Engineering is one of the world's most competitive and rewarding fields of study, preparing graduates to solve current and future challenges in areas ranging from renewable energy and artificial intelligence to healthcare and sustainable infrastructure.
The world’s highest-ranked engineering universities accept the Duolingo English Test, but different departments or degree levels may have different requirements..
This guide compares ten highly ranked engineering universities, explains where the Duolingo English Test is accepted and outlines the scores you may need.
Key takeaways
- Many of the world’s leading engineering universities accept the Duolingo English Test for selected undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.
- Choosing an Engineering degree involves more than comparing rankings. Research strengths, industry partnerships, facilities, specialisations and graduate employability can all influence your study experience.
- Minimum Duolingo English Test scores differ widely, and some universities also require minimum integrated subscores or set different requirements for undergraduate and graduate applicants.
- Before applying, always confirm the latest admissions requirements for your chosen programme, as admission and score requirements may vary by faculty, department, campus or intake.
What makes a great Engineering degree?
Global rankings can be a helpful starting point, but they only tell part of the story. The best Engineering degree for you will depend on your academic interests, career goals and preferred learning environment.
When choosing your Engineering programme, consider:
- Professional accreditation: Check whether the degree is accredited by a recognised engineering body. Accreditation may affect whether your qualification is recognised for professional registration or employment in another country.
- Research strengths: Universities with active research programmes may offer access to specialist laboratories, research projects and academic experts. Check whether these opportunities are available to students at your degree level and whether they form part of the curriculum.
- Industry partnerships: Many top Engineering schools work closely with employers, technology companies and research organisations to offer internships, placements and collaborative projects. These experiences can help you develop practical skills, expand your professional network and gain valuable workplace experience before graduation.
- Graduate employability: Universities with strong reputations among employers often have excellent careers services, active alumni networks and high graduate employment rates. These resources can make your transition from university to the workplace much smoother.
- On-campus facilities: Modern equipment, design studios and research centres can significantly enhance your learning experience by allowing you to apply theory in practical settings.
- Specialisations: While some universities excel across every Engineering discipline, others are particularly well known for areas such as Aerospace, Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. Choosing a university with recognised expertise in your area of interest can open up more opportunities during your studies and beyond.
What are the job prospects after an Engineering degree?
Engineering can lead to strong career prospects, especially in fields connected to automation, computing, energy and advanced manufacturing. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects engineering occupations overall to grow much faster than the average between 2025 and 2035.
Some Engineering specialisations currently showing particularly strong US job growth include:
- Industrial Engineering: 12% projected employment growth from 2025 to 2035, driven partly by automation, logistics and more efficient manufacturing.
- Mechanical Engineering: 11% growth, with demand linked to automation and increasingly complex manufacturing systems.
- Electrical Engineering: 10% growth, including work with energy systems, electronics, semiconductors and communications technology.
- Computer Hardware Engineering: 9% growth, supported by demand for processors and computing components across industries.
- Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering: both are projected to grow by around 8%.
For international students considering the US, there is another useful indicator. STEM-related jobs account for the large majority of H-1B approvals. In FY2024, computer-related occupations alone represented 64% of approved H-1B petitions, while architecture, engineering and surveying accounted for another 10%.
This does not mean an Engineering degree guarantees an H-1B visa, but it shows that specialised technical skills are strongly represented among US employers sponsoring international professionals.
Top engineering programmes accept the Duolingo English Test
The following universities rank highly for Engineering & Technology and accept the Duolingo English Test for at least some programmes or degree levels. Always check the admissions page for your exact programme before applying.
|
University | Country | Degree level | Duolingo English Test requirement | Important limitation |
MIT | USA | Undergraduate; selected graduate departments | 120 minimum; 125 recommended for undergraduate study | Graduate requirements vary by department |
Imperial College London | UK | Undergraduate and postgraduate | 115 or 125, depending on the programme | Subscore requirements apply |
Tsinghua University | China | Selected graduate programmes | Example: 130 overall with 125 Conversation for the Global Innovation Exchange programme | DET acceptance is not university-wide |
UCLA | USA | Undergraduate | 135 is considered competitive | This is not described as a minimum |
UC Berkeley | USA | Undergraduate | 115 minimum | Graduate policies differ |
Purdue University | USA | Undergraduate and selected graduate programmes | Around 110+ undergraduate; graduate minimum commonly 115 overall and in each subscore | Some graduate Engineering programmes set different rules or do not accept DET |
Johns Hopkins University | USA | Undergraduate and graduate Engineering | No undergraduate minimum; 135 preferred for Whiting graduate Engineering | Undergraduate DET is recommended rather than required for relevant applicants |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | USA | Undergraduate and graduate | Undergraduate admitted-student middle 50%: 135–145; graduate: 115 limited status, 135 full status | No fixed undergraduate admission minimum; graduate DET does not satisfy TA English requirements |
UC San Diego | USA | Undergraduate and graduate | 115 undergraduate; 120 graduate | Graduate programmes may set higher requirements |
University of Texas at Austin | USA | Undergraduate and graduate | 115 minimum overall | Graduate requirements may vary by programme |
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
As the current #1 university in the world according to multiple globally recognised rankings, including the QS World University Rankings 2027 and US News, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a global leader across nearly every engineering discipline.
- MIT's School of Engineering offers over 20 undergraduate majors, ranging from traditional engineering fields like Civil or Mechanical Engineering to several interdisciplinary programmes. MIT students also benefit from exceptional research funding and a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- MIT strongly recommends an English proficiency test for certain non-native English-speaking applicants. If you submit the Duolingo English Test, MIT lists a minimum score of 120 and recommends 125. For graduate admission, requirements vary by department.
2. Imperial College London (UK) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
Imperial College London is a specialist university focused on science, engineering, medicine and business, with over a century of history. It has a particularly strong reputation in Mechanical, Civil, Aeronautical and Electrical Engineering, and its location offers students solid industry links in London.
- Its English language requirements are split into two levels. Programmes within the standard level require a minimum Duolingo English Test score of 115 overall, with no less than 105 in any integrated subscore. Higher-level degrees require an overall score of 125, with at least 115 in any integrated subscore.
- Each programme is assigned either the standard or higher English-language requirement. Electronic and Information Engineering, for example, requires the higher level.
- Check the entry requirements on your preferred programme’s page for more information.
3. Tsinghua University (China) - selected graduate programmes
Tsinghua University is one of China’s leading universities for Engineering, Computer Science and technology-related research. However, Duolingo English Test acceptance is programme-specific rather than covered by one university-wide admissions policy.
- Selected graduate programmes accept the Duolingo English Test. For example, Tsinghua’s Global Innovation Exchange dual master’s programme lists a minimum overall score of 130, including at least 125 in the Conversation subscore.
- Always check the admissions requirements for your exact Engineering programme before deciding which English test to take.
4. University of California, Los Angeles (USA) - undergraduate programmes
UCLA is one of the United States' leading destinations for Engineering education. The renowned Samueli School of Engineering is particularly well known for its programmes in Computer Science, Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering, although there is a broad range of Engineering disciplines to choose from.
- Located in Los Angeles, UCLA provides access to leading employers across the technology, aerospace, entertainment and healthcare sectors, offering international students valuable opportunities for internships, research collaborations and graduate employment.
- International undergraduate applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency can submit the Duolingo English Test. UCLA considers a score of 135 or higher competitive.
- As admissions requirements may vary between programmes, always check the official programme page before applying.
5. University of California, Berkeley (USA) - undergraduate programmes
Like its Los Angeles sister campus, UC Berkeley is globally known for excellence in education. Its highly regarded College of Engineering offers particularly strong degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Civil Engineering.
- Berkeley's location in the San Francisco Bay Area gives students close access to Silicon Valley and many of the world's leading technology companies. Its Bay Area location can provide access to employers and professional events across the technology sector.
- International undergraduate applicants can meet Berkeley’s English-language requirement with a minimum DET score of 115. Graduate applicants should check the policy of their intended department.
6. Purdue University (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
Purdue University is particularly well known for Engineering, with programmes covering areas such as Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, Electrical, Computer, Civil and Materials Engineering.
- For undergraduate applicants, Purdue accepts the Duolingo English Test and states that applicants generally have a score of 110 or better. DET subscores must also be submitted.
- At the graduate level, requirements vary between Engineering schools. Purdue’s Industrial and Mechanical Engineering programmes, for example, list a minimum overall DET score of 115, with at least 115 in each subscore.
- Check your department carefully: some programmes have different policies. Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, for example, currently does not accept the Duolingo English Test for graduate English proficiency.
7. Johns Hopkins University (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
Johns Hopkins University combines a strong research reputation with Engineering programmes in areas including Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
- For undergraduate applicants whose primary language is not English, Johns Hopkins recommends submitting an English proficiency test such as the Duolingo English Test, although it does not set a specific DET minimum for undergraduate admission.
- The Whiting School of Engineering accepts the Duolingo English Test for full-time graduate Engineering programmes and recommends a score of at least 135. This is a preferred score rather than a university-wide minimum, and individual programmes may set their own requirements.
8. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a major US Engineering and technology university, with particularly strong programmes across Computer, Electrical, Civil, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
- Undergraduate applicants can use the Duolingo English Test to demonstrate English proficiency. The university does not publish a single minimum DET score for first-year admission, but the middle 50% among recently admitted students who submitted DET scores was 135–145.
- For graduate admission, a score of 115 can qualify an applicant for limited status, while 135 is the minimum for full status.
- Graduate students should note that the Duolingo English Test alone cannot satisfy the university's English proficiency requirement for teaching assistant positions.
9. University of California, San Diego (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
UC San Diego is a major research university with Engineering strengths including Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bioengineering, Structural Engineering and NanoEngineering.
- International undergraduate applicants can use the Duolingo English Test to demonstrate English proficiency, with a minimum score of 115.
- Starting with the Fall 2026 graduate admissions cycle, UC San Diego also accepts the Duolingo English Test for graduate admission, with a university minimum of 120.
- Individual graduate programmes can set higher English-language requirements, so check the requirements of your intended Engineering department before applying.
10. University of Texas at Austin (USA) - undergraduate and graduate programmes
The University of Texas at Austin is home to the Cockrell School of Engineering, which offers programmes across fields including Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Computational and Mechanical Engineering.
- International undergraduate applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency can submit the Duolingo English Test with a minimum overall score of 115.
- Graduate applicants can also submit the Duolingo English Test. The Graduate School lists 115 as the minimum overall score considered acceptable for admission.
- Individual graduate programmes may have higher requirements or preferences, so check the admissions page for your chosen Engineering degree before applying.
Preparing your application for an Engineering degree
Applying to a competitive Engineering programme often involves more than meeting the minimum entry requirements, so start preparing your application as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen issues.
Start by reviewing the application requirements of each programme you’re considering. Most universities require documents like your official academic transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Many programmes request proof of relevant previous experience, such as internships or research projects, and of field-specific disciplines, such as Mathematics, Science, or Physics.
If you’re applying as an international student, you will also need to demonstrate proficiency in English through recognised tests like the TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test. The accepted exams and minimum scores also vary according to the programme you’ll apply for, so keep track of every different requirement.
To keep your process organised and make your journey as smooth as possible, create a checklist of needed documents and a timeline of application dates, as deadlines can vary depending on the programmes you’ve chosen.
Applying with the Duolingo English Test: What Engineering students should know
The Duolingo English Test is an increasingly common choice among international students, thanks to its flexibility and high global acceptance – over 6,500 programmes worldwide accept Duolingo English Test scores.
One of the biggest appeals of the Duolingo English Test is that it can be taken online from home, making it possible to obtain proof of English proficiency without having to travel to distant test locations, as is common with many standardised exams.
Other benefits of taking the Duolingo English Test are its simplified scheduling and quick results. You don’t need to book the test in advance, and the complete examination only takes one hour. You will receive your results in two days, and you can share them with as many institutions as you’d like.
Many world-renowned universities accept the Duolingo English Test – including several Ivy League institutions – but the minimum score required varies depending on factors like your chosen programme and campus, intended intake, and degree level. Graduate admissions often require higher scores than undergraduate admissions, and English language requirements may be different between departments of the same institution.
Certain programmes also set minimum integrated subscores in addition to the overall score. This means that some applications require minimum scores in Production (writing + speaking), Literacy (reading + writing), Comprehension (listening + reading), and Conversation (speaking + listening), as well as a minimum general score.
To use the Duolingo English Test in your application, follow this checklist:
- Check the programme page for every degree you are considering.
- Verify the minimum required scores and subscores.
- Confirm department-specific requirements.
- Make sure your score will be valid when applications are reviewed.
- Send your official scores before the application deadlines.
As always, check with the admissions team of the university if you have any doubts about the application process or the accepted English proficiency tests.
Ready to Apply?
Choosing where to study Engineering is an exciting step, but it's also one that deserves careful research. While many of the world's leading universities now accept the Duolingo English Test, admissions requirements can vary significantly between institutions, degree levels and individual programmes.
Compare your options and, with a well-planned application, you'll be ready to take the next step towards an Engineering degree that matches your ambitions and sets you up for a brilliant career.
