Introduction:
For writers who have spent years chasing quiet hours between day jobs and deadlines, a month set aside purely for writing can feel like a luxury out of reach. The Hong Kong Baptist University International Writers’ Workshop offers exactly that. Published authors from anywhere in the world, apart from Hong Kong itself, can apply for a fully funded four-week residency running from 26 February to 25 March 2027.
The programme covers flights, campus housing, and a daily allowance, and it closes with a literary festival built around the theme of “Inheritance.” There is no application fee, and writers working in English or Chinese, across genres from poetry to graphic fiction, are all welcome to submit. The deadline to apply is 14 August 2026.
Key Details:
- Programme Name: International Writers’ Workshop (IWW) Writers-in-Residence Programme 2027
- Host Institution: Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
- Residency Dates: 26 February 2027 to 25 March 2027 (4 weeks)
- Festival Theme: “Inheritance”
- Application Deadline: 14 August 2026
- Result Notification: November 2026
- Funding Type: Fully funded (airfare, accommodation, and per diem included)
- Application Fee: None
- Eligible Nationalities: Open to writers of all nationalities, provided they currently live outside Hong Kong
- Languages Accepted: English, Mandarin, or Cantonese
- Genres Accepted: Creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, drama, digital writing, graphic forms, and libretti
What This Residency Offers:
Writers accepted into the programme step away from the usual grind of freelance deadlines or teaching schedules and gain something rarer: uninterrupted time inside a supportive literary community. Here’s what participants actually walk away with.
- Financial relief from travel costs. A roundtrip economy class ticket is arranged and paid for, removing one of the biggest barriers that keeps international writers from applying to residencies abroad.
- A place to live for the full month. On-campus accommodation at HKBU means writers don’t need to hunt for short-term rentals in one of Asia’s most expensive cities, and they get to be embedded in a university environment rather than isolated in a hotel.
- Daily living support. The per diem covers food and incidental expenses, so writers can focus on their work instead of budgeting every meal.
- A built-in audience and creative dialogue. The programme culminates in the IWW Literary Festival, giving writers a platform to share new work in front of an engaged, literature-focused crowd rather than writing entirely for the drawer.
- International peer connections. Since its founding in 2004, IWW has brought in more than 150 writers from over 60 countries, so residents join a long lineage of authors who’ve built lasting professional relationships through the programme.
- Institutional credibility. Being selected for one of Asia’s most respected writer residencies adds real weight to a CV and can open doors to future grants, teaching invitations, or publishing opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria:
Before putting together an application, check that these three conditions are met.
- The applicant must have at least one literary book published through an established press; books that were self-published do not qualify.
- The applicant must currently be based outside of Hong Kong at the time of application.
- The applicant must be able to communicate comfortably in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
There’s no restriction tied to nationality, career stage beyond having a traditionally published book, or age, which makes this residency accessible to a genuinely global pool of writers.
Genres and Fields Eligible:
Applicants may submit work from any of the following categories:
- Creative Nonfiction
- Digital Writing
- Drama
- Fiction
- Graphic Forms
- Libretti
- Poetry
Writers whose original work isn’t in English or Chinese need to submit a translated version alongside the original, so language shouldn’t be treated as an automatic disqualifier even if a writer’s home language differs from the two accepted for communication purposes.
What Residents Are Expected to Do:
Funding a writer for a month isn’t a passive gesture on HKBU’s part, and the university does ask for commitment in return.
- Be present for the entire four-week residency period, from 26 February to 25 March 2027, without early departure or late arrival.
- Attend the Welcome Ceremony held during the first week of the residency.
- Take part in the closing Literary Festival, ideally sharing a piece connected to this year’s theme of “Inheritance,” although work unrelated to the theme is still accepted.
Documents You’ll Need to Prepare:
A complete application isn’t just a form; it’s a small portfolio. Here’s everything that needs to go into the final submission.
- Artist’s Statement: One page, single-spaced, written in either English or Chinese, describing the applicant’s body of work and what they hope to accomplish during the residency. If written in Chinese, a one-paragraph English summary must be attached.
- Writing Sample: 10 to 12 pages of recent work in any of the eligible genres. If the original piece isn’t in English or Chinese, a translated version must be included as well.
- CV or Resume: A current summary of the applicant’s professional and literary background.
- Two Referees: Names and email addresses of two people who can speak to the applicant’s work.
- Formatting Requirements: Every document should use 12-point type with 1-inch margins throughout.
How to Apply:
- Compile the Artist’s Statement, writing sample, CV, and referee contact details into a single PDF file.
- Double-check formatting: 12-point font and 1-inch margins across every page.
- Email the completed PDF to iww@hkbu.edu.hk before 14 August 2026.
- Wait for a decision, which HKBU says will be communicated by November 2026.
There’s no online portal involved, so applicants should keep a copy of the sent email as confirmation and make sure the file size doesn’t cause delivery issues.
About Hong Kong Baptist University and the IWW:
Hong Kong Baptist University stands out among the city’s public universities for the weight it puts behind creative disciplines, spanning Creative Writing, Film and Screen Studies, Literary Studies, Music, Translation, and Visual Arts. The International Writers’ Workshop grew out of that institutional focus back in 2004, and over two decades it has quietly built a reputation as one of the more serious literary residencies in Asia. More than 150 writers from over 60 countries have gone through the programme, which says something about how consistently HKBU has kept the doors open to voices from very different literary traditions.
Why the 2027 Theme Matters:
This year’s Literary Festival is built around “Inheritance,” a theme broad enough to hold family history, language loss, cultural memory, political legacy, or even the inheritance of literary form itself. HKBU has been clear that connecting to the theme is encouraged, not required, which gives writers room to bring in whatever they’re already working on rather than manufacturing something theme-specific from scratch. For writers whose current manuscripts already touch on generational stories, migration, or the passing down of tradition and trauma, this residency offers a natural stage; for everyone else, there’s no pressure to force a fit.
FAQs?:
Is this residency fully funded, or do writers need to cover part of the cost themselves?
It’s fully funded. HKBU covers roundtrip economy airfare, four weeks of campus accommodation, and a per diem for daily expenses.
Can self-published authors apply?
No. The programme requires at least one literary book published through an established press, and self-published titles don’t meet this requirement.
Do applicants need to be fluent in Chinese to apply?
No. A functional command of English, Mandarin, or Cantonese is enough to meet the language requirement.
What if my writing sample isn’t originally in English or Chinese?
A translated version must be submitted alongside the original work, so writing in other languages is still accepted as long as translation is provided.
Is there an application fee?
No, the application process is completely free.
When will applicants know if they’ve been selected?
HKBU has stated that results will be shared by November 2026, a few months after the August application deadline.
Can writers from any country apply?
Yes. The residency is open to writers of any nationality, with the only geographic condition being that applicants must currently live outside Hong Kong.
