TOEFL & Duolingo Requirements for GBA Universities (2027 Intake)

Most guides about studying in China talk about IELTS — but what if you took the TOEFL, or prefer the at-home convenience of the Duolingo English Test? The good news: virtually every English-taught program in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) accepts TOEFL, and a growing number of mainland universities now officially accept Duolingo. Below are the actual score requirements drawn from our verified program database for the 2027 intake.

Rule of thumb: mainland universities in the GBA accept TOEFL scores in the 68–80 range, Hong Kong universities ask for 79–93, and Macau sits in between at 78. Duolingo is accepted at Shenzhen University (100), SUSTech (95), SCUT (112) and Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (115).

TOEFL Scores for Hong Kong Universities (Bachelor's)

Hong Kong's eight UGC-funded universities publish explicit TOEFL equivalences alongside IELTS. These figures apply to undergraduate admission:

University	TOEFL iBT	IELTS equivalent	Bachelor's tuition
The University of Hong Kong	93	6.5	HK$224,000–249,000/yr
HKUST	80	6.5 (sub-scores ≥ 5.5)	HK$215,000/yr
CUHK	80	6.0	HK$214,000/yr
EdUHK	80	6.0	HK$180,000/yr
HKBU	80	6.0	HK$175,000/yr
PolyU	80	6.0	HK$200,000/yr
Lingnan University	79	6.0	HK$175,000/yr
CityU Hong Kong	79	6.5	HK$145,000/yr

Notice the spread: only HKU demands more than 80. If your TOEFL is in the high 70s, CityU Hong Kong — the most affordable of the eight at HK$145,000 per year — and Lingnan are realistic targets. Some Hong Kong universities also accept SAT evidence of English proficiency (HKU: SAT 610 Reading & Writing; CUHK/PolyU: SAT 590 EBRW).

TOEFL Scores for Macau Universities

All four major Macau universities use the same benchmark for their English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 78.

• University of Macau — Arts & Humanities, Business, Science & Technology bachelor's, MOP 80,000/yr
• Macau University of Science and Technology — bilingual programs, MOP 95,000–110,000/yr
• City University of Macau — business, tourism and cultural industries programs, MOP 70,000–120,000/yr
• Macao Polytechnic University — Portuguese, arts, public administration and sports science, MOP 60,000–70,000/yr

A TOEFL 78 is one of the most accessible entry points into an English-medium degree anywhere in the GBA — and Macau tuition is roughly half of Hong Kong's.

TOEFL & Duolingo Scores for Mainland GBA Universities

Mainland universities are the most flexible. English-taught bachelor's programs typically accept TOEFL 68–80, and several accept Duolingo:

University	TOEFL	Duolingo	Program example
SCUT	68 (bachelor) / 80 (master & PhD)	112 (master/PhD)	Liberal Arts Bachelor ¥18,200/yr
SUSTech	75 (bachelor) / 90 (master & PhD)	95 (bachelor)	Science & Engineering ¥10,000–30,000/yr
SCNU	75	—	Various bachelor's ¥16,600/yr
Sun Yat-sen University	79	—	English-taught bachelor/master ¥26,000–30,000/yr
Jinan University	80	—	International Economics & Trade ¥28,000/yr
Shenzhen University	80	100	English-taught bachelor ¥26,000/yr
Guangzhou Medical University	80	—	English-taught MBBS ¥40,000/yr
GZUCM	80	—	Chinese Medicine (English) ¥25,000/yr
GDUFS	80	—	English-taught bachelor ¥20,000/yr
BNBU (Zhuhai)	80	—	All-English bachelor ¥110,000/yr
Shantou University	80	—	English-taught MBBS ¥40,000/yr

The cheapest TOEFL entry point: SCUT at 68

South China University of Technology accepts TOEFL 68 / IELTS 5.5 for its English-taught bachelor's programs — the lowest published TOEFL bar in the GBA — at tuition from just ¥18,200 per year. For comparison, the same score would not be considered at any Hong Kong university.

TOEFL & Duolingo for Master's and PhD Programs

Graduate requirements are generally slightly higher than undergraduate ones:

• Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen — English-taught master's (e.g. Computer Technology, ¥35,000/yr) and PhD (¥42,000/yr): TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0 (sub-scores ≥ 5.5) / Duolingo 115
• SCUT — English-taught master's and PhD (e.g. Information & Communication Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, ¥34,000–40,000/yr): TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.0 / Duolingo 112
• SUSTech — English-taught master's and PhD (e.g. Biomedical Engineering, ¥10,000–30,000/yr): IELTS 6.5 (sub ≥ 6.0) / TOEFL 90
• Guangzhou University — master's and PhD: TOEFL ≥ 72 / IELTS ≥ 5.5, tuition ¥20,000–23,000/yr
• Sun Yat-sen University — English-taught graduate tracks: TOEFL 79 / IELTS 6.5
• Foshan University — English-taught Agriculture master's (¥5,710–10,000/yr): IELTS 6.0 or HSK 4

Is Duolingo Accepted in China? Yes — at These GBA Universities

The Duolingo English Test costs a fraction of TOEFL/IELTS and can be taken at home in under an hour. In the GBA it is officially accepted at:

• SUSTech — Duolingo 95 for English-taught bachelor's
• Shenzhen University — Duolingo 100 for all English-taught levels
• SCUT — Duolingo 112 for English-taught master's and PhD
• Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen — Duolingo 115 for English-taught master's and PhD

Hong Kong and Macau universities do not list Duolingo in our verified data — plan on TOEFL or IELTS for those systems.

No Test Score Yet? Alternative Routes

• Medium-of-instruction certificate — Shantou University accepts a certificate showing your previous schooling was in English, in place of TOEFL/IELTS.
• Foundation programs — if your English (or Chinese) is not yet at the required level, a preparatory year bridges you into degree study. See our foundation program guide.
• Chinese-taught programs — swap the English test for HSK. Our HSK requirements guide explains the levels, and Chinese language program costs shows how to get there cheaply.
• Other accepted tests — Jinan University also lists SAT 1030 as evidence of English ability for its English-taught bachelor's.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study in the GBA without IELTS?

Yes. Every university listed above accepts TOEFL as a full alternative, four accept Duolingo, and Shantou University accepts a medium-of-instruction certificate. For Chinese-taught programs, HSK replaces English tests entirely.

What TOEFL score do I need for Hong Kong universities?

Between 79 and 93 depending on the school — CityU and Lingnan at 79 are the most accessible, HKU at 93 the most demanding.

Is Duolingo easier than TOEFL?

It is shorter (about one hour), cheaper and taken from home. Score requirements in the GBA run from 95 (SUSTech) to 115 (HIT Shenzhen for graduate study).

Once you have your score, the next step is paperwork — our application documents checklist and 2027 deadline calendar cover what comes next. For a full comparison of English-taught options, see the cheapest English-taught programs in the GBA.