The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a fast, affordable, online English test accepted by 5,000+ universities. Here is everything Nepali students need to know, including whether it works for Australia and UK visas.
The Duolingo English Test is a computer-adaptive English proficiency test you can take from home. It is accepted by over 5,000 universities worldwide as an alternative to IELTS and PTE.
| Purpose | Duolingo Accepted? | What to Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500) | ✗ Not accepted | IELTS or PTE Academic |
| University admission (most AU universities) | ✓ Many accept it | Check your university's policy |
| University admission (Go8 universities) | Varies by institution | Verify on university website |
Even if a university accepts Duolingo for admission, you will still need a separate IELTS or PTE test for your visa application. Most Nepali students choose IELTS or PTE for both admission and visa to avoid sitting two tests.
🦉 Book Duolingo Test →| Purpose | Duolingo Accepted? | What to Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| UK Student Visa (Student Route) | ✅ Accepted (since 2024) | Duolingo (SELT) / IELTS UKVI / PTE Academic UKVI |
| UK university admission | ✓ Some universities accept | Check your university's policy |
| Feature | Duolingo English Test | IELTS Academic | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Nepal) | ~NPR 7,200 | NPR 30,000 | NPR 30,000 |
| Test location | Online/home | Test center | Test center |
| Duration | ~1 hour | 2h 45min | ~2 hours |
| Results | 48 hours | 2–13 days | 5 days |
| Australia visa | ✗ Not accepted | ✅ Accepted | ✅ Accepted |
| UK visa | ✅ Accepted | ✅ Accepted | ✅ Accepted |
| University admission | ✅ 5,000+ unis | ✅ All unis | ✅ All unis |
Create a free account using your email address.
Upload a clear photo of your passport (recommended for international applications).
Pay USD 49 using an international debit/credit card or PayPal.
Choose any time within 21 days. The test is available 24/7 and taken from home.
Sit in a quiet room, use a laptop with a working camera and microphone. The test takes about 1 hour.
Results are typically available within 48 hours. Share your score report directly to universities from the Duolingo portal.
DET scores are reported on a scale of 10–160. Below are indicative requirements for popular Australian universities. Always verify on the university's official admissions page.
| University | Undergraduate (min.) | Postgraduate (min.) | Accepts DET? |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 105 | 110 | ✓ Yes |
| University of Sydney | 110 | 115 | ✓ Yes |
| UNSW Sydney | 105 | 110 | ✓ Yes |
| Monash University | 105 | 110 | ✓ Yes |
| University of Queensland | 105 | 110 | ✓ Yes |
| RMIT University | 95 | 100 | ✓ Yes |
| Deakin University | 95 | 100 | ✓ Yes |
| La Trobe University | 90 | 95 | ✓ Yes |
Note: Score requirements change. These scores are indicative for 2025–2026. Always check the official university website. Remember: even if a university accepts Duolingo for admission, you still need IELTS or PTE for your Australian student visa.