World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program
IELTS Requirement & Application Guide
Use this listing to plan your research, not as confirmation of eligibility. Requirements, funding and deadlines can change. Confirm your course and current application cycle with the official provider. An unknown requirement is not a waiver.
- IELTS
- 6.5
- Components
- L 6 / R 6 / W 6 / S 6
- Study level
- PhD
- Deadline
- September–November
Last verified: 2026-03
About World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program
The World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program supports PhD researchers from developing countries conducting research on development topics for 5–10 months at a renowned institution outside their home country. It provides up to $25,000 for research expenses, travel costs, and health insurance.
Listed IELTS requirement
| Overall | L | R | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Accepts: Academic ✓ / General ✗
Also accepted: TOEFL iBT 79
Tips for Meeting the Requirement
- 1The McNamara Fellowship requires IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component. As a PhD-level research fellowship, strong academic writing (IELTS Writing Band 7.0+) is especially valuable.
- 2Apply between September and November. The fellowship is research-focused, so use IELTS preparation to hone your ability to read academic papers quickly and write clear research summaries.
- 3Your research proposal is the most critical part of the application. Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 with topics related to your development research area to refine your academic argumentation skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
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