The Humber School for Writers is seeking applications from PEN Canada’s Writers-in-Exile members for its 28-week Creative Writing graduate certificate online mentorship program commencing in September 2025.
The PEN Canada-Humber Polytechnic Writers-in-Exile Scholarship (a full scholarship) is available to a writer who:
- is working on a book-length project: a novel, memoir, feature-length screenplay or full-length play; or a collection of poetry, short fiction or creative nonfiction essays; or a portfolio of picture books, early readers and/or middle grade readers
- has a post-secondary degree
- can write with sufficient English proficiency
- is a member of PEN Canada’s Writers in Exile program
- is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Humber’s Creative Writing graduate certificate program helps you improve your writing from the comfort of your own home. You’ll work one-on-one with a professional writer-mentor to improve your book-length project, learning how to develop plot, character, imagery, style, and more through feedback on your own manuscript. For more experienced writers, the dialogue is one of peer-to-peer. The term runs for 28 weeks from September 2025-April 2026. The scholarship recipient must apply to the program through Ontario Colleges.
Humber is noted for its exceptional creative writing mentors including authors of world stature. Past mentors include Martin Amis, Peter Carey, Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Esi Edugyan, Nino Ricci, Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Hill, Anne Michaels, Edward Albee, Ha Jin and Alistair MacLeod. Recent international authors have included Jenny Offill, Nell Freudenberger, and Ben Fountain.
This is a project-based program in which you meet the learning outcomes by working through your own manuscript. As well, you will attend weekly online classes synchronously or asynchronously to discuss craft, readings, and the writing process to support your development.
Eligibility
Applicants must be a current member of the PEN Canada Writers in Exile program.
To become a member, you must be an immigrant writer or artist whose voice was suppressed in your home country and then came to Canada seeking refuge, justice, or freedom of expression. If you fulfill this criteria and would like to become a member, please email queries@pencanada.ca to receive the membership application form.
How to apply for the scholarship
To apply, please email the following documents to PEN Canada at queries@pencanada.ca
- A 15-page writing sample, preferably an excerpt from the writing project you wish to pursue.
- Proof of having acquired a post-secondary degree (minimum 2 years). For example: a copy of your university or college degree, or a transcript. A WES evaluation may be required depending on the country where the post-secondary degree was completed.
- Proof of English Language Proficiency: if your previous education is from a country where the first language is not English, then you must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy.
The application deadline is Monday, June 2, 2025.
If you have questions or difficulties providing the documentation, please indicate this in your application.
