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Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program
Earn Your Way In
Excel in 2 Degree Courses to Qualify for Admission
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Develop your skills in creative writing and literary analysis.
Explore literature, fiction, screenwriting/writing for TV/playwriting, poetry, and nonfiction.
What You'll Learn
Through the master’s degree in the field of creative writing and literature you will:
- Master key elements of narrative craft, including characterization, story and plot structure, point of view, dialogue, and description.
- Develop skills across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic writing.
- Analyze works of literature and learn how to approach these texts as a writer and a scholar.
- Practice the art of revision as a means to hone your voice as a writer.
Your Harvard Degree Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, field: Creative Writing and Literature.
Our Community at a Glance
Your peers in English, literature and creative writing work in a variety of writing, research, and communication industries, such as publishing, advertising/marketing, fundraising, and education (secondary and higher education).
Average Age
Average Courses Taken Each Semester
Work Full Time
Would Recommend the Program
Professional Experience in the Field
Pursued for Personal Enrichment
Admissions, Courses, and Degree Requirements
At Harvard Extension School, your admission is based largely on your performance in two specific Harvard Extension courses that you complete before submitting an application.
To get started, we invite you to explore the degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.
The vast array of courses available, the flexibility in schedules, the incredible faculty and teaching assistants, and the warm student community all drew me in. Before I knew it, I had taken a handful of courses and realized that I could apply for a degree program.
Read Gairik Sachdeva's Story
Bryan Delaney
Playwright and Screenwriter
Talaya Adrienne Delaney
Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University
Elisabeth Sharp McKetta
Cost and financial aid.
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
After admission, you may qualify for financial aid. Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.
Learning & Connection
Deep learning springs from human connection. That’s why we work so hard to bring people together — whether in a live virtual classroom or an in-person seminar on campus.
Our approach to online learning fosters interaction without sacrificing flexibility. Each week, you’ll engage with your instructor, participate in peer discussions, and receive one-on-one support from teaching staff—all from your home or office.
Harvard Division of Continuing Education
A division of Harvard University dedicated to bringing rigorous programs and innovative online teaching capabilities to distance learners, working professionals, high school students, college students, and those seeking higher learning in retirement.
MA Degrees in Creative Writing in USA 2023
- Creative Writing ›
An MA is a master’s degree awarded to students that have completed a program studying humanities or fine arts subjects such as history, communications, philosophy, theology or English. A Master of Arts degree typically requires coursework, research and written examinations.Creative writing programs provide students with an overview of various writing techniques. Throughout the course of stud… Read more
An MA is a master’s degree awarded to students that have completed a program studying humanities or fine arts subjects such as history, communications, philosophy, theology or English. A Master of Arts degree typically requires coursework, research and written examinations.
Creative writing programs provide students with an overview of various writing techniques. Throughout the course of study, students often practice and experiment with a variety of genres, allowing them to establish a clear voice and style.
The United States of America is a large country in North America, often referred to as the "USA", the "US", the "United States", "America", or simply "the States". American colleges are funded by "tuition" charged to the student, which is often quite expensive, very commonly reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars per year.
18 Results in Creative Writing, USA
- Recommended Latest Title
- Recommended
Master of Arts in Writing
Johns Hopkins' Advanced Academic Programs nine-course online or on-campus MA in Writing program reflects the school's international reputation for academic rigor and creative ... +
MA in Publishing and Writing
Whether you want to shape the prose of fresh voices as an editor, represent writers as a literary agent, or work with exciting online publications and new media formats, Emers ... +
Master of Arts in Professional and Creative Writing
The online Master of Arts in professional and creative writing helps writers be successful, whether they are looking to write a novel or polish their professional writing skil ... +
Earn a scholarship worth up to $10,000
Master of fine arts in creative writing.
The low-residency MFA at SPU is a creative writing program for apprentice writers — both Christians and those of other faith traditions — who not only want to pursue excellenc ... +
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 48-hour degree program for students who wish to become professional writers of playwriting, fiction, or poetry. The program re ... +
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Poetics
Launched in Fall 2012, the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Poetics (MFA) is designed to help students develop their creative work through a course of study that ... +
Narrative Studies, MA
The MA in narrative studies is a comprehensive program that explores narrative and storytelling across various cultures and historical periods. With an emphasis on teaching an ... +
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a low residency graduate program, which requires two weeks of residency every summer in Eastern Oregon and completing online cou ... +
MFA Program for Writers
The Program is intellectually rigorous but with that rigor comes a generosity of spirit you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The MFA Program for Writers taught me that no ... +
MASTER OF FINE ARTS (M.F.A.) Creative Writing
Founded in 1981, the McNeese State University is home to the oldest Master of Fine Arts program in Louisiana and one of the oldest in the southeast. The cornerstone of our pro ... +
Writing Popular Fiction (M.F.A.)
Faculty in this program are published authors who are also experienced professors and scholars in the fields of writing and popular fiction. In addition, you will have mentors ... +
The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a limited-enrollment, academically rigorous, low residency two-year course of graduate studies for those aspiring to recover a f ... +
Master of Arts degree in Children’s Literature
Simmons launched the first Master of Arts degree in Children’s Literature in 1977 to provide a rigorous, disciplined study of children’s and young adult books for those who ar ... +
MFA Program in Creative Writing
The UAM Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, non-residency, provides an opportunity to talented and highly self-disciplined individuals to earn an MFA tailored to fit thei ... +
MA in English
The English Department at Salisbury University offers a variety of Master of Arts and post-baccalaureate opportunities for students wishing to further their study in various f ... +
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Master's in Creative Writing Online MA Degree Program
Earn a Master's in Creative Writing
- $627/credit (36 credits)
- Inclusive creative writing community
- 24/7 online access – attend class at your convenience
- 100% online – no residency required
- 4 genre options for concentrations
- Complete in as few as 15 months, or at your own pace
Master's in Creative Writing Online Program Overview
Ignite your imagination and jump-start your professional writing career with a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing online at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn to use the written word to effectively tell your story and share your ideas with the world. By studying literature and the way accomplished authors have perfected their art, you'll be prepared to enter a number of industries as a creative writer.
This English and creative writing graduate program fosters your imagination and creativity with a perfect balance of critical analysis and craft, along with an emphasis on literary theory and the history of the English language. You also have the freedom to choose from 4 genre concentrations or to combine your choice of genre courses if, for example, you're interested in both fiction and screenwriting.
This specialized creative writing master's degree can help you develop an ability to communicate in any career path you choose to follow, including:
- Marketing and communications
If you've always dreamed of starting your own novel, writing a collection of poetry or developing your screenplay, you'll gain the foundation you need through this program.
At the end of the program, you'll either complete a creative thesis or submit a portfolio of creative writing, along with a retrospective essay.
Learn how to:
- Integrate form, language and literary works into one's writing style and voice
- Further expand upon one's own creative process
- Create original literary works of publishable quality
- Maintain a reflective perspective on goals, process and ethos as a creative writer
- Use technology as part of the writing process to stylize and promote one's work
- Cultivate a professional identity that promotes confident self-presentation
Concentration Options
Whether it's telling your story or telling someone else's, your online master's in creative writing can equip you with detailed knowledge about the worlds of publishing, communications, copywriting and the role of the professional writer. As world markets continue to shift toward a demand for online education and digital media technology, the technical skills learned in this program should continue to be in demand for a long time. The enhanced writing and communication skills you'll develop can be applied to many professions, from publishing, print and film to journalism and marketing.
"The major takeaway I have gotten from my classes is that there is a viable career in literature, creative writing, and English," said student Joshua Yarbrough . "I feel confident in having the necessary skills to either work for myself or an employer and the training I have received at SNHU has made it possible."
The master's in creative writing is also ideal if you're interested in pursuing your PhD or teaching at the collegiate level. Additionally, the MA in Creative Writing is also a great option for high school instructors or other educators who wish to level up their salaries, as well as those whose districts require a Master of Arts for sustained career growth.
"I believe there’s a nice balance here for the program — for students who wish to pursue publication, we offer the tools, resources and faculty to help guide them. For students who wish to advance in their current career, or learn creative writing skills but also strengthen other skills (like editing, proofreading, etc.), the program offers that, as well," Powers said.
SNHU does not guarantee that the completion of this program will result in endorsements or rank and salary increases for teachers and strongly encourages interested individuals to contact their state education licensure board prior to enrolling. SNHU provides additional information for education-related outcomes on our Licensure and Certification Disclosures page.
Start Your Journey Toward an Online English and Creative Writing Degree
The master's in creative writing online exposes you to powerful examples of writing and provides you with an outlet to refine your skills as a writer. SNHU is home to the New Hampshire Writer’s Project and is also a destination for nationally recognized writers who perform readings and participate in workshops and lectures. This can give you additional context and insight into the industry you'll eventually be joining. All of our courses were also created by subject matter experts in their field, many of whom are critically acclaimed writers themselves.
Not only are the courses created by experts, they're taught by them, too. Just ask student Joshua Yarbrough .
"I have worked with professors who are well versed and accomplished in their field," he said. "They have provided valuable feedback to me in terms of preparing for my next steps as a writer and educator."
If you're looking for a degree program with collaboration built in, look no further. The online MA in English and Creative Writing has an added emphasis on peer workshops for additional feedback. Each concentration requires students to take three workshops, so you'll have the chance to fine-tune your editing and proofreading skills both for your peers and for yourself.
You'll also be required to take one of two teaching courses, Seminar in Writing Instruction or Online Teaching Experience . This can give you a background for teaching creative writing or English composition, depending on which interests you more. As a whole, this degree program is highly customizable, allowing you to focus on what types of creative writing interest you most.
In addition to working on your writing craft, you'll take several literary courses that focus on analysis and reflection, while learning about the history of the publishing industry. This can give you the chance to sharpen your editing and professional communication skills, while also giving you the edge you need to advance your writing career.
Graduate Alec Biron '17 '21G agrees. "One course that stood out to me, in particular, was “The Editor”. This course was both writing and editing intensive, allowing us to review the work of our peers while optimizing our own narratives," he said. "The Editor went beyond simple proofreading, and taught me how to edit for structure, character development, syntax, language and tone."
You'll also have the choice of four literary genres:
- Screenwriting
Or, you can customize your program and study multiple genres.
What's more, there's plenty of opportunity to build your network and hone your craft outside of normal class time. Once enrolled, you'll have access to SNHUconnect, a community built exclusively for our online learners. With plenty of clubs and events at your disposal, you might find that the Creative Writing Review Club is right up your alley. Wrote a few poems and want a critique? Need an audience to run your plot ideas by? Here, you can share your nonfiction, fiction, poetry and screenplay works – and even seek peer revising if you desire.
Minimum Hardware Requirements Component Type PC (Windows OS) Apple (Mac OS) Operating System Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. Currently supported operating system from Apple. Memory (RAM) 8GB or higher 8GB or higher Hard Drive 100GB or higher 100GB or higher Antivirus Software Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. SNHU Purchase Programs Visit Dell Visit Apple Internet/ Bandwidth 5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency 5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency Notes: Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. if (typeof accordionGroup === "undefined") { window.accordionGroup = new accordion(); } accordionGroup.init(document.getElementById('f756dce5bd874c61855f6f6e92d88470')); Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.
Additional Costs: $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Frequently Asked Questions
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
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1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/writers-and-authors.htm (viewed Oct. 27, 2022)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm (viewed Oct. 27, 2022)
- https://www.bls.gov/OOH/entertainment-and-sports/producers-and-directors.htm (viewed Oct. 27, 2022)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/editors.htm (viewed Oct. 27, 2022)
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
Best Online MFA in Creative Writing
BestCollegeReviews.org Staff
Contributing Writer
Learn about our editorial process .
Updated October 12, 2022
BestCollegeReviews.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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Masters of fine arts in creative writing.
Online MFA in creative writing programs help writers prepare for professional roles. This advanced degree focuses on the craft of writing. Students become skilled readers, writers, and thinkers. MFA programs often include writing workshops, craft courses, and literature courses.
All MFA programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree. However, most programs accept students with any undergraduate major. Many MFA applicants hold a degree in English or creative writing. However, MFA programs typically prioritize the quality of the applicant's writing.
This guide to online MFA in creative writing programs provides information on tuition rates, common courses, and popular career paths for MFA graduates.
View Our Rankings List Here
Questions About Creative Writing
What is an mfa in creative writing.
An MFA in creative writing is a graduate degree. Learners build advanced skills in writing and reading. MFA-seekers create original writing, such as fiction or poetry.
What jobs can I get with an MFA in creative writing?
MFA graduates can pursue careers in industries such as publishing, education, and advertising. Many MFA-holders work as writers and authors.
Do creative writers make good money?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), writers and authors earn a median annual salary of $67,120. Ths salary exceeds the median for all occupations.
Featured Online Writing Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Why Get a Degree in Creative Writing?
Online MFA in creative writing programs train students to conduct close readings and improve their creative practice. MFA programs also help learners connect with other talented writers and build professional connections. Graduates often pursue careers as writers and authors.
Earning an MFA in creative writing online lets students pursue their passion without sacrificing their current career. Many online programs use a low-residency model. Learners in these programs complete coursework primarily online. They also attend on-campus residency sessions a few times per year.
How Much Does a Creative Writing Degree Cost?
Tuition rates vary widely among online MFA programs in creative writing. Some programs offer funding through scholarships and teaching assistantships. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , the average cost of tuition and fees for graduate programs was $19,792 for the 2019-20 academic year.
Most MFA programs take 2-3 years to complete. Students may earn their MFA in creative writing online to maintain employment while studying. In addition, many schools offer online bachelor's degrees in creative writing .
Degree-seekers often save money by pursuing online creative writing programs . Many distance programs feature lower tuition rates than on-campus options.
Additional Online Student Fees
Online learners can save on transportation and relocation expenses. However, they may still need to pay fees for campus services. Many schools also charge online students a technology fee, which often covers tech support and virtual learning resources.
Many online MFA in creative writing programs use a hybrid model, which includes some on-campus sessions. Online learners usually pay for travel and lodging expenses to attend residency sessions. Some programs host optional residencies in foreign countries, which can add to these expenses.
How Much Do Creative Writing Graduates Make?
Creative writing graduates can pursue careers in industries such as media, publishing, and academia. The BLS reports that writers and authors who work for the performing arts or spectator sports earn a median salary of $82,350 per year. Media and communication professionals make a median salary of $61,310 annually. Technical writers earn a median annual salary of $74,650.
MFA graduates with a strong publication history can pursue careers as postsecondary teachers . These professionals teach writing and literature courses at colleges and universities. College professors earn a median salary of $80,560 per year. Careers in academia are very competitive, and many institutions prefer candidates who hold a doctorate.
Courses in Creative Writing
Students earning an online MFA in creative writing develop advanced writing and literary analysis skills. Learners often specialize in fiction or poetry. Some programs offer more specializations, such as screenwriting, creative nonfiction, and travel writing.
Some MFA programs feature traditional literature courses. Other programs use a studio model and focus on the study of literary craft. Students typically complete writing and literature electives.
MFA in creative writing programs commonly include the following courses. Course titles and content vary by program.
Writing Workshop
Forms of fiction, american literature after 1945, featured online journalism programs, how to become a creative writer.
While many writing jobs do not have specific education requirements, professional writers often hold at least a bachelor's degree. MFA programs help learners gain experience and connections that can lead to career opportunities. Many writers gain experience by completing internships.
Writers often work as freelancers. However, some pursue full-time positions. Writers can work on magazines, newspapers, and websites. They may also pursue careers in publishing and advertising. Typical job duties include researching topics, pitching ideas to editors, and drafting and editing written pieces.
#20 WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
BUCKHANNON, WV
MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING
Ranked No. 58 on the list of Best Regional Universities of the South, according to U.S. News & World Report, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a church-affiliated school that allows students the opportunity to learn in a small school and small city environment. The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a low-residency program that strives to make graduates proficient in their writing craft and technique so they can publish works and entertain audiences. The 49-credit curriculum offers concentrations in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction and requires a creative thesis, a comprehensive annotated bibliography, a critical essay, and the completion of five-residency courses. As part of the application requirements, applicants must submit a writing sample, a 750-1,000 word statement of purpose, official transcripts, professional resume, and two letters of recommendation.
Net Price: N/A
#19 WILKES UNIVERSITY
WILKES-BARRE, PA
CREATIVE WRITING MA/MFA
Wilkes University stands out among most other colleges by having a 97% job acceptance rate. Its small class size, averaging 23 students per class, make it easier for teachers to connect with students and give them feedback on work. By taking a Master of Arts/Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, students have the opportunity to follow their passion and work on mastering their writing in poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, publishing, documentary film writing, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Students can use their voice and express themselves in a way that professionals in most fields can’t. Students will first work towards an MA, which is 30-credit hours, and can finish the MFA with an additional 18-credit hours. As part of the MFA requirements, students complete in-depth analysis in combination with a semester-long internship in arts education or publishing. Applicants are required to submit alongside their application and official transcripts a creative writing sample, a five-to-ten page essay, and a resume that details work and accomplishments. WU ranks No. 68 on the list of Best Regional Universities of the North, according to U.S. News & World Report.
#18 FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
WINTER PARK, FL
CREATIVE WRITING MFA
With over 110 studios and labs on campus, Creative Writing students at Full Sail University have plenty of areas in which to do what they love to do most on a computer: WRITE. FSU’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is an online course that teaches students how to incorporate visual elements in their story writing and how to effectively connect with an audience. The program can be taken in 12 months and focuses primarily on visual storytelling, character creation and development, and multimedia adaption. Before taking courses online with your computer, be sure to check out FSU’s website for technology requirements needed for classes. The 12-course, 47-semester hour program includes putting together two master portfolios and writing a film and animation. Students who apply with a GPA over 2.0 must provide official transcripts alongside the application. The Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges awarded FSU with the College of the Year honor in 2008, 2011, and 2014.
Net Price: $12,600
#17 ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES, CA
With an average class size of eight students, graduates at Antioch University of Los Angeles get more one-on-one mentoring from some of the nation’s best Creative Writing professors. AULA’s MFA in Creative Writing focuses on giving students the skills to be a successful and professional literary artist. The focus on craft, revision, and critical-thinking skills, along with ethical responsibilities and the business side of writing and publishing will prepare graduates for the world of writing when they leave school. Students can focus on a concentration in either Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, or Writing for Young People in their coursework. As part of the program, students must complete the Project Period Core Requirements, which include a critical paper, critical manuscript, monthly packet of creative work and book annotations, The Art of Translation and Adaptation Online Conference, a field study, and a culminating annotated bibliography. Applicants must submit alongside the application a professional resume, an essay, and official transcripts.
#16 EMERSON COLLEGE
MFA IN POPULAR FICTION WRITING
Many may think Emerson College is named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, but it is actually named instead after Charles Wesley Emerson, who is considered the founding father of the school and a prominent teacher and orator there. The Master of Fine Arts Degree in Fiction Writing is taught by award-winning faculty members who focus on helping students find their voice in writing. Genres that are concentrated on include fantasy, science-fiction, horror, mystery, thrillers, and young adult writing. The 36-credit hour curriculum includes 16-credits of writing workshops that students must enroll in, eight credits of literature courses, eight credits of publishing courses, and a four-credit master’s thesis. For more information on admissions requirements, you can contact the university on its website. EC ranks No. 6 on the list of Best Universities North, according to U.S. News & World Report.
#15 MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN
Columbus, MS
Don’t be fooled by the name. The Mississippi University does admit men, doing so since 1982. A school population of 3,000, MUFW offers writers the opportunity to study a low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The 48-hour curriculum teaches students to use more imagination in their writing and create stories that target different audiences in different genres. The online program includes courses in poetry, drama, early women writers, southern fiction, playwriting, news media, and literary magazine production. Students are also required to take workshops and complete an internship during their studies. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a professional resume.
#14 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT MONTICELLO
MONTICELLO, AR
The University of Arkansas at Monticello has six graduate programs, five of which are completely online. One of those is the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing that is a non-residency program aimed at improving students’ critical thinking, creative writing, and literary analysis skills. Students will enroll in one of three genres as part of their 48-hour curriculum: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Students can jump into different genres, which is encouraged by the faculty. By moving at their pace, the program can be completed within a year. As part of the admissions requirements, applicants must submit to the university all official transcripts, a personal essay, a critical analysis essay, a manuscript, three letters of recommendation, and a professional resume.
#13 WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
DANBURY, CT
MFA IN CREATIVE & PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Western Connecticut State University’s mission is to foster student’s growth as individuals and professionals and to train them to become leaders in the community. The MFA in Creative and Professional Writing allows students to grow as individuals, find their inner passion, and enhance their critical-thinking skills and creativity. The curriculum includes online workshops and the study and practice of writing different genres throughout the program. Students will also be assigned a faculty mentor who will help them develop a portfolio and will guide them through designing an individualized syllabus, reading list, and writing workload. Applicants to the program must submit a writing sample, an application essay, and additional forms that include transcripts from their undergraduate studies.
Net Price: $21,252
#12 UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA
VICTORIA, TX
The University of Houston-Victoria is perfect for students who wish to study in a more peaceful environment and take courses online. The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a low residency program that focuses on a variety of writing skills, such as critique, creation, revision, and poetics, in the genres of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Students must complete 12 core semester hours, 15 elective semester hours, and an MFA Master’s Thesis where a graduate must compose a book of literary merit. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation, a two-page letter explaining why they want to join the program, a 20-30-page creative writing sample, official GRE data, and official transcripts. UHV ranks No. 96 on the list of Best Regional Universities of the West, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Net Price: $9,900
#11 ARCADIA UNIVERSITY
GLENSIDE, PA
CREATIVE WRITING MFA/ENGLISH
According to its website, Arcadia University ranks among the best in the nation when it comes to its faculty and innovation, best universities in the Northeast, and best college dormitories. It makes learning easier with those kinds of credentials, especially for writers. The Master of Arts and Fine Arts Dual Degree in Creative Writing and English prepares students for a career in teaching creative writing, literature, and college composition. Courses are offered both on-campus and online, and the two programs can be taken concurrently. As part of the creative writing curriculum, students will expand their horizons, taking part in workshops, studying abroad, working on manuscripts and publishing, and working one-on-one with a faculty mentor who can elevate their writing to levels of higher degrees. Both degrees offer courses that are low residency. Applicants must provide the university with two letters of recommendation, a 15-20-page creative writing sample, a personal statement, and official transcripts. Applicants are also required to set up an interview with a board member before a decision can be made on the application.
Featured Online Education Programs
#10 BAY PATH UNIVERSITY
LONGMEADOW, MA
MFA IN CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING
Bay Path University was recently named among the Fastest Growing Colleges in Master’s Institutions by the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac . The fully-online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction Writing is a no-residency program that strives to develop good and aspiring writers into great writers. The 39-credit curriculum allows students to work at their own pace and includes three-semester seminars with award-winning faculty mentors who can give detailed feedback to assist students in perfecting their work and getting it published. There is also the option of studying abroad and taking a summer seminar in Ireland. Applicants can only apply if they have a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate studies and are required to submit to admissions a 250-word essay, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a ten-page writing sample, which can be one or two works.
Net Price: $2,496
#9 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SAN DIEGO, CA
ONLINE MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING
National University is part of the technology revolution, offering a host of online degrees that are interactive and include the latest state-of-the-art advancements to make learning more educational and hands-on for students. The Online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree is a no-residency program that gives students extensive practice in writing poetry, essays, fictional works, and other types of writing weekly. Students will take online seminars and workshops and complete a practicum thesis and revision thesis. Among the electives to choose from are courses and seminars in film, directing, literature, poetry, and literary studies. For application requirements, contact the university on its website and be sure to have completed the list of prerequisite courses listed.
Net Price: $27,520
#8 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
STROUDSBURG, PA
MA IN PROFESSIONAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA WRITING
While the Master of Arts in Professional and Digital Media Writing is a no-residency program, if you do decide to live near the campus, you are within driving distance of Scranton, PA, Philadelphia, and New York City. The MA program gives students a virtual experience online in which they can interact with their professors live and receive constant feedback on writing they do. Creative writing, journalistic writing, and writing for corporate communications are all part of the coursework that students can partake in through the 30-credit curriculum. The coursework includes a final capstone writing project that students must complete in order to earn a degree. Applicants are required to submit to the office of admissions official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a professional goals statement, and a professional resume as part of the documentation. ESUP ranks No. 142 on the list of Best Universities North, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Net Price: $14,680
#7 UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS, LA
CREATIVE WRITING ONLINE MFA
The University of New Orleans was the school of choice for entertainers Ellen Degeneres, John Laroquette, and Billy Slaughter. Since their graduations, the school has expanded into a more online school, and students who study a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing can take advantage of earning a degree from home. The program concentrates on writing in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and gives students the chance to study abroad in Ireland and Italy. The 45-credit curriculum pairs each graduate with a faculty member who will help mentor and provide feedback for all writing the student does, helping guide him or her towards his or her degree. All students must maintain at least a ‘B’ to remain in the program. The office of admissions requires applicants to submit GRE test results, official transcripts, and other documentation.
Net Price: $16,610
#6 LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY
SAINT CHARLES, MO
MFA IN WRITING
Aspiring writers trying to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Writing get the chance to learn from professors who have experience working as authors, journalists, and editors. The 48-credit curriculum can be taken completely online with no-residency required and allows students to enroll in craft classes, literature classes, and writing workshops as part of the coursework. Students can serve as editorial assistants during their studies for the Lindenwood Review’s literary journal. LU ranked No. 2 on the list of Best Online Master’s in Creative Writing Programs, according to TheBestSchools.org and BestColleges.com. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a creative writing sample as part of the documentation required by admissions.
Net Price: $24,960
#5 QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE, NC
The Queens University of Charlotte provides students with innovative education and encourages its writers to “Write To Be Read.” The Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts degree is a low-residency program that has no more than a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Courses of study include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and writing for stage and screen. Students have the opportunity to write for the Qu , the school’s literary journal. Students can also enroll in the Book Development Program and take on an internship where they work to get their writing published. Applicants are required to submit a 25-page portfolio with writing samples, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and official transcripts. QUC ranks No. 18 in Regional Universities South, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Net Price: $9,204
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#4 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
With 50 states and 80 different countries represented, Oregon State University has the highest cumulative GPA of any school in the state of Oregon. The Cascades campus offers students a chance to study online the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, a low-residency program that focuses on aesthetic, political, social, spiritual, and physical geographies in its writing. OSU ranks No. 17 on the list of Best Online Master’s in Creative Writing, according to Best College Reviews . As part of the two-year program, students will write in three different genres: fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The studies are self-directed and self-paced, and the curriculum includes Narrative Theory, Writing for the Unknown, Nontraditional Poetry, Writing the Sticky Stuff, Publishing, Turning Empathy Into Action, and Using Oral Histories. Applicants are required to submit to the university official transcripts, writing samples, a statement of objectives, and a resume that highlights awards and accomplishments.
Net Price: $7,043
#3 EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
RICHMOND, KY
Home of The Colonels, Eastern Kentucky University ranks No. 11 on the list among Fastest Online College Programs, according to CollegePlan.com. The MFA in Creative Writing focuses on Literary Fiction, Popular/Genre fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry. With the degree, graduates will be able to teach courses at college-level related to English, Creative Writing, and Composition, or they can apply for other writing jobs where they can publish material. Students are required to complete 12 residency courses, while the rest of the coursework can be taken online. Applicants need to compile a portfolio of work and writing and submit it to the office of admission along with their application, undergraduate transcripts, GRE scores, resume, and letters of recommendation. Only applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible for enrollment into the program.
Net Price: $36,454
#2 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA
The University of Nebraska is the home of Warren Buffet and the birthplace of Kool-Aid. Among its four campuses throughout the Midwest is the Omaha campus that gives writers the opportunity to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Students who take on the program are required to take four, 16-week distance writing seminars and five, ten-day residency workshop sessions. The 60-credit curriculum is comprised of writing in the genres of poetry, playwriting, creative nonfiction, young adult, fiction, and screenwriting. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, official transcripts, a resume, and a writing sample. The writing sample must include 15-40 pages of work on the genre the student is applying for.
Net Price: $7,630
#1 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
EL PASO, TX
A school that started with 27 miners just over 100 years ago, The University of Texas at El Paso has been growing ever since and has expanded to 23,000 students and over 100 graduate and post-graduate degrees offered. The Online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing requires no-residency and can be completed from anywhere in the world. The 48-semester hour curriculum includes 42-hours of workshops and literature courses followed by a six-hour thesis where students complete and publish a manuscript in poetry or fiction. Students will have interactions with professors through online courses and receive steady feedback and guided direction. With the degree, graduates can teach at the college level in writing or work in fields where they can publish different works. As part of the application requirements, interested students are required to submit eight-to-ten pages of poetry or 20 pages of fiction writing. Applicants are also required to submit three letters of recommendation, official undergraduate transcripts, and a statement of purpose. Past students who have graduated in the program have won nationally recognized literary awards, including the highly prestigious Premio Tusquets de la Novela.
Net Price: $8,965
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MFA in Creative Writing Program Information
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Whether focusing on poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, a creative writing degree prepares students for a multitude of career options. Spanning two years, a master of fine arts (MFA) program trains you to become a skilled writer, communicator, and editor who can receive and apply feedback effectively. This adaptable skill set enables you to work in industries like education, publishing, and journalism. Professionals in these fields flourish in business, where they can apply their skills to promote products, reach consumers, and maintain a company's brand. A creative writing degree can also bolster a student's chances of obtaining a publishing deal.
The BLS projects growth for master's in writing careers through 2026, including an 8% increase for writers and authors, a 9% increase for public relation specialists, and an 11% increase for technical writers.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects growth for master's in writing careers through 2026, including an 8% increase for writers and authors , a 9% increase for public relation specialists , and an 11% increase for technical writers . This guide provides prospective students with the academic and career information necessary to find the MFA program that best suits their needs.
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Should I Get an MFA in Creative Writing?
Creative writing degrees are highly versatile. Students of all academic and professional backgrounds may enroll in an MFA program to strengthen their writing, develop editing skills, and cultivate professional relationships. In addition to gaining in-depth knowledge of literary genres, students benefit from classes in technical, journalistic, and business-oriented writing. Regardless of what areas they specialize in, writers learn to articulate complex and artistic ideas persuasively, which enables them to pursue occupations with nearly any company or organization.
Master's in writing programs also incorporate experiential learning and professional development opportunities into their curricula. Students attend writing conferences, writers' retreats, and guest speaker sessions. These events allow them to meet other writers and professionals in the field. It also exposes them to career opportunities. Additionally, MFA candidates benefit from university fellowships and internships, which typically center on editing, publishing, and teaching.
Creative writing degrees represent one of the fastest growing university programs in the U.S. According to the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) 2015 report, 30% of MFA full-residency programs enjoyed an enrollment increase. Distance education represents a viable option for students, especially low-residency programs that allow working professionals to earn their degrees while maintaining career and family responsibilities.
On the other hand, campus-based options offer opportunities for students to directly collaborate with a community of artists. This camaraderie empowers students and cultivates creative and professional relationships that last long after graduation. Traditional MFA programs especially suit learners who transition into graduate-level academics immediately after earning their bachelor's.
What Can I Do With an MFA in Creative Writing?
Through MFA programs, students develop creative writing, editing, critical-thinking, and professional leadership skills. Though common perceptions of writers paint them as loners, creative writing degrees necessitate collaboration. Students discuss famous literary works and each other's writing in workshops that help them become better orators and listeners. Even the thesis process requires communication because candidates must work with their advisers to revise their projects and prepare them for publication. Therefore, MFA graduates become exceptional team members, who give, take, and apply criticism effectively. These writers also possess strong grammatical and rhetorical skills, which they apply to diverse genres, including poetry, memoir, search engine optimization, and grant writing.
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These writers create content for blogs, journals, magazines, films, video games, and television series. They can also sell their own fiction, nonfiction, and poetry through either a publishing firm or a self-publishing platform. Depending on their specific position, authors can work independently or in project teams with technicians, designers, and managers. Median Annual Salary: $61,820*
Technical Writer
Also referred to as technical communicators , these writers craft how-to manuals and instruction guides for companies and organizations. Technical writers ensure that these materials are standardized and dispersed across all of a company's channels. Though students can pursue this career with a bachelor's, an MFA opens more doors through advanced skill and leadership training. Median Annual Salary: $70,930*
Postsecondary Teacher
As a terminal degree, the MFA prepares students for work as college and university instructors . Professors teach courses in their own genre, such as conventional literature classes or writing-intensive workshops. They also pursue creative projects, research, and publication. Like other educators, postsecondary teachers develop curricula, assess testing standards, and support university administration. Median Annual Salary: $76,000*
Public Relations Specialist
These professionals work in teams to cultivate and maintain a positive public image for their business or organization. Their work involves creating and implementing promotional and social media branding campaigns. Public relations specialists also handle press releases, field requests from news outlets, and write speeches for the company's top executives. MFA graduates typically need additional training to obtain this position, either through on-the-job experience or a certificate program. Median Annual Salary: $59,300*
Marketing Manager
These leaders work with teams of writers , graphic designers, sales agents, and advertisers to create and actualize promotional campaigns. They also negotiate marketing contracts, maintain budgets, and train employees. Additionally, marketing managers analyze brand effectiveness using data-analytical methods. As a high-level career, these professionals need a graduate degree, extensive continuing education, and at least five years of relevant work experience. Median Annual Salary: $129,380*
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
How to Choose an MFA in Creative Writing Program
When researching prospective master's in writing programs, students need to consider cost, length, and location. In general, graduate students can secure substantial funding through scholarships, grants, and fellowships. The most competitive MFA programs boast full tuition coverage and stipends. However, students should look at their financial situation practically, discerning how much they can afford without resorting to loans. They should also seek out private scholarships through local companies and professional organizations.
Most universities follow a two-year timeline as established by the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the first accredited MFA program in the U.S. However, creativing writing represents a highly malleable field with different pedagogical philosophies and curricular design choices. Certain programs last three years, while others last up to five. Relatedly, prospective students should consider whether they want to enroll part or full time. Online and low-residency MFA programs often facilitate part-time enrollment, while traditional programs often require full-time participation.
Distance learners should note that remote creative writing degrees typically use a hybrid format, requiring them to attend conferences and summer retreats. Coursework and specializations reflect other important considerations. These factors fluctuate based on faculty interests and the school's overall direction. Some master's in writing programs highlight the American literary canon, while others focus on works from writers who occupy marginalized identities. And still others break with tradition altogether, emphasizing experimental writing styles and multimedia forms.
Finally, MFA applicants need to factor in location. For traditional students, this includes heightented tuition prices due to out-of-state residency status. Learners should also look into job prospects and cost of living. Many of the most popular programs are located in cities where rent is high and employment is competitive.
Programmatic Accreditation for MFA in Creative Writing Programs
To confer valid degrees, colleges and universities need to earn accreditation at the national, regional, and/or programmatic level. Schools with a religious or vocational focus typically seek out national accreditation. Schools may also earn the more prestigious regional accreditation from one of six organizations depending on their location. Students should look for nonprofit higher education institutions with national or regional accreditation. Students should confirm a school's accreditation status before starting the admission process.
In addition to national and regional backing, colleges and universities may also receive programmatic accreditation. For example, teaching programs usually need to earn the support of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation if they want to uphold state licensure standards. Creative writing degrees stand out because they do not subscribe to formal programmatic accreditation. However, many MFA programs are AWP institutional members . Students who enroll at participating schools benefit from scholarship opportunities, writer-to-writer membership programs, and conference discounts.
MFA in Creative Writing Program Admissions
Creative writing degrees generally require standard admission materials. These comprise academic transcripts, resume/CV, recommendation letters, personal statement, and standardized test scores. Candidates should consult their prospective schools' websites for details, including the admissions deadline.
Conventional requirements aside, the most important part of an MFA candidate's application is their writing sample. Programs typically require students to declare genre specialization in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. A student's choice dictates the bulk of classes they take and their thesis requirement. Specifics vary by program, but poets can expect to submit around 10-15 pages worth of poetry. Fiction and nonfiction writers usually turn in 25-30 pages of prose. Crafting an effective writing sample requires time, so students should plan accordingly. They should also look into the program's guiding aesthetic. Some MFA programs prefer traditional works, while others find experimental narratives more engaging and indicative of a writer's potential.
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree=, professional experience:, minimum gpa:, admission materials, application:, transcripts:, letters of recommendation:, test scores:, application fee:, what else can i expect from an mfa in creative writing program.
Graduate creative writing degrees center on three specializations: poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. However, MFA programs aim for a holistic approach to the writing craft. This means that a poet must also take fiction and nonfiction classes, whether they be literature seminars or intensive writing workshops. Students also pursue coursework outside the three genres. Beyond some core classes, topics vary greatly based on faculty specializations.
Courses in an MFA in Creative Writing Program
While coursework differs based on the individual program, an MFA degree plan typically breaks down into four parts: literature courses, writing workshops, independent study, and thesis hours. Students can expect literature classes to encompass both classic and modern works. Independent study allows students to take classes outside the three main genres. Possible topics include journalism, gender studies, technical writing, and grant writing.
Reading Across Genres
MFA programs operate under the philosophy that experimenting across genres builds better writers. In this class, students learn how to effectively interact with works in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Learners also develop the skills to analyze how such fundamental ideas, like plot, character, and point of view, operate in each genre to achieve desired effects.
Poetic Forms
This class provides students who already write poetry with the knowledge and practice to advance their art. Unlike the workshop, this craft class emphasizes literary analysis that enables writers to break down a poem into component parts. Topics include meter, rhyme, rhythm, stanza pattern, and lineation. Students also delve into traditional and experimental poetic forms.
As one of the most popular creative nonfiction forms, the memoir tells the personal story of an individual or a community. In this course, writers learn the art of memoir through ideas like tone, voice, structure, and subtext. They also develop knowledge of subgenres, including the autobiographical memoir and those that deal with food, travel, family, addiction, and grief.
The Short Story
This narrative form represents the premier learning tool for MFA fiction students due to its relative brevity and popularity with literary magazines. This course provides writers with an in-depth study of the short story form, focusing on narrative arc, pacing, characterization, and internal/external action. Students also learn about short story history by reading the works of famous authors, such as Donald Barthelme, Alice Munro, and Octavia E. Butler.
Writing Workshop
While the structure of the workshop varies by MFA program and individual professors, this course always focuses on providing students with the feedback needed to improve their writing. Workshops also help students develop skills as editors and book reviewers. In addition to submitting creative work, students need to turn in written analyses of other students' writing.
How Long Does It Take to Get an MFA in Creative Writing?
Like other master's programs, creative writing degrees typically take two years, or 36 credits. Some schools follow a three-year curriculum. A student's enrollment status affects the timeline. Online and low-residency MFA programs provide more flexibility, allowing students to accommodate busy schedules by taking courses part-time. They may also offer accelerated degree plans that let students finish seminars and workshops in as few as 12 months.
Full-residency programs prefer a structured approach, similar to cohort learning, in which all students in the program take the same classes every semester, advancing through their degree work at a communal pace. Relatedly, MFA candidates who receive fellowships may not take more than the standard course allotment each term due to how university tuition waivers work.
Finally, the nature of a student's capstone project also affects their degree timeline. Many writers want their MFA thesis to be publishable manuscript, so they often take additional semesters to polish their work before submission and defense.
How Much Is an MFA in Creative Writing?
According to Peterson's , a higher education organization, graduate students who attend a public university pay $30,000 in average annual tuition, while those who attend private institutions pay $40,000 each year. However, prices vary with individual schools. The University of New Orleans and Columbia University offer two popular creative writing degrees. UNO's yearly graduate tuition is $8,892 for Louisiana residents and $13,462 for non-residents. Columbia charges $28,230 per semester.
MFA programs operate under the jurisdiction of the college of liberal arts or arts and sciences. This means they usually charge rates that match other graduate programs in that area. The most renowned and competitive creative writing degrees offer every student a full tuition waiver and monthly stipends. Other MFA programs provide institutional and departmental scholarships. Students should also seek out awards from professional organizations and businesses.
Beyond tuition and related fees, students need to consider cost of living, particularly housing. Websites like Payscale and Numbeo allow students to calculate living expenses using city-specific data. They can also compare prices between locations. MFA students should set aside money from conference attendance because these events represent important professional development opportunities for new writers. Research and technology costs also warrant consideration. Fortunately for writers, their field does not require expensive machinery or software. However, they should prepare to face high printing costs.
Certifications and Licenses an MFA in Creative Writing Prepares For
American grant writers' association (agwa) certified grant writer.
Organizations highly value grant writing, making it one of the most lucrative professions for freelancers. AGWA's certification series offers courses on proposal writing, program development, and review. Candidates take the exam in person, which comprises handwritten and computer-based sections. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree to qualify for the program.
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Medical Writer Certified
AMWA operates an intensive, exam-based certification program that enables writers to demonstrate their knowledge and improve their marketability. The in-person test consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and takes 2.5 hours. To be eligible, applicants need to possess at least a bachelor's degree in any field and two years of paid medical communication experience.
Society for Technical Communication (STC) Certified Professional Technical Communicator
Operated by STC, this program offers technical writers three certification levels: foundation, practitioner, and expert. The foundation certification exam covers such topics as project planning, analysis, content management, organizational design, and written and visual communication. The exam costs $250 for STC members and $495 for nonmembers.
American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) Copywriting Certifications
AWAI offers multiple training and certification options for copywriters. These include an accelerated foundation program, a master's program, and an advanced training program for seasoned professionals. Copywriters can also pursue training in specialized topics, such as web/online content, business-to-business copywriting, grant writing, resume writing, and event travel writing. Furthermore, AWAI offers membership that comes with benefits like discounts and a career database.
American Copy Editors Society (ACES) Certificate in Editing
Through ACES , writers can enroll in fundamental and advanced certification programs. Fundamental level classes cover topics like clarity, accuracy, and search engine optimization. The advanced program comprises courses in copyright/fair use, fact-checking, and numeracy. To obtain the certificate, students need to pass individual assessments that come after every module.
Resources for MFA in Creative Writing Students
Duotrope provides the tools writers need to locate agents and publishers. The website also operates a massive database of literary magazines and journals, which writers use to submit and track work for publication.
Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers offers the resources writers need to publish, promote, and develop their art. The organization also operates writing contests, workshops, networking events, and a database of MFA programs.
Writer's Digest
This organization regularly publishes articles on writing tips, literary discussions, and new books. Writer's Digest also operates numerous writing competitions, including those for poetry, fiction, and self-published books. Writers can strengthen their craft through free webinars and paid workshops.
Literary Hub
Literary Hub provides an interactive platform for writers to discuss craft, design, and literary criticism. The website also highlights relevant pop culture and political issues. Additional resources include book reviews, daily fiction, and podcasts.
Literary Marketplace
Facilitated by Information Today Inc., Literary Marketplace operates the world's largest searchable database of publishers, literary agents, and industry events. Users benefit from 180 search terms, enabling them to find publishers by size, location, and genre.
Professional Organizations for MFA in Creative Writing Students
MFA programs offer valuable academic training and networking opportunities, which new writers can bolster through engagement with professional organizations. These organizations facilitate literary databases, award competitions, topical webinars, and in-person writing workshops. Furthermore, students can take advantage of insider information and first-hand accounts to find the master's in writing programs that best suit them. Perhaps the greatest benefit of writer's organizations is their networking and community-building events. These include readings, guest speaker series, and annual conferences, like the AWP Conference and Bookfair which draws over 12,000 attendees each year.
Association of Writers and Writing Programs
Individual membership provides access to the writer's calendar, job list, and the writer to writer mentorship program. Members also enjoy career guidance and discounts on literature and conference attendance. Students can take advantage of the organization's comprehensive guide to writing programs.
Academy of American Poets
As the largest professional organization for poets, the academy offers up-to-date publishing news, award programs, and job opportunities. Members also benefit from a variety of creative networking events.
National Writers Union
Established in 1981, the NWU advocates for the rights and economic advancements of its members, who work in diverse writing and education fields. Operating 12 regional chapters, the union provides members with legal advice and promotional support. Emerging writers benefit from a searchable talent database.
The Authors Guild
As the oldest and largest professional organization for writers, the Authors Guild offers legal assistance, online seminars, media liability insurance, and an expansive resource library. Members also gain access to discounts, conferences, and awards.
Freelancers Union
The organization supports independent workers through government policy advocacy and community engagement programming. Members benefit from health, dental, and life insurance assistance. Freelancers Union also provides retirement support. Membership is free.
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Master of Arts (MA) in Writing | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies
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Program Overview
Master’s in Writing
MA in Writing
Northwestern’s part-time Master of Arts in Writing program provides students the opportunity to grow as artists within the specializations of fiction, nonfiction, popular fiction, and poetry. A dual-genre specialization is also offered, as well as a publishing and professional development track that combines publishing industry-related instruction with the creative coursework of the writing workshops. The small-group workshop format allows for individual attention from published, award-winning faculty . Students also have the opportunity to learn the ropes in teaching writing, publishing, and editing. Flexible scheduling — with courses offered evenings and weekends on Northwestern’s Chicago and Evanston campuses as well as online and in hybrid format — gives students the opportunity to balance their professional, personal and writing lives. While earning their degrees, students connect with other writers at readings and other events in an artistic community that extends beyond the University into Chicagoʼs vibrant literary scene.
About the MA in Writing
Writing program goals, ma in writing courses, curriculum for ma in writing, writing faculty, master's in writing admission, tuition and financial aid for writing, registration information for writing, careers in writing.
Some of the bravest, most interesting writers I've encountered come from this program. They've lived, they've been out in the world, and they're willing to find ways to transmute that experience into compelling, transformative work.”
Students form lasting bonds with each other and with their professors. The years students have spent in the SPS creative writing program, some have told me, are the most creatively rewarding ones they've experienced.”
Teaching in Northwestern's part-time writing program has been a career highlight for me. The program is enriched by its students who come from various backgrounds and careers. The diversity of passions, insights and life experiences helps to create a truly unique and rewarding learning experience.”
- To help students determine the strengths and weaknesses of their writing, and learn how to evaluate criticism of their work
- To teach students how to take their writing apart, re-think and revise it
- To show students how to experiment with different styles and forms
- To guide students in creating a publishable manuscript or portion of one
- To teach students how to read literature as a writer and a critic
- To train students to teach creative writing, informed by current pedagogy and classroom experience
- To give students the opportunity to edit an international literary magazine with their peers
- To provide students with the tools to create strong applications for jobs in teaching, publishing, and editing
Core Courses
- 3-4 workshops in a chosen genre: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or popular fiction (number of workshops depends on specialization)
- 2 graduate-level literature courses
Electives
- Courses drawn from MCW special topics courses, internships in teaching, publishing, and arts administration, literature courses or liberal studies courses. Students may also take an independent study courses as an elective.
Thesis
- MCW 590 Capstone Writing and Revision
Electives are chosen from the graduate course offerings in the Master of Arts in Literature program, creative writing special topics courses (MCW 490) and the seminars and internships (practica) in teaching and publishing. Since good writers also need to be good readers, students must take electives in literary studies. Recent electives include courses on reading poetry; the narrator in fiction, nonfiction and poetry; and writing humor. Independent studies round out the program and provide an opportunity to strengthen writing portfolios.
The final project of both the MA and MFA programs is a creative thesis, an original work of high literary merit (judged on the basis of art as well as craft). The creative thesis is structured and revised under the supervision of a faculty member (or faculty mentor) and a second reader. The project may be one long piece or a series of shorter pieces. It may include or be an expansion of work written during the student's course of study as long as it represents a culminating effort to shape stories, prose pieces, a long piece, or a group of poems into a coherent, self-sufficient work. This large-scale project supplements the smaller-scale study of craft with the invaluable experience of creating a larger work. And for students who plan to pursue book-length publication after graduation, the master's creative thesis may be the first version of a work in progress.
Northwestern also offers a part-time MFA program in Prose and Poetry .
Explore MA in Writing Courses . You can narrow your course search by day, location or instructor.
Learn from a faculty of esteemed writers in small-group workshops where instructors facilitate discussions that help students examine and address strengths and weaknesses in their writing as well as open up possibilities for re-thinking and revising. Get to know the instructors on our MA in Writing Faculty page.
Candidates for admission to the MA in Writing program must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent and possess a strong academic record, preferably in English, writing or related fields. For a complete list of requirements, see the Admission page for SPS graduate programs.
Tuition for the MA in Writing program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the MA in Writing Tuition and Financial Aid pages.
Already accepted into the Master's in Writing program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible to ensure maximum efficiency in your progress.
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Northwestern University’s MA in Writing is an art degree. Students pursue the degrees in order to become better writers, able to create prose and poetry that draw on a full range of the craft. On a more practical level, MA students become better writers, which prepares them for a variety of careers. For details visit the Writing Career Options page.
Find out more about Northwestern's MA in Writing
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Master of Arts in Creative Writing
The Master of Arts in Creative Writing is a two-year program with a focus on developing a writing practice as well as preparing students to teach creative writing. The Master of Fine Arts is a three-year program and is considered the terminal degree in creative writing. The program may benefit in particular teachers who want to increase their range and earning potential with a Master's degree and/or individuals who want to teach creative writing at private schools, community venues, labs, and salons. As part of the MA in CW, students can choose to study the teaching of composition, and receive a certificate, a skill that translates into any level of teaching and various subjects that include writing.
The M.A. degree, like the M.F.A., provides students with the inspiration and guidance of a faculty of professional writers in developing the student's own potential as a professional writer. The curriculum emphasizes the primary importance of the study and practice of imaginative writing in the genres of creative nonfiction, fiction, literary translation, playwriting, and poetry. The degree combines an intense workshop requirement and a variety of special topic creative process classes as well as courses that expose students to a wide range of writers and community service learning opportunities. The creative writing courses reflect our commitment to a variety of styles, subjects, and approaches, recognizing the complexity and breadth of contemporary writing. Graduates of the M.A. Program are instructed in literary analysis and develop their craft to constructively critique their own work and that of others. As a culminating experience, the student submits a thesis of creative work in their chosen genre.
n addition to the workshop and process courses, students in the M.A. in Creative Writing elect one of two teaching pathways. The pathway leading to an emphasis in teaching creative writing includes a rigorous course in the pedagogy and philosophy of teaching creative writing ( C W 860 ); a Teaching Practicum Course ( C W 859 ), in which the student gains in-class undergraduate teaching experience as a Graduate Instructional Aide while continuing their study of pedagogy with a seasoned faculty member and a group of peers; and, Projects in Teaching Creative Writing ( C W 785 ), a course that allows students to deepen their teaching experience as a Graduate Instructional Aide under faculty supervision. This teaching curriculum makes our M.A. unique within the nation of creative writing graduate degrees. The pathway leading to the teaching of composition allows students to earn the English Composition Certificate, offered by the English Department, by electing to take four courses (12 units) in English composition. Students on this path would earn an M.A. in Creative Writing along with the English Composition Certificate.
This course of study would lead students to a Masters of Arts degree in creative writing. The combination of workshop and process courses ensures that students would be prepared should they wish to continue on as an M.F.A. candidate in a creative writing program.
All students in the M.A. Creative Writing degree program would be eligible to apply for a Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) position in their second year of study. A GTA is hired to teach a 101/301 Fundamentals of Creative Writing course. The GTA must be enrolled in at least one unit of study with the university to be eligible. Students in the M.A. also may apply for admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (54 units) either to switch to the terminal degree program or to complete both degrees, with a separate thesis for each. In no case will a student be admitted to both programs simultaneously.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Creative Work: Students will produce a publishable written creative work that demonstrates individual and universal vision and a high level of craft skills.
- Professional Preparation: Students will demonstrate professional level skills in fields related to literature and/or creative writing, including publishing, writing, teaching, editing, book arts, and/or arts management.
- Literature: Students will read, discuss, analyze and learn to teach the work of a broad range of writers from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, as well as explain how literature in general, and their own genre in particular, relates to larger human experience.
- Craft Elements: Students will write and revise creative nonfiction, fiction, plays, and/or poetry using the elements of craft as well as analyze and discuss craft elements in their peers’ creative work.
Admission to the Program
Students interested in this program must submit, via Cal State Apply , a meaningful sample of their writing (15 to 20 pages of creative nonfiction or fiction, or 15 to 20 pages of literary translation, or a full-length stage play or two short plays, or 15 to 20 poems), two letters of recommendation, and transcripts. by February 15 for consideration for our entry scholarships, or by May 10th for admission to the following fall semester. Applicants from graduate creative writing programs at other colleges or universities may transfer six units to the M.A. program, on review and recommendation of the Creative Writing Admissions Committee and approval of the Division of Graduate Studies. For further clarification, contact the Creative Writing Department. Students accepted into the program with an undergraduate major that is not English are accepted conditionally. Admission to the M.A. does not imply admission to the M.F.A. Students who wish to earn both degrees must finish the M.A. before beginning the M.F.A. degree.
Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level one (pre-admission).
Statement of purpose (500–1500 words) and writing sample (15 to 20 pages of creative nonfiction or fiction, or 15 to 20 pages of literary translation, or a full-length stage play or two short plays, or 15 to 20 poems) scored 8.0 or higher on a scale of one to ten based on the following criteria:
- fluency and precision of expression;
- ability to embody and illustrate ideas creatively; and
- appropriateness of the applicant’s interests, life experiences and goals to the program.
Satisfactory completion of C W 893MA on the following criteria: thesis deemed by two faculty readers to be publishable in part or whole (book, chapbook and/or literary journals).
Selected upper-division courses offered by the department may be used for the master's degree upon approval of a departmental advisor. Enrollment is not required in the semester of graduation.
Creative Writing (M.A.) — Minimum 30 units
Writing courses (3-6 units).
Select from:
Special Topic Creative Process (3-6 units)
Process (3-6 units), teaching courses guided electives (9-12 units), culminating experience (3 units).
MSt in Creative Writing
- Entry requirements
- Funding and Costs
College preference
- How to Apply
About the course
The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation, and critical and creative breadth.
The emphasis of the course is cross-cultural and cross-genre, pointing up the needs and challenges of the contemporary writer who produces their creative work in the context of a global writerly and critical community.
The MSt offers a clustered learning format of five residences, two guided retreats and one research placement over two years. The research placement, a distinguishing feature of the course, provides between one and two weeks' in-house experience of writing in the real world.
The first year concentrates equally on prose fiction, poetry, dramatic writing and narrative non-fiction. There is a significant critical reading and analysis component, which is linked to the writerly considerations explored in each of the genres. In your second year you will specialise in one of the following:
- short fiction
- radio drama
- screenwriting
- stage drama
- narrative non-fiction.
The residences in particular offer an intensive workshop- and seminar-based forum for ideas exchange and for the opening up of creative and critical frameworks within which to develop writerly and analytical skills. There is a strong element of one-to-one tutorial teaching. Tutorials take place within residences and retreats, and relate to the on-going work produced for the course.
You will be assigned a supervisor who will work closely with you throughout the development of the year two final project and extended essay. All assessed work throughout the two years of the course is subject to one-to-one feedback and discussion with a tutor. This intensive, one-to-one input, combined with the highly interactive workshop and seminar sessions, is a distinguishing feature of the course.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the Course Director.
You will be allocated a supervisor to guide and advise you on your creative and critical work throughout the second year.
It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.
The MSt is assessed by coursework. In the first year, four assignments (two creative, two critical), one creative writing portfolio and one critical essay are submitted. Work is set during each residence and handed in for assessment before the next meeting. Feedback on work submitted is given during tutorials within the residence or retreat. In the second year, submissions comprise one research placement report, one extended critical essay, and a final project – a substantial body of creative work in the genre of choice.
You will be set specific creative and critical work to be completed between residences and handed in to set deadlines. Creative submissions in the first year must be in more than one genre. In the second year, submitted work focuses around the genre of your choice.
Graduate destinations
Graduate destinations have included doctoral programmes in creative writing; teaching creative writing; publishing creative work in chosen field; careers in arts/media.
Changes to this course and your supervision
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
Other courses you may wish to consider
If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.
All graduate courses in the humanities offered by this department
Entry requirements for entry in 2023-24, proven and potential academic excellence, degree-level qualifications.
As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
- a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a related field.
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.
If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.
GRE General Test scores
No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
- Assessors are looking for writers with a proven record of commitment to their craft, whose work demonstrates significant creative promise. You should be a keen reader, and bring an open-minded, questioning approach to both reading and writing. You will not necessarily have yet achieved publication, but you will have written regularly and read widely over a sustained period. You will be keen to dedicate time and energy and staying-power to harnessing your talent, enlarging your skills, and aiming your writerly production at consistently professional standards. It is likely you will have a first degree, or equivalent, although in some cases other evidence of suitability may be acceptable.
- Applicants do not need to be previously published, but the MSt is unlikely to be suitable for those who are just starting out on their writerly and critical development.
English language proficiency
This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.
*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .
Declaring extenuating circumstances
If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.
You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Supporting documents
You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including an official transcript and a CV/résumé. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Performance at interview
Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.
For those applying by the January deadline, interviews are generally held in February and March. For March applicants, interviews are generally held in March and April.
The decision to call an applicant for interview is based on the University Admission Board's assessment of your portfolio, statement of purpose, academic and professional track record and references. Interviews will be conducted in person or by telephone. All applicants whose paper submissions indicate they are qualified for entry will generally be interviewed, either in person or by telephone/Skype. There are always two interviewers. Interviews usually last up to approximately 30 minutes and provide an opportunity for the candidate to discuss his/her application and to explore the course in more detail.
The interview is designed to ascertain, through a range of questions, the shape and emphasis of the candidate's writing and reading, and general suitability for the demands of the MSt.
How your application is assessed
Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements published under that heading. References and supporting documents submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process.
An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about how applications are assessed .
Shortlisting and selection
Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:
- socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of the University’s pilot selection procedure and for scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
- country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
- protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.
Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.
Processing your data for shortlisting and selection
Information about processing special category data for the purposes of positive action and using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.
Admissions panels and assessors
All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).
Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.
Other factors governing whether places can be offered
The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
- the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
- minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.
Offer conditions for successful applications
If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our After you apply pages provide more information about offers and conditions .
In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:
Financial Declaration
If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission.
Disclosure of criminal convictions
In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford.
The department is committed to supporting you to pursue your academic goals.
The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals. PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. Wi-Fi is also available. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study. You will have access to the Central Bodleian and other Bodleian Libraries.
The department's Graduate School provides a stimulating and enriching learning and research environment for the department's graduate students, fostering intellectual and social interaction between graduates of different disciplines and professions from the UK and around the globe. The Graduate School will help you make the most of the wealth of resources and opportunities available, paying particular regard to the support and guidance needed if you are following a part-time graduate programme. The department’s graduate community comprises over 600 members following taught programmes and more than 70 undertaking doctoral research.
The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use. Many of the department's courses are delivered through blended learning or have a website to support face-to-face study. In most cases, online support is delivered through a virtual learning environment.
Depending on the programme you are taking with the department, you may require accommodation at some point in your student career. Rewley House is ideally located in central Oxford; the city's historic sites, colleges, museums, shops and restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away. The department has 35 en-suite study bedrooms, all with high quality amenities, including internet access.
The Rewley House dining room has seating for up to 132 people. A full meal service is available daily. The department operates a Common Room with bar for students.
The University expects to be able to offer around 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2023-24. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.
For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.
Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:
Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.
Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.
Annual fees for entry in 2023-24
Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.
Information about course fees
Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .
Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.
Where can I find further information about fees?
The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility and your length of fee liability .
Additional information
This course has residential sessions (residences and retreats) in Oxford. You will need to meet your travel costs in attending these sessions. The tuition fee includes the cost of board and lodging during the residences and retreats (eg for a four day residence, three nights accommodation will be provided). Further, as part of your course requirements, you will need to complete a research placement in the second year. For this placement you will need to meet your travel and accommodation costs, and any other incidental expenses. You may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Further information about departmental funding can be found on the department's website. Please check with your specific college for bursary or other funding possibilities.
Living costs
In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
For the 2023-24 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,290 and £1,840 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2023-24, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of 5% or more each year – although this rate may vary significantly depending on how the national economic situation develops. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.
If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.
All graduate students at Oxford belong to a department or faculty and a college or hall (except those taking non-matriculated courses). If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. The Colleges section of this website provides information about the college system at Oxford , as well as factors you may wish to consider when deciding whether to express a college preference . Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 45 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as Permanent Private Halls (PPHs).
For some courses, the department or faculty may have provided some additional advice below to help you to decide. Whatever you decide, it won’t affect how the academic department assesses your application and whether they decide to make you an offer. If your department makes you an offer of a place, you’re guaranteed a place at one of our colleges.
The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Creative Writing:
- Blackfriars
- Brasenose College
- Harris Manchester College
- Keble College
- Kellogg College
- Oriel College
- Regent's Park College
- St Catherine's College
- Somerville College
- Wadham College
- Wycliffe Hall
Before you apply
Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines in our Application Guide. If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance .
Application fee waivers
An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:
- applicants from low-income countries;
- refugees and displaced persons;
- UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and
- applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.
You are encouraged to check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver before you apply.
Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?
You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.
If you have any questions about the course, these should be directed to the course administrator via the contact details provided on this page.
Completing your application
You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents . If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.
Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional
Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.
Your references will support your commitment to creative writing and suitability to pursue a course of this nature at graduate level. Both professional and academic references are acceptable.
Official transcript(s)
Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.
More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.
A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic and writerly achievements and any relevant professional experience.
Statement of purpose: A maximum of 750 words
The statement of purpose should contain sufficient detail to allow it to be assessed against the indicated criteria.
Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or in which you intend to specialise.
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
This will be assessed for:
- your reasons for applying
- evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
- the ability to present a reasoned case in English
- commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
- capacity for sustained and intense work
- reasoning ability and quality of written expression
- capacity to address issues of writerly and critical significance.
Written work: A maximum of 2,000 words of prose fiction or narrative non-fiction or 10 short poems or 15 minutes of dramatic writing (stage, screen, radio or TV)
Your portfolio of creative writing for assessment can be in any of the four genres, or in more than one. It should be clearly indicative of your ability in creative writing.
This will be assessed for excellence in creative writing.
Start or continue your application
You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please refer to the requirements above and consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.
Application Guide Apply
ADMISSION STATUS
Open - applications are still being accepted
Up to a week's notice of closure will be provided on this page - no other notification will be given
12:00 midday UK time on:
Friday 20 January 2023 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships
Wednesday 1 March 2023 Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below
A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available, applications may be accepted after 1 March . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.
*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2020-21 to 2022-23)
Further information and enquiries
This course is offered by the Department for Continuing Education
- Course page and blog on department website
- Funding information from the department
- Academic staff
- Departmental research
- Continuing Education Graduate School
- Postgraduate applicant privacy policy
Course-related enquiries
Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page
✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 280145
Application-process enquiries
See the application guide
Visa eligibility for part-time study
We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.
Creative Writing
Program overview.
Develop your talent and build a portfolio of short stories, novel excerpts, poems, creative nonfiction essays or a combination of these genres. A graduate degree in Creative Writing will prepare you to teach English at a community college, publish your work, or apply to MFA and PhD programs. For students already teaching English at the secondary level, a graduate degree in Creative Writing will enhance your study in the discipline.
Program Snapshot
Why this program & what you'll learn, program highlights, careers & outcomes.
Many of our graduates have gone on to top MFA and PhD programs, landed teaching jobs at community colleges, and published books.
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Creative Writing
Making its home south of Midway Plaisance in Taft House, The Program in Creative Writing is an intersection of imagination and critical inquiry. Creative Writing offers an array of writing-workshop-based classes in a variety of genres, from fiction and poetry to creative nonfiction and translation. In addition, MAPH students focusing in creative writing have the unique opportunity to inform their creative projects with rigorous analytic research in a variety of subjects, such as Art History , Cinema and Media Studies , Comparative Literature , English Language and Literature , Gender and Sexuality , Philosophy , and Visual Arts .
Selected Faculty
Rachel DeWoskin
Srikanth Reddy
Sample Courses
Most Creative Writing courses are application-based. MAPH students in the Creative Writing Option get priority in these courses, but all students are required to submit an application by the deadline set by the program to be considered for admission. Please visit the Creative Writing page for the submission form and information about deadlines and procedures.
CRWR 40229 - Technical Seminar in Fiction: 3D Character Builder ( Rachel DeWoskin ) This reading and writing course will acquaint students with one of the essential tools of fiction writers, characterization. We will read works by authors including Baldwin, Guo, Nabokov, Munro, Sharma and Wharton, toward exploring how some of literatures most famous characters are rendered. How do writers of fiction create contexts in which characters must struggle, and how does each character's conflicts, choices, and use of language reveal his or her nature? How do we make characters whose behaviors are complicated enough to feel real, and why are some of the worst characters the most compelling? Students in this technical seminar will complete both creative and analytical writing exercises, reading responses, and a critical paper that focuses on characterization in a work of fiction.
CRWR 40411 - Technical Seminar in Poetry: Urban Image and Poetic Play ( Garin Cycholl ) This technical seminar focuses on poems’ development of image through the work of urban writers. We will explore the lineage of urban lyric within the nineteenth century, then reflect on its development in the contemporary city. What impulse defines an “urban poetics?” What is urban lyric’s relationship with painting and photography? Do all city poems reflect one “city” in the end or is a more local impulse at work in cities as foci for writing? This course seeks to establish a solid, working basis in examining “image” and its lyric development through critical reflection and field work. To this end, we will work with a range of urban writers, including Paul Blackburn, Andrew Colarusso, Wanda Coleman, Kevin Killian, Frank O’Hara, Salima Rivera, Ed Roberson, and David Ulin.
CRWR 44021 - Advanced Nonfiction Workshop: The Trouble With Trauma ( Dina Peone ) In “The Body Keeps the Score” Bessel van der Kolk writes, “The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves.” Many trauma survivors begin writing reluctantly, even repulsed by the impulse to query their woundedness. The process is inhibited by stigma surrounding the notion of victimhood, entities that would prefer a survivor's silence, plus our tendency to dismiss and devalue ones suffering in relation to others. Students in this class will shed some of these constricting patterns of thinking about trauma so they may freely explore their stories with confidence, compassion, curiosity, and intention. We'll read authors who have found surprise, nuance, and yes, healing through art, honoring the heart-work that happens behind the scenes. Half of class-time will include student-led workshops of original works in progress. Paramount to our success will be an atmosphere of safety, supportiveness, respect, and confidentiality. By the quarter's end each student will leave with a piece of writing that feels both true to their experience and imbued with possibility.
CRWR 49300 - Thesis/Major Projects in Poetry ( Margaret Ross ) This thesis workshop is for students writing a creative BA or MA thesis in poetry, as well as creative writing minors completing the portfolio. Because it is a thesis workshop, the course will focus on various ways of organizing larger poetic “projects.” We will consider the poetic sequence, the chapbook, and the poetry collection as ways of extending the practice of poetry beyond the individual lyric text. We will also problematize the notion of broad poetic “projects,” considering the consequences of imposing a predetermined conceptual framework on the elusive, spontaneous, and subversive act of lyric writing. Because this class is designed as a poetry workshop, your fellow students’ work will be the primary text over the course of the quarter.
A more comprehensive list of courses and descriptions is available at the Creative Writing course page .
- Creative Writing Courses
Creative Writing Option
Students who plan to do a creative writing thesis project in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction can choose to pursue the MAPH Creative Writing Option. Students who complete the following requirements will receive a Creative Writing notation on their MAPH transcript:
- The MAPH Core course (Foundations of Interpretive Theory)
- One creative writing course in the student's chosen genre in Fall Quarter
- Creative Writing Thesis/Major Projects workshop in Winter Quarter
- Three academic courses relevant to the student’s proposed thesis area
- Two elective courses to be taken in any area of student interest
Two-Year Language Option for Creative Writing
MAPH's Two-Year Language Option is a great way for students to pursue advanced work in literary translation in their second year. Some possibilities might include advanced workshops on literary translation in various genres, upper-level undergraduate seminars and graduate courses in non-Anglophone literatures across a range of geographical regions and historical periods, and courses on translation theory.
- Two-Year Language Option
Recent Creative Writing Thesis Projects
"Wonders of Unsung Black Life: A Poetic Interpretation on Living in Blackness" Tia White, MAPH '21 Advisor: Margaret Ross
" Once and Future Gardens " Sarah Hobin, MAPH '21 Advisor: Lina Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas
" Love Me, Love Me Not, Love Me Again: Stories for Bibliotherapy " Casey Glynn, MAPH '20 Advisor: Rachel DeWoskin
" From the Well That Washes Itself: A Novel (Excerpt)" Hajrije Kolimja, MAPH '20 Advisor: Rachel DeWoskin
" The Confrontation Exercises: Essays " Jiaying Liang, MAPH '19 Advisor: Daniel Raeburn
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The MSt in Creative Writing is a two-year, part-time master's degree course offering a unique combination of high contact hours, genre specialisation
A graduate degree in Creative Writing will prepare you to teach English at a community college, publish your work, or apply to MFA and PhD programs. For
Making its home south of Midway Plaisance in Taft House, The Program in Creative Writing is an intersection of imagination and critical inquiry.