Picture this: a private cabin tucked into the Swiss Jura Mountains, a desk facing the Alps, nothing on your calendar except the book you have been meaning to finish. That is what the Jan Michalski Foundation offers. Every year, around forty writers and translators from around the world are invited to live and work at the Foundation in Montricher, Switzerland — with travel costs paid, a weekly allowance, and meals sorted.
One important note before we go further: the 2027 call closed on 31 August 2026, so this round is no longer open. This guide lays out everything about the program — what you get, who it is for, and how selection works — so you can prepare a strong application when the next call opens.
In short: The Switzerland Writers Residency 2027 is a fully funded literary residency run by the Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher, Switzerland, offering writers and translators of any nationality and age a private cabin, CHF 400 per week, covered travel, and breakfast and lunch for stays of two weeks to three months. The 2027 round closed on 31 August 2026, 5pm Swiss time; the next annual call is expected around June 2027.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Switzerland
- Host Institution: Fondation Jan Michalski, Montricher
- Degree Level: Open to all (writers and translators; no degree requirement)
- Program Duration: Two weeks to three months
- Funding Type: Fully funded (travel + CHF 400/week allowance + meals)
- Deadline: 31 August 2026, 5pm Swiss time (2027 round closed; next call expected mid-2027)
Benefits of the Switzerland Writers Residency
The Foundation removes the practical obstacles that stop writers from writing. You get time, space, and enough money to live comfortably while you work.
- Covered travel costs — The Foundation pays your travel costs to and from your home address, so getting there costs you nothing.
- CHF 400 weekly allowance — A weekly grant to cover your personal expenses during the residency.
- Breakfast and lunch provided — The Foundation serves breakfast and lunch; the village of Montricher also has a small grocery shop for the rest.
- Private cabin accommodation — You live independently in one of seven distinctive cabins; some overlook Lake Geneva and the Alps, another faces the forested slopes of the Jura.
- Free daytime library access — Residents can use the Foundation's library during the day for research and reading.
- Electric bikes and cultural life — Electric bikes are available to explore the area, and residents can join cultural activities organized by the Foundation.
Eligibility Criteria for the Switzerland Writers Residency
The door is wide open. The Foundation's own terms make this one of the most inclusive residencies anywhere.
- No age or nationality restrictions — Writers of any age, from any country, can apply.
- Beginners are welcome — Emerging writers can apply; their applications are judged on the quality of the project and the motivation they show, rather than on their publication record.
- Literary writers and translators get priority — The program is open to all kinds of writing and all languages, but priority goes to literary writers and translators. Other disciplines are considered as long as literature is at the heart of the project.
- One application per year — You may submit only one application per year.
- Former residents cannot reapply — If you have been a resident before, you are not eligible to come back.
- No families, children, or pets — The Foundation cannot welcome accompanying family members, children, or pets.
- Individuals or pairs — Residencies are granted to individuals, and also to pairs of writers working on a common project (for example, a writer and a translator, or a writer and someone from another discipline). Each person gets a separate cabin.
How to Apply for the Switzerland Writers Residency
Applications are registered and submitted online on the Foundation's website. When the next call opens, the steps will look like this:
1. Check the call opening — Application forms for 2027 were available online from 2 June 2026; the next call is expected to open around June 2027. Watch the Foundation's residencies page. 2. Shape your project — The residency supports you to start, continue, or finish a writing project. A percentage of residencies each year is dedicated to *nature writing* — fiction or creative non-fiction that raises awareness of nature and explores socio-environmental connections. 3. Choose your stay type — Decide whether you are applying as an individual or as part of a pair, and select the length of your stay: two weeks up to three months. The length should match the scope of your project. 4. Complete the online form — Enter your personal details, describe your project, state your desired residency length and period, and answer the questions on the form. Applications can be submitted in English or French. 5. Upload your documents — Attach the excerpts of your current and previous work (see the document list below). Excerpts can be in any language — no translation needed. 6. Review and submit — Incomplete applications are not considered, and the Foundation cannot modify applications or add documents once submitted. Review everything carefully, then send. 7. Wait for the decision — A panel of experts chaired by Mrs. Vera Michalski-Hoffmann assesses all applications. Selected candidates for 2027 were to be announced in December 2026, with the first arrivals in mid-January 2027. All candidates are notified of the jury's decision; reasons for non-selection are not provided.
Required Documents
Only list what the official call asks for:
- Excerpt from your current work — In any language, if available.
- Excerpt from your previous work — In any language, if available.
No recommendation letters, no degree certificates, no IELTS. The work speaks for itself.
Switzerland Writers Residency Deadline
The 2027 applications closed on 31 August 2026 at 5pm Swiss time — that window is over. If you are reading this after that date, the practical move is to use the coming months to prepare: finish or sharpen a writing project, gather strong excerpts, and draft a clear project description. The Foundation runs this residency annually, so the next call is expected to open around June 2027. When it does, do not wait for the last week — incomplete applications are rejected outright, and submitted applications cannot be edited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Switzerland Writers Residency really fully funded?
Yes. The Foundation covers your travel costs to and from your home address, grants a weekly allowance of CHF 400, and provides breakfast and lunch during your stay. Accommodation in a private cabin, daytime library access, and electric bikes are all included. Dinners and personal extras are on you, but the core costs are genuinely covered.
Who can apply for this residency?
Any writer or translator, of any nationality and any age. Beginners are accepted. Priority is given to literary writers and translators, and applications can be individual or in pairs. The main exclusions are former residents (who may not reapply) and accompanying families, children, or pets.
What is nature writing, and does my project have to fit it?
No. Nature writing — fiction or creative non-fiction that raises awareness of nature and explores the relationship between people and the environment — receives a dedicated share of the residencies, but the program is open to all kinds of writing in all languages. If your project is nature writing, say so; if not, apply anyway.
Can I apply as part of a pair?
Yes. Pairs working on a common project are welcome — for example, a writer and a translator, or two writers. Each selected candidate is assigned a separate cabin.
How long can the residency last?
From two weeks up to three months. The Foundation notes that the length of stay should match the scope of your project, and it reserves the right to offer a different period depending on availability. Residencies cannot be split into multiple stays across the year.
Do I need to be a published author?
No. Beginners are explicitly accepted. Established writers are assessed on the literary quality of the project and their professional background; emerging writers are assessed on the quality of the project and the motivation shown in their application.
Can I write in my own language?
Yes. Applications are submitted in English or French, but excerpts from your current or previous work can be in any language — no translation is required.
Can I bring my family?
No. The Foundation states clearly that it cannot welcome families, children, or pets at the Jan Michalski Foundation.
How competitive is the residency?
Very. Each year, around forty authors from around the world are selected from many hundreds of applications. The assessment criteria are the literary quality of the project, the candidate's professional background, and whether the length of stay matches the scope of the project.
Can I reapply next year if I am not selected?
Yes — unsuccessful candidates can submit one new application per year. Only former residents (those who actually completed a residency) are permanently barred from reapplying.
Final Words
A fully funded cabin in the Swiss mountains, travel paid, and months to write without distraction — few opportunities in the literary world are this generous, and few are this open. The 2027 call has closed, but the residency runs every year. Start preparing your project now, and you will be ready the day the next call opens.
