Applications are now open for the 2025 Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarships, an opportunity for emerging African writers to develop full-length books while receiving financial support.
The scholarship, offered by the Miles Morland Foundation, was established to honour Miles Morland, a businessman who dedicated much of his career to Africa through the investment firms Blakeney Management and DPI (Development Partners International).
The programme is designed to empower writers facing publishing challenges by giving them the time and financial backing to produce the first draft of a full-length book.
What the Scholarship Covers
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Scholars will receive £18,000, paid monthly over a 12-month period.
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Writers working on non-fiction projects that require extended research may be eligible for additional funding, extending the scholarship up to 18 months.
Who Can Apply
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Applicants must write in English and must either be born in Africa or have both parents born in Africa.
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The proposed work must be adult fiction or non-fiction. The scholarship does not support poetry, plays, film scripts, short stories, or children’s books.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered, applicants must:
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Submit an excerpt of 2,000 to 5,000 words from a previously published and commercially sold piece of work, written in English.
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Provide evidence of publication and sale for the submitted excerpt.
Proposed Book Requirements
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Submit a detailed description (400–1,000 words) of the new book you intend to write. This must be:
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A full-length work (minimum 80,000 words)
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Original and unpublished
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Written solely by the applicant (no collaborative works)
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Written in English
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Application Documents
Applicants must upload the following:
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Proof of publication and proof of commercial sale of your writing sample.
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A detailed proposal of the book you intend to write.
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A scan of an official document showing that you, or both of your parents, were born in Africa.
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A brief bio (200–300 words).
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A short essay explaining how you heard about the Morland Writing Scholarships.
Submit all documents through the application form here.
Deadline: September 19, 2025
Applications are open for the 2025 Miles Morland Foundation Writing Scholarships, which support emerging African writers in producing full-length books with financial assistance. Originating to honor Miles Morland, who significantly contributed to Africa through investment, the scholarship aims to help writers overcome publishing challenges by providing the time and funds needed to draft a book.
The scholarship offers £18,000 over 12 months, with potential extensions up to 18 months for those in non-fiction requiring further research. Eligible applicants must write in English and be of African descent either by birth or parentage. The supported genres include adult fiction or non-fiction only.
Applicants must submit a 2,000-5,000 word excerpt from published work, evidence of its publication, and a comprehensive proposal for a new, unpublished, full-length book to be written independently. Additionally, a series of documents, including proof of African origin, a brief bio, and an essay on how they learned about the scholarship, are required.
The application deadline is September 19, 2025, and all submissions should be made through the provided application form link.
