AlmiDET

DET requirements

🇳🇿 Duolingo English Test requirements for New Zealand

New Zealand's universities recognise the DET for many undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Institutions accepting the DET
all 8 universities (program-dependent)
Score scale
10–160

What score you need

Scores run on the 10–160 scale; recognition is program-dependent, generally 105–125.

For the fee-paying student visa, separate English proof is generally not required if your institution accepts you.

Score bands by tier

TierDET rangeExamples
Leading universities115–125Auckland, Otago
Most programs105–120various

Universities that accept the DET in New Zealand

  • University of Auckland
  • University of Otago
  • Victoria University of Wellington

Admission is not the same as the visa

For New Zealand's fee-paying student visa (up to four years), separate English proof is generally not required if your institution has accepted you — including on a DET score. Confirm with the institution and current Immigration NZ rules.

DET vs IELTS — cost

If your NZ institution accepts the DET, the visa typically needs no separate English test — making the ~$70 DET a genuine end-to-end option for many NZ applications.

Admission
Recognised across NZ universities, program-dependent.
Visa
No separate English proof generally needed if admitted.

Sources

Universities in New Zealand that accept the DET

Confirmed on Duolingo's accepting-institutions list, with course data from AlmiStudy. Each university sets its own DET score — confirm on its official page.

Common questions

Is the Duolingo English Test accepted in New Zealand?
The Duolingo English Test is accepted for admission by a range of institutions in New Zealand. Each university — and often each programme — sets its own minimum score on the 10–160 scale, so confirm the figure on the official admissions page.
What DET score do I need for New Zealand?
There is no single national minimum. Requirements vary by university and programme; this page lists honest score bands by tier. Always confirm the current figure with your specific programme.
Does the DET work for a New Zealand student visa?
Admission and visa are separate. A test accepted for university admission is not automatically accepted for the visa. See the admission-versus-visa note on this page and confirm with the official authority.

Plan the rest of your move for New Zealand

AlmiStudy
Find universities and the subjects they teach, by country.
AlmiPrep
Preparing for IELTS instead? Practice all four skills with honest feedback.
Practice the DET
Try AlmiDET practice tasks on the real 10–160 scale with honest AI feedback.

Practice on the real 10–160 scale

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The Shamool pledge

AlmiDET is part of the AlmiWorld family. 25% of our sales go to the Shamool Foundation to support students who cannot afford fees and tests — so the work you do here helps fund a place for someone else.

AlmiDET is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Duolingo. All practice material is original and never copied from the Duolingo English Test. Acceptance figures and score bands change — always confirm the current requirement on the official university or government page before you rely on it.