If you have a book you have been meaning to write, the Miles Morland Foundation wants to hear from you.

The 2026 Morland Writing Scholarships for African writers opened for entries on 1 July, with a deadline of 22 September. Each year, the Foundation awards a small number of scholarships with a single, clear purpose: to give African writers the time and financial breathing room to complete the first draft of a book.

Grant Scholars receive £18,000, paid out monthly over twelve months. For non-fiction writers who need additional research time, the Foundation may extend that support for up to eighteen months. This is not a residency programme. You do not have to move anywhere or attend anything. You simply get to write.

The premise behind the scholarships is as practical as it is generous. It can be difficult for writers, before they become established, to write while simultaneously earning a living. The Morland Scholarships exist to close that gap for long enough that a book becomes possible.

The scholarships are open to writers born in Africa, or with both parents born in Africa, who are working in English. Applicants must submit a previously published excerpt of their work, between 2,000 and 5,000 words. The Foundation is clear that it is looking for writers who are ready to begin something new: while there is no rule against resubmitting previous proposals, the judges would prefer fresh submissions and new book proposals.

Last year the Foundation received over 800 submissions. This year, judges will have the difficult task of selecting just four new scholars.

The Miles Morland Foundation is a UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting initiatives that enable Africans to tell their own stories and share their perspectives with global audiences. Since its founding, it has become one of the most consequential direct-funding mechanisms for African writers working in English, an annual intervention that has helped produce novels, memoirs, and works of nonfiction that might otherwise have taken years longer to reach the page, or never arrived at all.

To apply: Visit milesmorlandfoundation.com and review the Entry Requirements and FAQs before submitting. All enquiries can be directed to scholarships@milesmorlandfoundation.com. Applications submitted outside the 1 July–22 September window will not be considered.

The book you want to write is already overdue. This might be the year you write it.