Immigration continues to shape Canada’s economy and enrich its society in countless ways. With Canada set to welcome more newcomers over the next three years through its Immigration Levels Plan, supporting diversity and ensuring equitable access to opportunities has never been more crucial.
Among these newcomers are refugee scholars—individuals driven to improve their lives through higher education, often fleeing conflict in pursuit of safety and a brighter future.
Barriers to accessing study in Canada
Canada has long demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions for refugees seeking academic opportunities. In recent years, higher education institutions and organizations have worked to make the path to education more accessible for refugee scholars. This has included establishing scholarships and bursaries, and offering guidance through the often-complex application processes.
Despite progress, navigating Canada’s education system remains challenging for many. There’s still work to be done to simplify academic admissions, increase access to funding, and enhance post-arrival support, making higher education truly accessible for all.
Duolingo’s role in removing barriers
Duolingo is tackling these challenges in two key ways. First, by partnering with universities and support organizations, we are helping refugee students take the next step in their educational journey, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support. Second, we provide an accessible and affordable way for refugee students to demonstrate their language proficiency.
Through the Duolingo University Access Program, our partnership with the UNHCR, we offer refugee students personalized guidance on navigating the university application process. This program supports students through admissions, including language testing via the Duolingo English Test, securing scholarships, and preparing for visa interviews.
We are proud to have helped dozens of scholars across the U.S. and Canada access higher education through this innovative program.
💡 Visit our Access page to learn more about the program and how your institution can get involved!
Unlocking opportunities with innovative technology
As Canada continues to welcome refugees, there remains much to do to dismantle the barriers in the migration process. Language testing, a crucial requirement for immigration, is one of these barriers. Traditional language proficiency tests are often expensive and logistically difficult for refugee scholars to access. Most tests are only available in major urban centers, which can require students to travel great distances—an impossibility for those in precarious situations, such as conflict zones. Furthermore, the cost of these tests, ranging from $300 to $400 CAD, is prohibitive for many.
One solution to this challenge is the DET. Unlike traditional tests that require in-person attendance and high fees, the DET offers a more affordable and accessible alternative. Refugee scholars can take this secure, trusted test online, from anywhere in the world. The DET is recognized by hundreds of Canadian universities, allowing refugee students to use it as a gateway to achieving their academic goals.
A more inclusive future for refugee scholars
Canada has long been a leader in resettlement and education, but there is still work to be done to ensure that the system supports refugee scholars. By fostering innovative partnerships to break down barriers and making language testing more accessible, we can create a future where education is within reach for all students, regardless of their background.
We at Duolingo thrive on solving problems worth solving and this one is at the top of our list. If you are interested in learning more about how your institution or organization can get involved in helping to facilitate access to safe pathways for refugee scholars, we’d very much like to hear from you!