Research funding

IELTS has been developing and delivering English language tests since 1989. We are committed to ensuring our assessments are effective, relevant, and follow current best practices. That is why the IELTS Partners fund a wide range of research into English language testing, and use the results to constantly improve and optimise our own assessments.

Since 1995, over 140 external studies by over 350 individual researchers have been funded under this scheme. This research ensures that IELTS contributes to the growing understanding of the nature of language proficiency and its place within linguistics and language education.

The IELTS Partners invite educational institutions and qualified individuals to apply for funding to undertake IELTS-related applied research projects. The application process takes place each year between April and June.

What level and duration of funding is available?

The maximum value of funding for any one proposal is £45000/AUD$80000.

Projects should run over the course of one or two years. The research will culminate in a report of no more than 20000 words (excluding appendices).

What is covered by this funding?

Institutional overheads or taxes are covered, with a limit of 15% of budget on overheads.

The joint-funded research programme is not designed to cover extensive travel, large items of equipment, or conference attendance. Support may be given upon successful acceptance of a conference abstract once research is completed and published.

Applications for funding of PhD research projects are discouraged.

Who can apply?

We invite proposals from researchers and institutions with expertise and experience in language learning and assessment research. This includes suitably qualified researchers and organisations with a direct and ongoing connection with IELTS, e.g. consultants, examiners, and IELTS Administration Centres.

Both individuals and teams are invited to apply. Early-career researchers are encouraged to join a team led by more experienced researchers. 

We welcome applications that take an interdisciplinary approach to research and that bridge language testing and allied fields.

To find out more, read our guidelines for applying.

IELTS research areas of interest

We invite proposals for projects investigating:

The Academic or Migration Target Language Use domains in contexts where English is the language of use *

These studies may address the following:

• The characteristics of evolving Migration or Academic Target Language Use (TLU) domains regarding English language proficiency.
• The skills or abilities needed to successfully participate in this domain.
• The factors to be considered for language test design.
• The task or test innovations that may be appropriate for eliciting domain-relevant skills or abilities.

Test preparation practices

These studies may address the following:

• The relationship between test preparation strategies and test taker performance (including strategies designed to accommodate local student needs).
• The relationship between IELTS test preparation and language learning (including the development of skills for potential use beyond the test).

Issues relating to contexts of test use

These studies may address the following:

• The use of IELTS and IELTS scores in specific local contexts.
• Establishing appropriate IELTS score levels in specific contexts.

Issues of test impact

These studies may address the following:

• Attitudes and perceptions towards IELTS among users of test scores (e.g. test takers, teachers, admissions staff).
• The language assessment literacy of test score users and/or the effectiveness of approaches aiming to develop this.
• Use of new or emerging technologies in language assessment.
• All aspects of predictive validity.

*Notes for applicants submitting a proposal about Academic or Migration TLU domains:

The Academic TLU includes educational contexts (e.g. university EMI contexts)

The Migration TLU includes contexts where proof of English proficiency is required as part of the general migration, citizenship, or work visa process.

As part of your research design you may wish to refer to one or more specific contexts within the broader TLU. Selected contexts are expected to include real-world communication characteristics of the TLU.

Proposals can include both primary (conducted by your research team) and/or secondary (drawing on existing literature) research.

Recommendations regarding test design and test tasks should be suitable for scalable high-stakes international language proficiency tests.