| Updated On - May 13, 2026
The Duolingo English Test (DET) fee waiver is offered under the Access Program. It is a Duolingo initiative that lets low-income students take the DET at zero cost. Since 2018, the program has given out 117,000+ fee waivers worth $8 million USD across 214 countries and territories. In 2024 alone, 25,563 waivers were distributed. Students cannot apply for the waiver directly; it is given through institutions, schools, NGOs, and teachers. Here is everything you need to know.
What is the Duolingo English Test Access Program?
The Access Program is Duolingo's official initiative to support students who cannot afford the Duolingo English Test fee.
- The DET normally costs USD 59 (approximately 5,643 INR).
- Under this program, eligible students pay $0.
- It is not a discount — it is a 100% fee waiver.
The program is run in partnership with 1,800+ universities, schools, and NGOs worldwide.
Who Can Get the Duolingo Fee Waiver?
Students cannot apply for the waiver on their own. The waiver must come through an institution or organisation.
The following can request fee waivers on behalf of students:
- Universities and colleges that accept the DET. Check a comprehensive list here
- Non-profit organisations supporting students with university pathways.
- Teachers who are also acting as college counsellors for their students.
- Schools supporting low-income applicants.
Note for Indian students: If you are applying to a university abroad, check if your target university is a DET-accepting institution. They may have Access Program waivers available for you.
Who CANNOT get the waiver:
- Recruitment agencies and consultancies are not eligible for Access Program fee waivers.
How Does the Duolingo Fee Waiver Work?
Once an institution gets the fee waiver codes from Duolingo, here is what happens:
- The institution assigns the waiver to a specific student.
- Duolingo sends an email to the student with instructions to accept the offer.
- The student must accept the offer and redeem the code in their DET account.
- After redeeming, the student has 21 days to take the test.
- If the test is not taken within 21 days, the waiver expires.
Each fee waiver is for individual use only: one waiver, one student.
How Many Times Can a Student Use the Waiver?
This is important for Indian students to know:
- One student can use only one fee waiver.
- The Access Program provides one free test per student only.
- Students must follow the same test rules as any other DET test taker. Check the rules here
- There is no second chance under the waiver if the test is not certified.
Duolingo recommends using all free practice and prep resources at englishtest.duolingo.com/readiness before taking the test.
Check some free Duolingo Practice Tests by Collegedunia for 2026
How Often Are Fee Waivers Given Out?
- Universities receive their Access Program fee waivers once a year.
- Waivers are valid for that year's admission cycle.
- In special situations, such as natural disasters or political conflict, Duolingo makes additional waivers available to affected students through partner universities.
The Duolingo English Test Access Program makes English proficiency testing more accessible for low-income students by offering a full fee waiver through universities, schools, NGOs, and counsellors. For Indian students planning to study abroad, checking with DET-accepting institutions early can help them access this one-time opportunity and avoid missing important deadlines.
FAQs
Ques. Can an Indian student apply for the DET fee waiver directly on the Duolingo website?
Ans. No. Students cannot apply on their own. The waiver must be requested by an institution, school, teacher, or NGO on the student's behalf.
Ques. Is the fee waiver a discount or a full waiver?
Ans. It is a full waiver. Students pay $0 to take the DET under the Access Program — not a partial discount.
Ques. What happens if I don't take the test within 21 days of redeeming the waiver?
Ans. The waiver expires after 21 days of redemption. You will not get another free attempt under the Access Program.
Ques. Can a student use more than one fee waiver to get multiple free attempts?
Ans. No. The Access Program provides only one free test per student. Multiple waivers cannot be used by the same student.
Ques. Can my study abroad consultancy or agent get a fee waiver for me?
Ans. No. Recruitment agencies and consultancies are not eligible for Access Program fee waivers. Only institutions and non-profit organisations can request them.
Ques. Does the DET fee waiver affect how my results are seen by universities?
Ans. No. Results from a waiver-based test are the same as any other DET result. Institutions can view them normally through their dashboard.
Ques. How does a teacher in India request a fee waiver for a student?
Ans. A teacher who is also acting as a college counsellor can email institutional+access@duolingo.com from their professional email to inquire about eligibility.
Ques. Are DET fee waivers available every year or only once?
Ans. Universities receive waivers once a year for that admission cycle. Extra waivers may be made available in special situations like natural disasters or political crises.
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