The Miles Morland Writing Scholarships 2026 offer an £18,000 grant to African writers working on full-length English books. Funded by the Miles Morland Foundation, this program provides selected authors with a monthly £1,500 stipend for 12 months (or up to £27,000 over 18 months for non-fiction) to complete an 80,000-word draft.
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The grant is open to unpublished and developing writers born in Africa or with African-born parents who have previously published a 2,000-to-5,000-word commercial work. Applications open on July 1, 2026, and close on September 22, 2026. Information verified August 2026 from the official source.
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MMF Writing Fellowships: Foundation Background and History
The Miles Morland Foundation established these annual scholarships in 2013 to address a structural challenge across the African publishing landscape. While the continent produces exceptional literary talent, many writers struggle to complete full-length manuscripts because they must balance full-time, income-generating work with the long hours required to draft a book. The Foundation designed this program to eliminate that financial constraint by replacing standard job income with a direct monthly stipend.
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Rather than operating as a traditional university fellowship or academic residency, the program functions as a remote grant. Selected writers—designated as Morland Scholars—do not relocate to the UK or attend mandatory physical classes. Instead, they work from their home countries or anywhere globally, provided they meet a strict target of submitting 10,000 original words every month to the Foundation.
Beyond monthly financial backing, the initiative connects Scholars with publishing professionals, editors, and literary agents once their manuscript draft reaches completion. The Foundation does not act as a publisher or claim copyright ownership over the final manuscript. Instead, Scholars retain complete intellectual property rights, with the single condition that they return 20% of future earnings from the book as a debt of honor to help fund grants for future African writers.
Miles Morland Writing Scholarships Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Miles Morland Writing |
| Host Country ⇒ | Global |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | £18,000 total grant paid monthly over 12 months (Up to £27,000 over 18 months for non-fiction) |
| Funded by ⇒ | Miles Morland Foundation (MMF) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | African Countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | September 22, 2026 — 23:59 UTC |
Financial Support and Scholar Benefits
Selected Scholars receive continuous financial backing alongside post-completion industry guidance:
- £18,000 Total Cash Grant: Paid out in equal monthly installments of £1,500 over a 12-month period for fiction projects.
- Extended Non-Fiction Term: Non-fiction authors who demonstrate an extensive research process can receive funding up to 18 months, bringing total grant value to £27,000.
- Mentorship Access: After finishing the book manuscript, Scholars receive access to advice and guidance from professional authors, agents, or publishing figures.
- Total Geographical Freedom: The grant is entirely non-residential, meaning you can live and write anywhere in the world during the award period.
- Creative Independence: You retain full ownership of your manuscript, though Scholars are asked to return 20% of future earnings (including movie rights) back to the Foundation as a debt of honor to fund future writers.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for consideration for the Miles Morland Writing Scholarships 2026, you must meet every criterion detailed below:
- African Heritage or Origin: You must have been born in an African nation, or both of your parents must have been born in an African country. You will be required to upload official documentation—such as a passport or birth certificate—to verify your or your parents’ place of birth.
- Language Requirement: All submitted materials, including your published writing sample, book proposal, biography, and the final manuscript itself, must be written entirely in English.
- Commercial Publication History: You must provide a published writing sample of between 2,000 and 5,000 words in Microsoft Word format. This piece must have been published commercially and offered for public sale, accompanied by verifiable proof of publication and commercial availability.
- Unstarted Book Project: Your proposal must be for a brand-new, full-length book project that you have not yet started writing. The intended finished manuscript must be at least 80,000 words in length.
- Personal Biography: You must submit a concise biography of 200 to 300 words outlining your personal background, writing history, and literary achievements.
- Ineligible Book Genres (Disqualifiers): The Foundation accepts proposals only for full-length adult fiction or non-fiction prose. Your application will be automatically disqualified if your proposed project or submitted writing sample falls into any of the following categories:
- Plays and theatrical scripts
- Poetry collections or individual poems
- Children’s books and young adult literature
- Film or television screenplays
- Academic papers, research dissertations, or scholarly texts
- Short story collections
- Works devoted primarily to religious devotion or political advocacy
Required Documents
Ensure you prepare all six files before accessing the application portal:
- Published Writing Sample: A 2,000 to 5,000 word piece in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
- Proof of Commercial Sale: Verifiable proof that your submitted writing sample was published and sold commercially.
- Book Proposal: A detailed outline of your planned manuscript between 400 and 1,000 words.
- Official Identity Document: Scanned proof of birth in Africa for yourself, or scanned birth certificates for both of your parents.
- Personal Biography: A 200 to 300 word summary describing yourself and your literary path.
- Referral Note: A brief explanation describing how you learned about the Morland Writing Scholarships.
The Selection Process
Entries are assessed strictly on literary merit by an independent panel of judges.
- Initial Assessment: The judging panel reviews the initial proposal, published work, and eligibility documents submitted during the application window.
- Shortlist Stage: Shortlisted candidates are contacted by late October 2026 and must submit a sample chapter (3,000 to 4,000 words) from their proposed manuscript within 15 days.
- Final Selection: The Foundation announces the four winning Scholars in November 2026.
- Monthly Requirements: Once awarded, Scholars must write and submit 10,000 new words every month to keep receiving their monthly installment, targeting an eventual draft of at least 80,000 words.
How to Apply
Follow this step-by-step guide to prepare and submit your application correctly before the closing deadline:
- Prepare and Format Your Required Files: Gather all six required application materials. Save your published writing sample as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx format) rather than a PDF. Ensure your proof of commercial sale, identity verification documents, project proposal (400–1,000 words), biography (200–300 words), and referral note meet the length and formatting requirements.
- Confirm Literary Genre Eligibility: Verify on the official guidelines that your proposed manuscript qualifies as adult fiction or non-fiction prose. Confirm that your proposal does not contain elements of excluded genres, such as poetry, plays, screenplays, children’s literature, or academic papers.
- Access the Official Submission Portal: Visit the official Miles Morland Foundation website during the open application window (July 1 to September 22, 2026). Locate and click the application link labeled “Morland Writing Scholarship Application” to open the secure submission form.
- Complete the Online Application Form: Enter your personal details, contact information, and nationality information into the designated fields. Ensure the email address you provide is active and checked regularly, as shortlisting notifications are sent via email.
- Upload Documents and Submit: Attach your formatted files to their corresponding fields in the portal. Review every attached document to confirm files are readable and complete before clicking the final submit button. Once submitted, save your confirmation receipt for your records.
Application Deadline
The 2026 application window opened on July 1, 2026, and closes on September 22, 2026. Late submissions or incomplete document packages are not evaluated. Submit your materials well before September 22 to avoid technical issues during final portal traffic peak hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit a collection of short stories or a poetry book?
No. The scholarship accepts proposals only for full-length adult fiction or non-fiction books. Plays, scripts, children’s books, short stories, and academic papers are excluded.
Is there an age limit for applicants?
No age limit is stated. Any writer born in an African nation, or whose parents were both born in Africa, can apply as long as they meet the published work requirement.
Do I need to relocate to the UK or a specific host country?
No. The award is completely non-residential, allowing Scholars to reside in any location while writing.
Is the 20% repayment on future earnings legally binding?
No. Returning 20% of book revenue back to the Foundation is a debt of honor designed to support future scholarship awardees, not a legal contract.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Miles Morland Writing Scholarships website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Miles Morland Foundation.
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