Duolingo in Canada: Which Canadian Universities Accept Duolingo
Many Canadian universities prioritize English as their primary language of instruction, emphasizing the importance of English proficiency for international student admissions, notably, for students who choose not to apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and instead navigate the traditional admission pathway, an emerging trend has surfaced. Several Canadian institutions have started acknowledging Duolingo scores as a credible metric for assessing English proficiency.
Furthermore, the increasing acceptance of Duolingo scores among Canadian universities underscores a significant shift in admission criteria. As this recognition expands, it provides international students with a broader spectrum of opportunities, enabling them to leverage diverse assessment methods to fulfill their academic ambitions within the Canadian educational landscape.
About 150 Canadian universities accept Duolingo for Master’s degrees, according to the Duolingo website. Therefore, if you’re looking to study in Canada, this blog lists all the information about the best colleges there that accept Duolingo.
Why Duolingo in Canada?
There is a reason why the number of Canadian universities that accept Duolingo is at an all-time high. Due to the pandemic, Duolingo has become a popular option for students applying to universities in Canada that accept Duolingo for January 2022. Here’s why:
1-Cost Effective: The Duolingo test costs 49 CAD, making it comparably less expensive than other English proficiency tests. This exam is designed for students on a tight budget who want to study abroad on a budget.
2-No Additional Costs: Once you have your Duolingo test results, you can send the former for free to any Canadian colleges that accept Duolingo. You must pay a 20 CAD fee for each university you submit for the TOEFL or IELTS if it is not included in your registration.
3-Shorter Test Duration: Duolingo offers the quickest test for English proficiency and lasts an hour. The test time for English proficiency exams like the IELTS or TOEFL is limited to three hours.
4-Test Conducted at Home: The pandemic made it challenging for Canadian test takers to write IELTS, TOEFL, or any other related English language exam in the testing facility. International students thus had the convenience of passing an English language test while seated at home, thanks to Duolingo. Therefore, students can immediately apply to Canadian universities accepting Duolingo for the class of 2022 after the results are announced. This benefit significantly impacted the numerous Canadian universities that accept Duolingo.
| Exam | Duolingo Exam |
| Conducted By | Duolingo |
| Conducted For | English Proficiency for higher studies |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Cost | $49 |
| Result | Within 24-48 hours |
Universities that accept Duolingo in Canada for Bachelors & Masters
Here are several Canadian universities that have accepted Duolingo as of 2022. These highly regarded Canadian universities and colleges that accept Duolingo allow students to take a Duolingo test for most of their Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses.
The top Canadian universities that accept Duolingo for 2022 are listed in the table below to help you navigate them easily:
| University Name | Bachelors (Duolingo Score) | Masters (Duolingo Score) |
| University of Toronto | Overall 120 | Overall 120 |
| University of Alberta | 115 for English proficiency with no sub-score below 93 125 Spoken English proficiency with no sub-score below 10 | 115 for English proficiency with no sub-score below 93 |
| University of British Columbia | Overall 125 | NIL |
| University of Calgary | 115 | Level 1- 130 with no sub-score below 110 Level 2- 135 with no sub-score below 115 |
| University of Ottawa | Overall 120 | NIL |
Colleges that accept Duolingo in Canada for Bachelors & Masters
Their requirements differ because colleges and universities are separate parts of the educational system. Similarly, the Duolingo requirements for Canadian colleges vary; the scores for various levels of programs are listed below.
| University Name | Bachelors (Duolingo Score) | Masters (Duolingo Score) |
| Centennial College | 105- 124 | 125+ |
| NorQuest College | 75-115 | NIL |
| Seneca College | Minimum 105 to 110 | Minimum 125 to 130 |
| Prairie College | 105 | NIL |
| Canadore College | 105+ | 115+ |
We have provided a brief overview of the most popular courses offered at these Duolingo accepted universities and colleges in Canada now that you have your Duolingo scores according to your study type.
Popular university courses that accept Duolingo in Canada
In addition to popular courses with students, Canada’s universities also offer a few unusual courses. Popular courses at Canadian universities that accept Duolingo are listed below:
| University Name | Popular Courses |
| University of Toronto | BSC Nursing BS Computer MSC Anthropology MA Developmental Psychology and Education |
| University of Alberta | Bachelor of Science with specialization Bachelor of Science with Engineering MSC Urban and Regional Planning MSC Statistics |
| University of British Columbia | BSC Economics BSC Computer Science MSC Craniofacial Science MSC Experimental Medicine |
| University of Calgary | BBA B. Tech Master of Social Work Master of Science with Physics and Astronomy |
| University of Ottawa | BA Philosophy Honours BSC Social Science MSC Earth Sciences MA Economics |
Popular college courses that accept Duolingo in Canada
| College Name | Popular Courses |
| Centennial College | Bachelor of Science in Nursing Bachelor of Information Technology Diploma in Advanced Business Management Diploma in Financial Planning |
| NorQuest College | Bachelor in Business Administration Bachelor in Energy Management |
| Seneca College | Bachelors of Engineering Honours Bachelor of Commerce- Business Management |
| Prairie College | Bachelor in Intercultural Studies Bachelor in Global Social Justice Diploma in Pastor Ministry with Taylor Seminary |
| Canadore College | Bachelor of Engineering Honours Bachelor of Commerce- Business Management |
Alternatives of Duolingo in Canada
While there are Canadian universities that accept Duolingo, students can also choose to take other English proficiency exams. Top Canadian universities and colleges recognize and accept these English proficiency tests.The top ones are listed below.
| Alternatives to Duolingo | Minimum Score requirement |
| IELTS | Overall 6.5, no band less than 6.0 |
| TOEFL (IBT) | Undergraduate: 80 and above Postgraduate: 90 and above |
| PTE | Overall, 65 ( academics) with a minimum of 60 in reading, writing, listening and speaking |
| CAE | Overall 180 with 170 in each component/skill |
| CAEL | Overall 70 no band less than 60 |
Frequently Asked Questions: Duolingo in Canada
No, Duolingo is ineligible for a student visa to Canada as of right now, only IELTS is recognized in this country.
The difficulty of these English proficiency tests cannot be compared because it varies from student to student. Similar to how you would prepare for other English tests, you must practice for Duolingo.
Given that the score is calculated on a scale from 10-160, the required minimum score for Duolingo is 120 or higher. The minimum score required for Canadian colleges to accept Duolingo is 115, as determined by the university and course preference.
Students who complete their Duolingo exam and achieve the required scores will be awarded a certificate.
To take their Duolingo exam, students must have a government-issued photo ID.
You will learn new words and sentences as you prepare for the exam, but you must regularly engage in conversation to become fluent.
Any exam’s perceived difficulty level is arbitrary. The exam’s adaptive algorithm is intended to assess a candidate’s level of English proficiency. The test is equally difficult to pass as the renowned English proficiency tests IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE.
With 5-point increments, Duolingo evaluates candidates’ proficiency as a total score on a scale from 10-160. The test results show an overall score and subscores for Conversation, Comprehension, Literacy, and Production.
Contrary to popular belief, Duolingo is not simpler than the TOEFL. The adaptive algorithm used in this exam determines a candidate’s level of English proficiency. If you look at them carefully, you’ll notice that the Duolingo sample questions adjust to the candidate’s level.
The Canadian universities listed below are those that accept the Duolingo English test:
Cape Breton University
University of Calgary
Concordia University
University of New Brunswick, Saint John
Algoma University
Thompson Rivers University
Yorkville University
University of Alberta
University of Regina
University of Windsor
Yes! In Canada, the Duolingo Test is accepted. Many universities accept the Duolingo test as being on par with other English language proficiency tests.
No! Because the immigration authorities do not acknowledge it, the Duolingo exam is not accepted for PR in Canada. Duolingo is an online test; at this time, no online exams are recognized by PR. The exams acceptable for a PR in Canada are the IELTS General, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, CELPIP, or the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (the CELPIP General is the only accepted version).
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!