit.
| IELTS requirement | Typical DET overall | Typical DET component minimum | What to aim for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | 95 | 85-90 | 105 |
| 6.0 | 105 | 95-100 | 115 |
| 6.5 | 120 | 105-110 | 125 |
| 7.0 | 130 | 120 | 135 |
Remember that your DET overall is the average of your four subscores rounded up to the nearest 5, so one weak skill drags the whole result. If your Writing is 20 points below everything else, that is where your next week of study goes. Our DET scoring system guide explains how the subscores combine.
Practical steps and timing for applicants from the Arab world
The score is valid for two years and you may take up to three certified tests in any 30-day period, which is what makes a realistic timeline possible even when a deadline is close.
A sensible timeline for a September intake:
- 10-12 weeks before the deadline: confirm in writing that your universities accept the DET, at what overall score, and with what component minimums.
- 6-8 weeks before: take the official practice test to get a realistic starting point, and note which subscore is furthest behind.
- 3-4 weeks before: structured preparation on the weakest subscore first, because the overall is the average of the four.
- 2 weeks before: sit the certified test, leaving room inside the 30-day limit for one re-sit if a component lands short.
- Immediately after: send your results to every university on your list from your Duolingo account.
One more check before you commit: the DET is accepted by 6,000+ institutions for admission, but it is not accepted for the Australian subclass 500 visa and it is not a UKVI SELT, and Canada’s SDS route closed in November 2024.
If you want a teacher rather than a checklist, our DET course (live online in English, with Arabic-language support) is built for exactly this deadline pressure, with an intensive course when the test is days away. See also universities accepting the DET and DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Duolingo score of 120 enough for a UK Master’s?
At most UK universities that accept the DET, 120 is the standard equivalent of IELTS 6.5 and is enough – but check the component minimums, which are often 105-110 each and sometimes higher for Writing.
Do UK universities accept the Duolingo English Test for a Student visa?
The DET is not an approved SELT. At degree level, a compliant university can assess your English itself and confirm it on your CAS, and the Home Office accepts that. Below degree level or for a pre-sessional you will usually need IELTS UKVI or another SELT.
Which UK universities do not accept the DET?
Nottingham Trent and the University of East London state so explicitly; Birmingham, Manchester, Greenwich and Coventry do not list it among their approved tests as of September 2026.
What DET score equals IELTS 6.5?
120 overall at almost every UK university that publishes a conversion, usually with 105-110 minimum in each component.
How many times can I take the DET?
Up to three certified tests in any 30-day period, which normally leaves room for one re-sit before a UK deadline.
Which component do UK applicants most often miss?
Writing. Southampton’s Band E, for example, needs Writing 130 even though the overall requirement is 120, so check every component minimum and not just the overall figure.
How long is a DET score valid?
Two years from the date of the test – the same as a SELT.
What if my university is not on any list?
Email the admissions office with your course name and intake and ask directly. Requirements change every cycle, and a written reply is the only reliable answer.
Need a specific UK score by a specific deadline? Message our team on WhatsApp +20 105 578 5572 and we will map your target score to a study plan.
Last updated: September 2026