As of April 26, 2026, funding for writers, including fellowships for creative writing, journalism, and media, is at a high level of activity. Many deadlines for undergraduate students in 2026 have already passed, but a number of well-known fully funded MFA programmes, journalism master’s programmes, and writing fellowships are still accepting applications for the late 2026 and 2027 cycles.
Here are the main funding opportunities for writers that are currently open or will be soon.
1. Fully Funded MFA in Creative Writing in the US
Many other graduate degrees don’t offer “Full Funding,” but top-tier MFA programmes in the US do. This means they pay for all of your tuition and give you a living stipend to write.
- • The University of Virginia (UVA):
- Current Status: Getting ready for the 2026/27 cycle.
- The award includes full tuition, health insurance, and a stipend of up to $37,080 for the first two years.
- • Note: First-year students will not have to teach in 2026–27, so they can focus entirely on their manuscript.
- • The University of Arizona:
- The Award: A three-year programme with full funding (about $22,500 per year) through Graduate Teaching Assistantships.
- You must turn in a high-quality creative writing portfolio that includes fiction, poetry, or non-fiction.
- Selection: Concentrated on “Aesthetic Statements” and the prospects of your thesis manuscript.
2. Erasmus Mundus: Journalism, Media, and Globalisation
This is the best scholarship in Europe for people who want to be journalists or write nonfiction.
- The prize is a full waiver of tuition fees and a monthly payment of €1,400 for up to 24 months.
- The status of the 2026/28 cycle has been changed as of January 2026.
- Intake: Each year, 80 to 90 students from different European universities (Aarhus, Amsterdam, Prague, etc.) are accepted into the programme.
- Selection: Based on grades and relevant work experience in journalism. Usually, applications for the 2027 intake open in late 2026.
3. African Liberty Writing Fellowship (with a global focus)
A one-of-a-kind programme for African students and graduates (even those who are already studying abroad) to improve their writing and media skills.
- • The current status is that applications are open.
- The deadline is April 30, 2026, which is only four days away!
- The award is a paid fellowship with a monthly stipend based on performance.
- Benefit: There is a five-week intensive training period from May 25 to June 22, followed by a full fellowship with hands-on editorial mentorship and publication in international outlets.
4. GREAT Scholarships for Literature and Media in the UK
The British Council and other organisations are working together to help Master’s students from Nigeria, India, and Turkey, among other countries.
- The Prize: At least £10,000 to help pay for a one-year taught Master’s programme.
- Deadlines for 2026: Different for each school. Many schools, like the University of Stirling and the University of Kent, have deadlines in May and June 2026.
- Requirement: You must have an offer from a UK university that is taking part in the programme and is in a relevant writing or media field.
5. Important 2026 Plan for Writers
This year, the most important document for winning a writing scholarship is your “Writing Sample”:
- Portfolio Polish: For MFA programmes, your 20–30 page writing sample is often more important than your GPA. Make sure your writing has a “unique and interesting voice”.
- For programmes like Erasmus Mundus or African Liberty, you need “clips”, which are published articles or high-quality blog posts. If you don’t have these, spend the next month writing on sites like Medium or Substack to show how far your work can reach.
- Literary Residencies: If you are a published author, look for residencies like the UNESCO City of Literature Wonju Residency (due May 31, 2026) or Varuna Fellowships. These often give you free housing and a small amount of money to write for one to two months.
- The “Ambassador” Role: For GREAT and Commonwealth scholarships, stress how your writing will help build cultural ties between your home country and the host country.
6. A summary of important deadlines (April/June 2026)
- The African Liberty Writing Fellowship ends on April 30, 2026.
- UNESCO Wonju Residency ends on May 31, 2026.
- Pulliam News Fellowship: $6,600 award on June 19, 2026.
- • L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future: A $5,000 prize will be given out on June 30, 2026.
- The 2027 cycle of Commonwealth Scholarships starts on October 14, 2026.