Excerpt: HKBU’s fully funded 2027 writers residency offers airfare, campus housing, a stipend, and a month of literary exchange in Hong Kong for published authors worldwide. #hkbuiww #writersresidency #fullyfunded #hongkong #literaryfestival #writingopportunity
For writers looking for a serious international residency with strong institutional support, the HKBU International Writers’ Workshop 2027 stands out as one of the most appealing opportunities in Asia. Hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University, this four-week writers-in-residence programme brings published authors from around the world to Hong Kong from 26 February to 25 March 2027 for a month of literary work, cultural exchange, and public engagement.
What makes the programme especially attractive is its fully funded structure. Selected participants receive roundtrip economy-class airfare, on-campus accommodation for the full residency, and a per diem to cover daily expenses. There is no application fee and no participation fee, which makes the workshop far more accessible than many international literary programmes that expect writers to fund travel or living costs on their own.
For published writers, translators, literary professionals, and educators following global residency opportunities, this programme is more than a short visit abroad. It offers time, space, and an intellectually rich environment to focus on writing goals while engaging with other authors in one of Asia’s most dynamic cultural cities.
What the HKBU International Writers’ Workshop 2027 Offers
The HKBU International Writers’ Workshop, also known as the IWW Writers-in-Residence Programme, is designed to support literary practice in a meaningful way. Rather than functioning as a conference packed with nonstop sessions, it creates a residency setting where writers can think, draft, revise, discuss, and share work within a diverse international community.
The 2027 edition offers several clear advantages:
- Fully funded roundtrip economy-class airfare
- Accommodation on the HKBU campus for four weeks
- A per diem for everyday living expenses
- No registration, application, or participation fee
- No age restriction for applicants
- A global cohort of writers from different countries and literary backgrounds
- Participation in a respected writers-in-residence programme in Asia
That combination matters. Many writers’ residencies provide prestige but limited financial support. HKBU’s model reduces common barriers and allows participants to focus more fully on their literary work. For writers balancing teaching, freelance work, family responsibilities, or independent creative practice, that level of support can make the difference between considering an opportunity and actually applying.
What the Four-Week Residency Looks Like
The residency runs for one month, but its structure gives participants both guided moments and open creative space. In the first week, writers take part in a Welcome Ceremony that introduces the programme, the university environment, and the broader schedule of activities. This opening helps participants settle in, connect with fellow writers, and understand how the residency will unfold.
After that, the workshop becomes a space for sustained literary focus. Writers spend time working on current projects, exchanging ideas with peers, and participating in selected programme activities. The international nature of the residency is a major part of its value. Writers coming from different languages, traditions, and genres create an environment where conversation can be as valuable as formal programming.
In the final week, participants are expected to join the Literary Festival, an important public-facing component of the residency. For 2027, the festival theme is Inheritance, a broad and compelling concept that can be interpreted through family, language, memory, migration, culture, land, history, archives, or artistic influence.
Participants are encouraged to share a piece of writing connected to that theme. This detail is worth paying attention to because it suggests that HKBU is not only offering writers private time to work. It is also building a conversation between writers and audiences, between individual practice and public literary culture.