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Duolingo Accepted Universities in Canada in 2026

Last updated19th Aug 2025
6 mins read
20.5K views
Anuj Gupta
Published by Anuj Gupta

ICEF Canada Certified Education Specialist | 15 Years Advising International Students

For students applying to Canadian universities, the Duolingo English Test provides a practical and easily available alternative for demonstrating English proficiency. Over the years, the list of Duolingo accepted universities in Canada has grown exponentially, making it easier for foreign students to apply and expand their chances of pursuing higher education abroad, especially in top study destinations like Canada.

As highlighted above, the list of Duolingo accepted universities in Canada is ever-growing and is now accepted by more than 150 universities in Canada. While popular tests continue to be taken by thousands of students every year, Duolingo has continued to grow as a choice among non-English speaking students planning their studies abroad. In this article, we highlight the benefits of taking the Duolingo English Test and the minimum scores you need to achieve to enrol in your desired degree programme in Canada.

Benefits of Duolingo English Test

From accessibility to adaptive testing format, here is why choosing the test will be beneficial for you and help you enrol in Duolingo accepted universities in Canada.

  • Accessibility: Students can finish the Duolingo English Test (DET) in a comfortable setting online from any location in the world without having to travel to a testing centre.
  • Cost-effectiveness: The DET is a cost-effective alternative for many students because it is roughly $59, which is significantly less expensive than other English proficiency tests like the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic.
  • Fast Turnaround Time: The Duolingo English Test results are usually available in 48 hours, allowing students to get rapid feedback and send their scores right away to institutions.
  • Easy Registration: There are no set test dates, so students can schedule their time freely. They can also register for the test minutes before it begins.
  • No Academic Requirements: The DET is open to a wider pool of applicants because it does not need students to submit prior academic records.
  • Adaptive Testing Format: The test adjusts to the student's competence level, offering a customised evaluation that can more accurately represent the student's actual language skills.
  • Multiple Tries Allowed: Students are free to retake the Duolingo English Test as often as they like, which gives them ample opportunity to raise their score without facing any serious limitations.

Need help acing your Duolingo English Test? Connect with AECC experts and get personalised guidance to score high in the popular study abroad exams you need to enrol in your dream university abroad.

Top Duolingo Accepted Universities in Canada

If you are planning to enrol at any one of the top Duolingo accepted universities in Canada, then you will have to meet the minimum DET score requirements, as outlined below. However, it is observed that the top universities often require international students to attain a minimum score of 120 or higher in the Duolingo English Test for admission.

Universities in CanadaMinimum Score for Bachelor'sMinimum Score for Masters
University of Alberta120120
University of Toronto120120
McGill University125NA
McMaster University120NA
Simon Fraser University125125
University of Calgary125120
University of Ottawa120120
University of Waterloo120NA
Queen's University120NA
Concordia University120120

Note: Some Duolingo accepted universities in Canada will also require candidates to meet the section-wise scores to qualify for the language proficiency requirements.

These colleges demonstrate the minimum Duolingo score for Canada and their dedication to welcoming international students by offering flexible English proficiency criteria by accepting Duolingo scores of 120 and above.

Top Duolingo Accepted Colleges in Canada

Apart from Duolingo accepted universities in Canada, there are several colleges that have set a lot Duolingo score requirement for international student admissions. Here is a list of the Duolingo accepted colleges that you could apply to as well.

College NameMinimum Score AcceptedMinimum Score for Degree Programmes
Algonquin College110120
George Brown College110120
Humber College105115
Seneca College105115
Centennial College105125
Fanshawe College105135
Sheridan College105115
British Columbia Institute of Technology105120
Niagara College105120
Durham College110120

Note: In many instances, the degree level of the course you wish to pursue dictates the minimum language proficiency that non-English speaking students must meet.

Therefore, the lower language proficiency scores presented here are a result of degree programmes leading to certificates and diplomas. For degree programmes, candidates are required to achieve a minimum of 115 in DET to enrol in Duolingo accepted universities in Canada.

Simplify the process of finding the best universities and colleges in Canada that also accept Duolingo scores for admissions.

Score Requirements at Duolingo Accepted Universities in Canada

To understand how the university views your DET scores, it is important to take note of certain requirements defined by Duolingo accepted universities in Canada, as have been highlighted below:

  • Minimum Duolingo requirements for Canada: For undergraduate and graduate admissions, the majority of Canadian universities demand a minimum Duolingo English Test (DET) score of between 110 and 120.
  • Variations by Programme: Higher score requirements may apply to some degrees, particularly in highly competitive professions like engineering or health sciences.
  • Subscore Considerations: To ensure a thorough assessment of language proficiency, some Duolingo accepted universities in Canada will need particular subscores in areas like literacy and output.
  • Validity Period: Students should make sure their DET scores are up to date at the time of application, as they are normally valid for a maximum of two years.
  • Diversity of Institutions: International students have many possibilities for higher education in Canada because a large number of universities and Duolingo accepted colleges in Canada.
  • Direct Score Submission: After finishing the exam, students can use the Duolingo official website to send their DET results straight to colleges.

Duolingo Score Comparison: DET vs IELTS vs TOEFL iBT

Outlined below are equivalencies of scores between popular tests like IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and DET, to help you better understand how the scores work. For this exercise, we have highlighted the language proficiency score requirements of all the tests at Duolingo accepted universities in Canada.

DuolingoIELTS AcademicTOEFL iBT
1407.5109-112
1357104-108
130798-103
1256.593-97
1206.587-92
1156.082-86
1106.076-81
1056.070-75
1005.565-69

Students applying to Canadian universities may find that a DET score of 120 is generally similar to an IELTS score of 6.5 and a TOEFL score of 87-92. Therefore, scoring a 120/125+ will act as sufficient proof of language proficiency for Duolingo accepted universities in Canada.

For international students pursuing higher education in Canada, the Duolingo English Test (DET)'s increasing recognition by Canadian colleges is a major development. Students can now access a wide range of programmes without the conventional limitations provided by examinations like TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic, as over 150 universities now accept DET scores. International students now have access to a wider range of possibilities as more Canadian universities accept Duolingo scores today, which makes pursuing their academic goals easier than before. Connect with AECC study abroad specialists and get expert guidance to study in Canada today.

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Duolingo Accepted Universities in Canada FAQs

Yes, Duolingo is accepted by over 150 universities in Canada, allowing international students whose first language is not English. Some of the popular Duolingo accepted universities in Canada include the University of Alberta, McGill University, University of Ottawa, Simon Fraser University, University of Toronto and many more.

Anuj Gupta
Published by Anuj Gupta

ICEF Canada Certified Education Specialist | 15 Years Advising International Students

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Anuj Gupta holds ICEF Canada certification, one of the most widely recognised professional credentials in international student recruitment, and has been advising students on Canadian and European university pathways for 15 years.

Since Canada introduced its study permit cap in 2024, Anuj has spent a significant part of his time helping students work through the implications. Some are proceeding with Canada on adjusted timelines. Others are considering Germany, Ireland or the Netherlands, where English-taught programmes are available and post-study work routes are more predictable. He advises students on both options without steering them towards one by default.

The conversations he has with students tend to be specific: which course gives the best return on a particular budget, which province currently has faster processing times, and whether a diploma-to-degree pathway makes financial sense given the student's long-term goals. That is what his articles are written around. He holds an MBA in Finance and is based at AECC's Ahmedabad office.

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