Duke University accepts TOEFL iBT across undergraduate admissions and all graduate/professional schools — Pratt (engineering), Fuqua (business), Duke Law, and Sanford (public policy) — each with its own requirements and competitive benchmarks.
Does Duke Accept TOEFL?
Yes. Duke accepts TOEFL iBT for English language proficiency across all schools. IELTS Academic and the Duolingo English Test are also accepted at most levels.
TOEFL MyBest Scores: Duke's graduate and professional schools generally accept TOEFL MyBest superscores, but confirm with your specific programme — some (notably Duke Law LLM) prefer single-sitting scores.
Duke TOEFL Requirements — Undergraduate
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formal minimum | None published |
| Competitive score | 105 – 120 |
| Notes | Required for all applicants whose first language is not English |
Duke does not publish a hard undergraduate TOEFL floor, but competitive international admits typically score well above 100 — reflecting the reading- and writing-intensive first-year curriculum.
Duke TOEFL Requirements — Graduate and Professional Schools
Pratt School of Engineering
| Programme | Minimum TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MS (most departments) | 90 iBT | 100 – 115 |
| PhD | 90 iBT | 100 – 115 |
Pratt's Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering programmes are the most internationally competitive — admitted students commonly present 105+.
Fuqua School of Business
| Programme | Minimum TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time MBA (Daytime) | No formal minimum | 100 – 115 |
| Master of Management Studies (MMS) | 90 iBT | 90 – 100 |
| Master of Quantitative Management (MQM) | 90 iBT | 95 – 110 |
Duke Law
| Programme | Minimum TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| JD | No formal minimum | 110+ |
| LLM | 100 iBT | 105 – 120 |
| SJD | 100 iBT | 105 – 120 |
Duke Law's LLM minimum of 100 iBT is among the highest of any US law school — a reflection of the writing- and discussion-heavy JD-adjacent curriculum that LLM students join alongside domestic JD candidates.
Sanford School of Public Policy
| Programme | Minimum TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Policy (MPP) | 90 iBT | 95 – 110 |
| PhD in Public Policy | 90 iBT | 100 – 115 |
Duke TOEFL — Summary Table
| School / Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | No formal min | 105 – 120 |
| Pratt School (MS/PhD) | 90 | 100 – 115 |
| Fuqua MBA | No formal min | 100 – 115 |
| Duke Law (LLM) | 100 | 105 – 120 |
| Sanford (MPP) | 90 | 95 – 110 |
TOEFL Per-Section Strategy for Duke
Writing (target 24–30)
Duke's undergraduate seminars and every graduate/professional programme demand sustained analytical writing. Target Writing 24+ for competitive graduate applications, and 26+ for Duke Law LLM.
Speaking (target 23–28)
Fuqua's team-based case method and Pratt's research culture both reward strong spoken English, particularly for students pursuing teaching or research assistantships. Target Speaking 23+.
Reading and Listening (target 25–30)
Both sections should track closely with your Writing/Speaking scores — an uneven profile signals a specific weakness that admissions committees notice even when the total score looks competitive.
Undergraduate TOEFL at Duke — No Published Floor, High Practical Bar
Duke's lack of a formal undergraduate minimum does not mean low scores are acceptable — the absence of a floor simply means language proficiency is assessed as part of the full holistic file. In practice, competitive international admits score 105 or higher.
TOEFL vs. IELTS for Duke
Both tests are accepted equally at every Duke school. There is no Duke programme that accepts one test but not the other.
Score Validity at Duke
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Ensure your score remains valid through your application's full review period — Early Decision deadlines fall in November, Regular Decision in January for undergraduates; graduate deadlines vary by school.
Common Mistakes Duke TOEFL Applicants Make
Submitting close to Pratt's 90 minimum. For Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering specifically, 90 is well below the realistic competitive range of 105+.
Missing Duke Law LLM's 100 iBT floor. This is one of the higher published law school TOEFL minimums in the US — candidates should build in meaningful headroom rather than aiming exactly at 100.
Underestimating Speaking for Fuqua. Fuqua's collaborative, discussion-heavy MBA culture means a low Speaking score raises real concerns about classroom participation, even when the total score is strong.
Start TOEFL preparation with Gabble — AI-powered speaking and writing feedback with instant scores. Know exactly where you stand against Duke Law's 100+ requirement or Pratt's 105+ competitive benchmark before you book your test.