St John's College invites applications for the Harper-Wood Studentship for English Poetry and Literature. The purpose of the Studentship is to encourage a project of creative writing by making it possible for the holder to engage in relevant, project-related travel and study. The Studentship is designed to encourage creative writers in the earlier stage of their careers, although both beginners and somewhat more experienced authors will be considered.
During the period of tenure, the student is expected to engage in a course of study or research, not necessarily attached to a university or other institution, leading up to the production of original fiction, poetry or drama. All or part of the period of tenure must be spent in a foreign country of the student's choice. In their application, candidates should give a detailed outline of their projected course of study/research and travel plan, and they should make a strong case for their relevance to the creative writing project.
It is a condition of election that at the time of the election the candidate be a graduate of any university of Great Britain, Ireland, the Commonwealth or the United States of America.
The Studentship is tenable for one year and is not renewable. The student will normally be expected to enter upon the Studentship on 1 October 2009.
The emoluments of the Studentship will be determined by the College Council in light of the student's qualifications and financial circumstances (including emoluments from other sources), up to a maximum of £12,500. Additional financial assistance is also available to enable the student to spend all or part of the period of study abroad.
Applications should be submitted via email only, to reach the Master's Assistant (email s.e.dodsworth@joh.cam.ac.uk), St John's College, Cambridge, CB2 1TP, no later than Tuesday, 12 May 2009.
The application should be accompanied by: (a) the candidate's curriculum vitae or resumé; (b) a plan of the proposed study or research and of the proposed travel and an explanation of how this plan directly relates to the creative writing project (not to exceed 2,000 words); (c) a preliminary budget; (d) a sample of the candidate's creative writing (not to exceed 1,000 words or 50 lines of verse); and (e) the names and email addresses of two referees.
Possible referees may include, although are not restricted to, academic supervisors, editors, literary writers, and teachers of creative writing.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit via email examples of their work, up to a limit of 5,000 words. These may be drawn from a longer piece of work, or they may be a selection of poems and/or prose pieces (not necessarily from the same collection). Details of any other research plans or applications that might relate to the tenure of the Harper-Wood Studentship should also be supplied.
Candidates may expect to be informed whether or not they have been successful by no later than 31 July 2009.