Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship 2026 for African Writers

Applications are now open for the Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship 2026, a prestigious opportunity that supports talented African writers with financial assistance to complete the first draft of a new book. Established by the Miles Morland Foundation (MMF), the scholarship is designed to give writers the financial freedom to focus on writing without the pressure of earning a living during the scholarship period.

The scholarship is open to writers working in the English language who were born in Africa or whose both parents were born in Africa. Successful applicants receive funding while they work on a full-length fiction or non-fiction manuscript.

Scholarship Summary

• Host: Miles Morland Foundation (MMF)
• Scholarship Type: Writing Scholarship
• Eligible Applicants: African writers
• Language: English
• Scholarship Value: £18,000
• Duration: 12 months (with possible extension for some non-fiction projects)
• Application Opens: 1 July 2026
• Application Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Awards Announced: November 2026

Scholarship Benefits

Successful scholars will receive:

• A grant of £18,000, paid monthly over 12 months.
• For selected non-fiction writers who require additional research time, the Foundation may provide an additional grant, extending payments for up to 18 months.
• Financial freedom to focus on producing the first draft of a new book.
• Recognition from one of Africa’s most respected literary scholarship programmes.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Write in the English language.
• Be born in Africa, or have both parents born in Africa.
• Be writing a new full-length fiction or non-fiction book.
• Submit a previously published piece of writing that has been offered for sale.

The scholarship does not support:

• Poetry.
• Plays.
• Film scripts.
• Children’s books.
• Short story collections.
• Academic, scientific, religious, or political works.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit all of the following:

1. A 2,000–5,000-word excerpt from work that has been published and offered for sale (submitted as a Word document).
2. Proof of publication and proof that the work has been offered for sale.
3. A scanned official document proving that you, or both of your parents, were born in Africa.
4. A 400–1,000-word description of the new book you intend to write.
5. A 200–300-word biography.
6. A brief explanation of how you heard about the Morland Writing Scholarships.

Scholar Responsibilities

Recipients of the scholarship are expected to:

• Submit 10,000 new words every month to the Foundation throughout the scholarship period.
• Donate 20% of any advance or income earned from the book produced during the scholarship (including film rights, serialisations, or related revenues) back to the Foundation to support future writers. This is regarded as a debt of honour rather than a legally binding obligation.

Selection Process

Applications are assessed purely on literary merit by a panel of readers and judges appointed by the Foundation.

Shortlisted applicants may later be asked to provide additional information about their writing plans and personal circumstances before the final selection is made.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Visit the official Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship application page.
2. Prepare all required application documents.
3. Upload the documents through the online application portal.
4. Submit your application before the deadline.

The Foundation notes that applications are submitted through the online application portal on its website.

Application Timeline

• Applications Open: 1 July 2026
• Application Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Scholarship Winners Announced: November 2026

Conclusions

The Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarship 2026 is one of Africa’s most prestigious opportunities for emerging and established writers. With funding of up to £18,000, monthly financial support, and the freedom to focus on writing, the scholarship helps talented African authors complete a full-length book while advancing African literature on the global stage. If you have a compelling story to tell and meet the eligibility requirements, this is an excellent opportunity to invest in your writing career.