Tin House Without Borders Scholarship: Eligibility, Benefits, and Impact on Global Writers
- Dec 20, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 18, 2025
The Without Borders Scholarship reflects the Tin House commitment to amplifying diverse and underrepresented voices in contemporary literature. Established to support writers born outside the United States, the scholarship provides access to Tin House’s highly competitive workshops and programs, which are among the most sought-after in the literary world.
By removing financial and geographic barriers, the scholarship enables international writers to share their stories, traditions, and perspectives with a wider audience. Past recipients have included authors who went on to publish in leading literary journals, secure book deals, and participate in cross-cultural literary conversations. In doing so, the program strengthens Tin House’s role as a platform where global narratives converge, ensuring that the literary community reflects the richness of voices shaping today’s world.
Continue reading: Tin House: Workshops, Scholarships, and Fellowships for Writers.
A Commitment to Representation
Tin House understands that literature thrives when voices from every background are heard, and the Without Borders Scholarship is a direct expression of that commitment. By centering international writers, the program actively works to broaden the scope of contemporary storytelling and ensure that global perspectives are part of today’s literary conversation.
Empower International Writers – The scholarship provides full financial support for selected writers born outside the United States, covering the costs of attending Tin House’s competitive workshops. This funding removes economic barriers that often prevent international writers from accessing professional development opportunities in the U.S.
Foster Diverse Storytelling – Recipients bring perspectives shaped by distinct cultural, linguistic, and historical contexts, adding depth to conversations around craft and storytelling. Past participants have gone on to publish in journals such as The Paris Review, Granta, and Ploughshares, demonstrating how their inclusion strengthens the broader literary landscape.
Create a Global Platform – Tin House workshops are known for their intensive, community-focused environment, where writers learn from nationally recognized faculty and form lasting professional networks. For international recipients, this setting becomes both a creative incubator and a bridge to new opportunities, including U.S. publishers, agents, and literary festivals.
Through the Without Borders Scholarship, Tin House continues to expand its role as a global literary hub, ensuring that the next generation of writers reflects the richness and diversity of the world’s stories.
Continue reading: Tin House Reading Fellowship: A Gateway to the Literary World.
What the Without Borders Scholarship Covers
The Without Borders Scholarship provides recipients with comprehensive support designed to maximize both creative growth and professional opportunity. Selected writers receive:
Full Tuition Coverage – The scholarship pays the entire cost of participation in a Tin House workshop, whether the program is held virtually or on-site in Portland, Oregon. This ensures international writers can fully engage without financial strain.
Access to Renowned Faculty – Recipients study directly with Tin House’s distinguished faculty, which has included acclaimed authors such as Ocean Vuong, Roxane Gay, Alexander Chee, Carmen Maria Machado, and Kaveh Akbar. This direct mentorship offers insight into craft, publishing, and the realities of sustaining a literary career.
Community Engagement – Beyond the classroom, fellows join a global network of peers, editors, and mentors, forming professional and creative relationships that often extend well beyond the workshop itself. This community has proven invaluable for many past participants, leading to collaborations, journal publications, and connections with agents and publishers.
By covering tuition, facilitating access to top-tier faculty, and cultivating lasting literary networks, the Without Borders Scholarship provides international writers with the tools to elevate their work and position themselves for long-term success.
Eligibility and Application Process
The Without Borders Scholarship is open to writers born outside the United States, regardless of where they currently live or their citizenship status. Selection is merit-based, with applications reviewed primarily on the strength and originality of the submitted writing sample.
Applicants are asked to provide their best work—whether poetry, fiction, or nonfiction—alongside a short statement explaining how participation in a Tin House workshop would advance their creative and professional goals. While the scholarship does not impose thematic requirements, stories that highlight distinctive cultural perspectives and global narratives are especially welcomed, as they align with Tin House’s mission of amplifying underrepresented voices.
Impact on the Literary Community
Since its creation, the Without Borders Scholarship has amplified the work of writers whose voices might otherwise remain unheard in the U.S. literary market. Past recipients have gone on to publish in leading journals, secure literary agents, and release books with major publishers—demonstrating the program’s role as a gateway to broader opportunities.
Beyond individual achievement, the scholarship enriches the literary ecosystem by building bridges across cultures. It fosters dialogue between writers of different backgrounds, challenges narrow conceptions of “mainstream” storytelling, and expands the diversity of voices available to readers worldwide.
For many writers, this opportunity is transformative: it provides not only the resources to refine their craft but also access to a supportive and enduring community. For the broader literary world, it exemplifies how strategic investment in inclusivity can reshape the landscape of contemporary literature, ensuring stories from every corner of the globe have a platform to be heard.
Have you participated in the Without Borders Scholarship? Share your story with us—we’d love to hear about your experience.
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