There are people who would do extraordinary things with this education and can't afford it. There are also people who can afford it and won't. The first group is the reason this program exists.
Leizu Scholars is for students whose financial situation puts the regular tuition out of reach. If you're approved, your tuition is fully or partially waived. The work is the same. The standard is the same. The only thing that's different is that you don't pay now.
What you do 承擔
You apply with a letter. The letter explains who you are, what your situation is, what you want to study, and what you'll do with the opportunity. There's no specific length, but most useful letters land between 200 and 500 words. Be honest. Specifics matter more than polished prose.
If approved, you commit to two things:
- Show up. Sessions are scheduled like any paying student's. Cancellations and no-shows are governed by the same policies. Treat your slot as if you were paying for it.
- The pledge. When you're financially able later in life, you contribute back. Either to me directly, or forward to a future scholar. The pledge is non-binding. It's a moral commitment, not a debt. If your situation never improves, you owe nothing. If it does, you remember.
Why this isn't a loan. A loan creates an enforceable obligation; this doesn't. I'm betting on the kind of person who reads this and understands what's being offered. The pledge is the kind of agreement that holds itself together because both sides take it seriously, not because anyone's enforcing it.
What I look for 擇
Need is necessary but not sufficient. The program runs on limited funding and I read every application carefully. The students I tend to approve are the ones who:
- Have a specific reason they're applying. A goal, an obstacle, a question they're trying to answer
- Can articulate what financial situation makes regular tuition impossible
- Have shown commitment to learning in some form already, even if outside formal schooling
- Take the application seriously enough to write a real letter, not a paragraph
I do not require formal credentials, age limits, school enrolment, or any other gatekeeping criterion. I read for seriousness, not credentials.
Apply 申請
The form below is the application. There's no fee. I respond within seven days, usually faster.
In the meantime, send your letter directly to: saulnassau@protonmail.com
Funding 資
Leizu Scholars is funded from two sources: a portion of every paying student's tuition, and direct donations to the Mulberry Fund. The program isn't grant-funded yet, which means scholar capacity is limited by what the broader Leizu Academy community contributes. If the program matters to you and you're in a position to give, the donation page is one of the more direct ways to fund a scholar's seat.
Support the Mulberry Fund directly → /leizu/donate
Questions 問
If you're uncertain whether your situation qualifies, apply anyway. If you're unsure about the pledge, apply and we can talk. If you want to apply on behalf of someone else (a child, a sibling, a student you tutor) you can. The letter just needs to come from the person who'll be doing the work.
Text or call me at 416-771-0382 with anything specific.