Duolingo 100, 105, 110 Enough for Italy Scholarships?

The Duolingo English Test is accepted by some Italian university programmes, but it is not accepted universally across Italy. A score of 100, 105, 110, 115 or 120 may be sufficient for certain courses, yet it will not help where the university accepts only IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or another specifically listed certificate.

This is the most important answer for applicants confused by social-media claims such as:

• “Is Duolingo 100 enough for Italy?”
• “Can I get an Italian scholarship with a DET score of 105?”
• “Is 110 accepted by universities in Italy?”
• “Should I retake Duolingo after scoring 115?”
• “Is 120 enough for an Italy scholarship?”
• “Do I still need IELTS after passing Duolingo?”

There is no single minimum Duolingo score fixed for all Italian universities fully funded scholarships. Language requirements are normally decided by the individual university, department or degree programme. One programme may accept a score of 100, another may demand 110, while a third may not recognise the Duolingo English Test at all.

Is Duolingo Accepted for Admission to Italian Universities?

Yes, Duolingo is accepted by selected programmes at some Italian universities. However, acceptance is often programme-specific rather than university-wide.

For example, the University of Bologna’s Master’s in Civil Engineering lists the Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 100 as acceptable evidence of B2-level English. Another Bologna programme, Chemical and Process Engineering, lists a higher minimum DET score of 110.

The University of Padua’s 2026 admission information for certain English-taught postgraduate programmes in economics lists a minimum Duolingo score of 110, alongside IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90 and PTE Academic 61.

That does not mean every programme at Bologna or Padua automatically accepts Duolingo. Padua’s general university language-certification page prominently lists IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge qualifications, which is why applicants must check the requirements of the exact degree rather than relying only on the university’s name.

At Politecnico di Milano, the published certification list for international Master of Science applicants includes IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge and Trinity qualifications, but does not presently list the Duolingo English Test. An applicant targeting Politecnico di Milano should therefore not assume that a DET score will replace IELTS or another recognised certificate.

What Is the Minimum Duolingo Score for Italian Universities?

A DET score of 100 is one of the lowest clearly published current requirements found for an English-taught Italian master’s programme, but it is not a national minimum. The practical score range for admissions on fully-funded scholarships in Italy is usually:

• 100: accepted by some programmes requiring B2 English
• 105: sufficient wherever the published minimum is 100
• 110: a more useful target because several programmes explicitly set 110
• 115: comfortably exceeds a 110 requirement but does not guarantee admission
• 120: a strong language score for programmes accepting DET, but still useless where DET is not recognised

Applicants should stop treating 100, 110 or 120 as an Italy-wide requirement. The correct question is:

Does my exact degree programme accept Duolingo, and what minimum score does its current admission call require?

Duolingo Scores for Italian University Scholarship Applicants for 2027

This table should be used as an application strategy, not as a substitute for the official admission call. A university can revise its accepted certificates between academic years, and different departments within the same institution can apply different rules.

Is a Duolingo Score of 100 Enough for Italy?

A score of 100 is enough for a limited number of programmes, but it is not a safe score for applying widely across Italy.

The University of Bologna’s Civil Engineering master’s programme is a clear example of a programme publishing a DET minimum of 100. Therefore, an applicant with exactly 100 may meet its English requirement, provided all other admission conditions are satisfied.

However, the same applicant would fall below the 110 requirement published for Bologna’s Chemical and Process Engineering programme and selected Padua postgraduate economics programmes.

You should retake the test if your shortlisted courses mostly require 110. You do not need to retake simply because other applicants have scores of 115 or 120.

Is a Duolingo Score of 105 Enough?

A score of 105 works wherever the programme requires 100, but it does not satisfy a published minimum of 110.

There is usually no meaningful admission difference between 100 and 105 when the requirement is simply “minimum 100.” Both applicants have cleared the English-language condition. The admissions committee will then evaluate the academic degree, relevant subjects, grades, motivation, curriculum vitae and any programme-specific selection criteria.

A 105 scorer should target verified 100-minimum programmes or retake the exam to reach at least 110 before applying to programmes with a higher threshold.

Is a Duolingo Score of 110 Enough?

A score of 110 is the most practical target for applicants determined to use Duolingo for Italian admissions.

It meets the published DET requirement for Bologna’s Chemical and Process Engineering programme and for certain English-taught postgraduate programmes in the University of Padua’s economics area.

Nevertheless, 110 does not make Duolingo acceptable at a programme that excludes the test. A university requesting IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 cannot automatically be assumed to accept DET 110 as an equivalent.

Are Duolingo Scores of 115 or 120 Better for Scholarships?

A score of 115 or 120 may clear the admission requirement comfortably, but it does not normally create a separate scholarship advantage once the required English threshold has been met. Italian scholarships commonly fall into two broad categories:

1. Merit-based scholarships evaluate the strength of the applicant’s academic record, previous degree, course relevance and overall admission ranking.
2. Regional need-based scholarships focus heavily on the applicant’s family income, financial documents and enrolment status.

The University of Padua International Excellence Scholarship, for example, is highly competitive and is awarded to applicants with the strongest profiles for English-taught degrees. It offers €8,000 gross per year plus a tuition-fee exemption, but the scholarship is not advertised as being awarded according to who has the highest IELTS or Duolingo score.

Therefore, an applicant with DET 110 and an excellent academic record may be more competitive than an applicant with DET 130 and weaker grades.

Can You Get an Italian Scholarship With Duolingo Instead of IELTS?

Yes, but only where the degree programme connected to the scholarship accepts Duolingo. Most university scholarships require you to apply for, obtain or remain eligible for admission. If your programme accepts DET 110, your Duolingo result can satisfy the admission-language requirement. You can then be considered for the relevant scholarship under its normal academic or financial criteria.

Duolingo is not usually the scholarship itself. It is supporting evidence used for admission. This distinction matters for scholarships such as:

• Padua International Excellence Scholarships
• University tuition-fee waivers
• Departmental awards
• Regional right-to-study scholarships
• Bologna university funding
• Merit scholarships connected to English-taught programmes

For regional scholarships, a higher language score generally does not compensate for missing income documents, an invalid family certificate or failure to meet admission and enrolment deadlines.

Do You Need IELTS for Italian Universities?

You do not always need IELTS, but IELTS remains the safer choice for applicants applying to several Italian universities. Choose IELTS instead of Duolingo when:

• your target university does not explicitly list DET;
• you are applying to Politecnico di Milano;
• your shortlist includes several universities with different certificate policies;
• the programme page lists IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge but says nothing about Duolingo;
• you want a certificate with wider acceptance across Europe;
• you have not finalized your degree choices.

Duolingo can be a sensible option when all your chosen programmes explicitly accept it and you already meet their published score.

Should You Retake Duolingo to Get Accepted at Italian University?

Retake DET when your score is below the exact requirement of your preferred programme. A student with 100 should consider retaking if most target courses demand 110. A student with 105 has the same problem where the threshold is 110. A student with 110, 115 or 120 usually gains little from another attempt unless a particular programme requires a higher result or the existing certificate will expire.

Do not repeatedly retake Duolingo just to make a scholarship application “look stronger.” Once you have met the required language level, your time is usually better spent improving your statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, course selection and supporting academic documents.

Final Recommendation

Duolingo is accepted by some Italian university programmes, but IELTS remains the safer test for applicants making a broad Italy scholarship application.

Applicants with 100 or 105 should target only programmes publishing a minimum of 100. Applicants with 110, 115 or 120 have more DET-based options, particularly among verified programmes at Bologna and selected postgraduate programmes at Padua. However, no score makes Duolingo valid at a university or course that does not recognise it.

Before applying, open the current admission notice for your exact course and search for “Duolingo English Test.” When DET is not named among the accepted certificates, contact the programme office or use one of the listed alternatives rather than assuming equivalence.

Your Duolingo score can make you eligible for admission. It cannot, by itself, win an Italian scholarship.