Is Duolingo Accepted for UK Student Visa? What GOV.UK Says

Yes and no. The Duolingo English Test is not on the UK government's list of approved Secure English Language Tests (SELTs), so you can't use it as a UKVI test. But if you are going to study at degree level or above at a university, GOV.UK says the university can assess your English in its own way and may use a different test, as long as it is equivalent to CEFR level B2. So the real question is whether your university and course accept Duolingo.

We read GOV.UK's Student visa and SELT pages, and two universities' English language pages, on 2 November 2026. This is a summary of what those pages say, not advice on your own application. The university and GOV.UK are the final word.

What GOV.UK says about English for a Student visa

GOV.UK's Student visa English page says you usually need to prove your English when you apply, and lists the ways to do it:

• Level: CEFR B2 for study at degree level or above, B1 for study below degree level.
• University's own assessment: if you are studying at degree level or above with a higher education provider, "your university" can assess your English itself, and it may use a different test. The level must still be B2.
• SELT: if you have no qualification that proves your English, you pass a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider.
• Degree taught in English: a degree taught in English from outside the UK can count, but GOV.UK says you need an Ecctis assessment confirming it is equal to a UK bachelor's or higher and was taught in English.

Pakistan is not on GOV.UK's list of countries whose nationals don't need to prove English.

Is Duolingo a UKVI-approved test?

No. GOV.UK's SELT page, last updated 26 October 2026, lists these approved tests for people taking them outside the UK:

Trinity College London's SELTs are listed for tests taken in the UK only. The Duolingo English Test is not on the list. So for anything that needs a SELT, such as a course below degree level where you don't have another accepted qualification, Duolingo won't do. Note also that "IELTS for UKVI" is a separate booking from the ordinary IELTS Academic test.

Which UK universities accept Duolingo?

That is each university's decision, and often each course's. Two examples from the universities' own pages:

• University of Warwick (postgraduate): accepts Duolingo at 120 overall with at least 110 in each component for its lowest band, rising to 140 overall for the highest band it lists. Only results with separate reading, writing, speaking and listening scores count, and they must be shared through the Duolingo dashboard, not uploaded as a PDF or screenshot. Warwick says departments can set their own requirements (Warwick).
• University of Glasgow (MSc Methods in Applied Mathematics): 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest below 110, taken within 2 years 5 months of the start date, all from one test (Glasgow).

Agents' and blogs' lists of "Duolingo universities" go out of date quickly. Check the English requirements on your own course page before you book anything.

Is Duolingo accepted in the UK for master's?

At many universities, yes, as the Warwick and Glasgow examples show, because a master's is above degree level and the university decides. But some courses ask for higher scores or particular tests, and some universities don't list Duolingo at all. If your course page doesn't name it, ask the admissions office in writing before you sit it.

Can I use a Duolingo score for a foundation year or pre-sessional course?

GOV.UK only gives universities the freedom to choose their own test for study at degree level or above. For courses below degree level, such as many foundation years, GOV.UK says you need a qualification that proves your English or a pass in an approved SELT. Check with the university which route applies to your course, because a foundation year at a university can still count as below degree level.

Can I study in the UK without any English test?

Sometimes. Some universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter or your Intermediate or O level English grade instead of a test. Our study without IELTS list shows the universities whose own pages name Pakistani universities for an MOI route, and our article on scholarships without IELTS explains how this works with funding. A scholarship can also set its own test rule on top of the university's, so check both.

Your next step

Open your course page and find its English language requirements. If it lists Duolingo with a score you can reach, compare it with IELTS and PTE in our English test guide. If it doesn't, or you are going below degree level, book one of the SELTs on GOV.UK's list. Our Study in the UK guide covers the rest of the visa. Rules change, so confirm on GOV.UK and with your university before you pay for any test.