IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo for your university?
Different German universities accept different English tests at different score thresholds. We pick the cheapest valid path.
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How this works
- Tell us your university, level and priority
- We check which tests and scores count
- See the test that fits you best
Step 1 of 5
Step 1 of 5, What's your target university type?
What's your target university type?
Cutoffs vary by tier: TU9 typically wants IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL 95+; mid-tier accepts IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 80+.
See your full Germany plan
You have one answer. Now see the study steps around it, from applications to arrival.
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Common questions
Most public universities outside the TU9 group accept Duolingo, especially for non-elite Master's programs. The TU9 (TUM, RWTH, KIT, etc.) and most top-100 ranked universities prefer IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT. Always check the specific program's admission page; acceptance is set per-program, not per-university.
Duolingo English Test costs around 65 EUR globally; IELTS Academic costs around 240 to 260 EUR; TOEFL iBT costs around 220 to 260 EUR. If your target uni accepts Duolingo, it is roughly a quarter of the price. The trade-off is acceptance breadth: Duolingo is patchy at TU9 universities and most premium programs.
Duolingo's score is available in approximately 2 days after taking the test. TOEFL iBT scores typically appear in 6 to 8 days. IELTS Academic computer-delivered scores arrive in 3 to 5 days; paper-delivered IELTS takes about 13 days. If you are close to a deadline, Duolingo or TOEFL iBT computer-based are the fastest paths.
Yes, both IELTS and TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. Most German universities accept scores in this 2-year window without re-testing. Duolingo also has a 2-year validity period. If your score still meets the cutoff and the test is within 2 years, save the test fee and use what you have.
Typical Master's program cutoffs: IELTS 6.5 overall (TU9 often 7.0, with no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 88 to 95 (TU9 often 95+); Duolingo 115 to 125. English-taught Bachelor programs sometimes accept slightly lower scores (IELTS 6.0). Always verify the exact program's published minimum on the university website.
No. German-taught Bachelor and Master programs typically require TestDaF (level 4 in all 4 sections) or DSH (level 2 or 3) instead of an English test. If your target program is in German, plan for a German-language test, not an English one. Most humanities and many traditional Bachelor programs in Germany are German-taught.