mfa creative writing dublin

MFA in Creative Writing with American College Dublin

The American College Dublin , in association with the Irish Writers Centre, runs a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing , focusing in particular on writing prose fiction. The MFA offers aspiring or published writers a one-year course of study which examines the process and practice of producing prose fiction. Within a critical workshop and mentoring format students are provided with tuition and advice in completing either a novel or a short story collection.

Consideration is given to the

• intellectual, psychological, economic and cultural influences that underpin and drive the creative writing process.
• the business and professional environment of writing, with seminars presented by agents and publishers and master-classes by established writers.
• expert guidance producing a substantial written work of publishable standard.
• comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical requirements of successfu l participation in the activity of writing   

A graduate of the programme:

• will be in a position to consider submission of a complete and polished work to a literary agent or publisher.
•  be prepared for participation in a range of complementary fields such as journalism, publishing, editing, online writing, advertising, marketing and teaching.
•  will have advanced and adaptable writing techniques, informed responsiveness to critical and editorial commentary, self-management and organisational competencies.
• will have gained a high level of expertise in understanding and locating creative work within a historical and critical context.

These skills are applicable not only in careers that draw directly on the ability to write creatively, but also in a wide array of related business, cultural and social activities such as keeping a web page, blogging, advocacy and grant writing, criticism and commentary.

Finally, the degree highlights the beauty and, amid such suffering as is necessary, the joy of creative expression. Regardless of the particular path a graduate follows, he or she will leave the programme with an enhanced, life-long appreciation of the manifold intellectual and emotional benefits, and consolations, to be found in the practice of creative writing.

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Dublin’s Masters in Creative Writing

Creative Writing postgraduate programmes have long been a staple of the academic world in the US. Prominent writers like Raymond Carver, David Foster Wallace and Joyce Carol Oates have all worked as creative writing professors since as far back as the seventies.

Yet, despite Dublin’s literary heritage and wealth of authors, it has only recently come to be recognised as a centre of excellence for such courses. Now, it attracts scores of hopeful young writers from around the world every year.

UCD’s Masters in Creative Writing

“You can’t teach people to be creative. You can only accelerate the pace at which people are developing creatively.”

These are the words of Professor James Ryan, the director of UCD’s creative writing programmes – including its Masters course , which started in 2006 and now receives applications from all over the world.

One of the bigger pulls for me was the fact that I was going to be studying in Oscar’s house.

UCD has a long association with some of Ireland’s greatest writers – James Joyce, John McGahern and Maeve Binchy among them. Its successful MA applicants will go on to work with revered writers, such as distinguished playwright Frank McGuinness, who is a Professor here, and internationally acclaimed novelist Colm Tóibín, who teaches part-time.

Alumni also include Colin Barrett, author of the searingly popular Young Skins  and winner of The Guardian First Book Award. “The people who come to us are already creative writers, who really wish to hone their craft,” says Ryan.

Plaque on the wall at 21 Westland Row, birthplace of Oscar Wilde (Image: Rohan Swamy)

One student’s experience at UCD

Dublin.ie spoke with Dubliner Helen Chandler, who graduated back in 2008, about her experience on UCD’s Masters in Creative Writing course.

“I was 24 at the time, a year out of undergrad and flailing around without a proper job, wondering what to do with myself,” she says.

The people who come to us are already creative writers, who really wish to hone their craft.

After taking classes at the Irish Writers Centre and working various office jobs, she decided to take the next step in her education and do a Masters. As one student in a class of fourteen, she remembers her time fondly and credits Professor James Ryan as “a warm, kind and supportive presence”.

“It was amazing to have someone like that at my disposal, who believed in my work, who saw my work as legitimate,” she says. “I ran into James at a party years after I graduated and he not only remembered me, but quoted the opening line from a story I’d written for his workshop – word for word! That’s dedication.”

Helen Chandler

Helen is now living in the US, where she teaches Creative Writing at the University of Virginia. Her writing has also appeared in The Dublin Review  and The Stinging Fly.

“There’s so much talk about how writing can’t be taught and about how MA and MFA programmes create a certain ‘type’ of writer,” she says.

However, for Helen, the course was crucial – particularly when it came to providing her with the time she needed to write.

“You just have to be smart about it,” she says. “Don’t go into debt for a degree in creative writing. That would be insane. Save for an MA or get into a fully-funded MFA programme”.

She continues: “And once you’re in, make use of every minute. Conference with the professors, spend hours talking about writing and literature with your colleagues, write like a motherf***er!”

More of Dublin’s creative writing courses

UCD isn’t the only Dublin university offering Creative Writing postgrads. The American College offers an MFA in Creative Writing under the guidance of such acclaimed writers as Mia Gallagher, Sean O’Reilly and Mike McCormack.

Trinity has the city’s longest established programme, offering an M.Phil in Creative Writing since 1997. This is taught in the rooms at 21 Westland Row – the house where Oscar Wilde was born.

Gavin Corbett

Dublin-based author Gavin Corbett, who was a Writing Fellow at Trinity and taught on the M.Phil, says he sees Dublin as a natural base for courses of this sort.

Beyond the classroom, the streets are steeped in literary history and Dublin’s literary culture is: “One of our most strenuous exports – other than stout, creamy liqueur and soda bread”.

“It’s Dublin’s identity in a nutshell, its writers and writing,” he says.

So to what does he attribute the growing popularity of Dublin’s creative writing programmes?

He thinks that the momentum developed from the MFA culture in America and Dublin’s third-level institutions have recognised the “very unique commodity that we have – something that the wider world is interested in drawing from”.

A Trinity graduate’s experience

Rohan Swamy from Bombay, India completed the Trinity M. Phil five years ago. The course was “on his radar” in India and he was familiar with the work of teachers like Deirdre Madden and Carlo Gebler.

“I knew exactly how good they were,” he says. Plus, Trinity was more financially viable than similar programmes in the US. Once the course began, he says he felt “spoiled” to have the prominent poet, Professor Gerald Dawe, as his supervisor.

Dublin’s writers have long influenced Rohan. “I drew up on Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker when I was doing my own reading back in India,” he says. “One of the bigger pulls for me was the fact that I was going to be studying in Oscar’s house. That was a big deal.”

Making the move from India to Ireland

Rohan also believes that Ireland and India share a lot of values when it comes to cultural history. He cites the two countries’ history of oppression, battles for independence and divisions along religious lines.

“I chose to focus on the similarities rather than the differences,” he says.

Rohan Swamy

Rohan describes his first night in Dublin after arriving on his own.

“I met random strangers, who told me they’d never met anyone from India before. They showed me around and bought me a couple of drinks and wanted to listen to my story and it was so nice,” he says.

“Even though I knew I was halfway across the world from India, I didn’t feel like I was in an alien land. It was more like home.”

Today, Rohan works behind the scenes at Trinity College, but he continues to write short stories and articles as well. He has been published in both Ireland and India.

Never wanting to leave Dublin

Ana Arellano from California was a classmate of Rohan’s on the M. Phil at Trinity College. She first fell in love with Dublin on a family holiday and became determined to pursue a postgrad here.

“I’ve always had a fascination with Ireland since I was a kid, but I chose Trinity because of its literary history,” she explains.

She calls Oscar Wilde her ‘spirit animal’ and says she went to Trinity specifically to follow in his footsteps. As a writer of young adult fantasy fiction, Ana wanted to find her voice as a writer. And her studies in Dublin have certainly helped.

Ana Arellano

On the possibility of returning to California, Ana says: “I don’t ever want to go back. I adjusted quickly to the Dublin way of life. There’s a very: ‘It’s grand’ attitude. And that to me is perfect.”

Ana is still based in Dublin and continues to write young adult fiction. Recently, her work was published in the Honest Ulsterman too.

Ana acknowledges the cynicism that some people have toward creative writing postgrads, but she doesn’t let it get to her.

“I’m doing what I love to do and I’m really proud of the fact that I got accepted into Trinity,” she says. “I still can’t believe that.”

Want to go to university in Dublin? Check out our articles on studying in the city for more information.

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MA Creative Writing

Graduate taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90).

UCD offers two graduate courses in creative writing, an MA and MFA. The MA programme includes workshops, seminars and supervision meetings, providing committed students with the support they need to produce a major piece of writing by the end of the course. 

The MA in Creative Writing  builds on the well established commitment of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film to fostering and supporting new writing. The university has long been associated with some of Ireland’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Mary Lavin, Anthony Cronin, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson, Marina Carr, Colm Tóibín, Emma Donoghue, Maeve Binchy and many others. The Booker Prize winning novelist Anne Enright is Professor of Creative Writing, and among the teaching staff are novelist Sarah Moss, poet Ian Davidson, poet and novelist Paul Perry, novelist and playwright Declan Hughes, life writer and critic Catherine Morris and novelist Paula McGrath. 

The MA programme :

• Provides opportunities to explore and develop your own creative writing skills supervised by experienced published staff of international reputation.
• Actively fosters the development of students' capacity to edit their own work.
• Ensures that the art of writing is informed by contemporary theory and practice.
• Offers courses incorporating the manuscripts of works of leading writers held in Special Collections and courses which explore material in the National Folklore Collection in UCD, one of the richest archives of oral tradition in the world.

Careers & Employability

Many graduates of the MA in Creative Writing establish successful writing careers. Graduate of the programme Colin Barrett won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with Young Skins  then went on to win both the Frank O'Conner International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature. Other graduates go into the publishing industry, while some go on to do an MFA in Creative Writing. 

Curricular information is subject to change

Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Course Description

Lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings aim to provide committed writers with taught classes on the theory and practices of writing. These include presentation and editing techniques, creative reading of selected texts as well as the supervision of a major writing project. Among the important issues addressed on an on-going basis are voice and structure. Every effort is made to ensure that a student progresses on these as well as many other fronts.

Vision and Values Statement

A fundamental tenet of the MA in Creative Writing is a belief in the value of learning from writers who have mastered their craft. The writers who contribute to the course will vary from year to year, but recent module conveners have included Anne Enright, Laureate for Irish Fiction, Paula Meehan, Ireland Professor of Poetry, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, Writer Fellow, Sinéad Gleeson, Writer in Residence,  and Paul Perry, Poetry co-ordinator. 

Towards that end the MA in creative writing offers a selection of modules in the first semester which direct and encourage students to explore several literary forms, the novel, the short story and poetry.  The aim here is to present students with a broad range of possibilities, set them on a course of discovery for a form, or combination of forms, where they will best realise their creative potential. The learning environment is positive, enabling and friendly and the class group, fourteen or less students, are actively encouraged to support each other in their creative endeavours.

The second semester modules provide an opportunity to embark on a more specific path, while at the same time continuing to extend the boundaries of what is possible in fiction. As the semester progresses a student’s individual work is increasingly guided by course conveners and supervisors, both in workshop settings and on a one-to-one basis.  The end goal is the creation of a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which a student will continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.

Programme Outcomes

• Have a solid working knowledge of genres and forms.
• Have created a substantial piece of writing, a solid basis from which to continue towards the completion of a full work, whether that be a collection of short stories, a novel or a collection of poetry.
• Have developed a positive sense of themselves as writers, with an active role to play in the literary/artistic culture wherever they should find themselves.
• Have learned to read like writers, to recognise the challenges facing authors at various stages in the creation of a piece of fiction and to critically assess the extent to which these challenge have been met.
• On successful completion of the programme, students will have a thorough understanding of how to meet many of the challenges confronted in the construction of a piece of fiction; character, voice, place etc.
• Participated in a weekly visiting writer’s programme, contributed to an anthology and attended a selection of the literary events and festivals for which the city is renowned.

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fee information is available on the  UCD Fees website . Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see  International Scholarships .

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for the  MA programme  is a BA Hons English or equivalent (NFQ Level 8), and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (c.25 pages) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references. Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent. 

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Testimonial

Dave Rudden MA 2013 Award-winning author

The Creative Writing Masters in UCD has been incredibly useful to me as an author. I still use some of the lessons I learned in that year in my creative writing classes, and the expert advice of the lecturers contributed massively to me finding a home for my Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy at Puffin. I cannot recommend it highly enough.  

Graduate Profile Erika Meyers, USA Although there are many programmes that offer masters in Creative Writing in North America, I decided to attend UCD because it allowed me the opportunity to pursue my interests in poetry and fiction, rather than forcing me to choose one over the other. The creative versatility of the programme not only resulted in the publication of a novel and a poetry collection (both written while under the guidance of James Ryan and Éilís Ní Dhuibhne during my MA), but also provided me with the knowledge and experience necessary to earn a Santander scholarship and pursue my PhD in Irish Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Related Programmes

• MA Drama & Performance Studies FT

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Open Days and Events

See details of any upcoming events and how to register.

Programme Overview:

Ask a question:.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.

Graduate Research Duration

• MFA in Creative Writing (Low-Residency)
• English & Communications

Reach your full writing potential with your master’s in creative writing

Join a community of writers from all walks of life on an immersive and personalized educational journey. Our faculty and mentors have uniquely designed a low-residency, personalized program geared toward helping you discover and reach your full writing potential in fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry.  

An integral part of the program are four, 11-day residencies, in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland, that create an opportunity for you to engage and interface with fellow students, staff, mentors, and visiting renowned writers.

You will work one-on-one with American and Irish Mentors. With their expert guidance and your skill, you will become the writer you were meant to be.

Quick facts

• Sharpen your writing and storytelling skills in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry
• Learn an immersive and supportive community
• Travel to Pittsburgh and Ireland for engaging 11-day residencies with internationally-known writers

Credits Required:

Cost per credit:.

$1,124/credit

Time to degree:

As few as 5 semesters

On campus, some online

Master’s in creative writing curriculum 

You will work one-on-one with mentors both virtually and in person as you explore writing genres and engage in four, 11-day residencies in Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland. The residencies include workshops, masterclasses, and mentor conferences as well as opportunities to engage with visiting writers and alumni.

In a required practicum, you will work on a writing and reading plan and submit work for critique, review, and collaborative feedback. By the end of the program, you will produce a publishable body of work.

Choose the creative writing specialization that is best for you

Choose the creative writing area that best fits your career goals and personal aspirations. Each specialization provides you with the opportunity to hone the writing and storytelling skills for that area.

Develop your author’s voice and explore your creativity as you learn to write with a fiction focus. Choose from historical fiction, flash fiction, and young adult fiction. 

Creative Nonfiction

Explore memoirs, personal essays, short narrative work, and lyric essays as you find the voice and structure that best suits your story.

Understand the theories and treatment skills needed to work with a Explore your creativity, refine your voice, collaborate with other students and work with acclaimed and published poets to develop a publishable body of work.

GEORGIA HERTZ '23

“Writing - like any artform - can be a lonely path to tread, but it doesn't have to be done in isolation. Never have I felt such warmth and compassion from a group of writers as I have from my peers and mentors at Carlow University, both in Pittsburgh and in Dublin. We all delight in our growth as writers and we celebrate each other's successes with love, as if they were our own.”

PHILIP BORDER '22

“Every member of the poetry, fiction and CNF programs all feel like extended family members to me. They are always checking up on me to see what's new with my writing and to keep up on all of my forthcoming publications."

View or download our latest e-newsletter [pdf].

Tess Barry Program Director, MFA

Aimee Zellers, PhD Associate Provost

Joseph Bathanti Mentor, MFA

Richard Blanco Mentor, MFA

Evelyn Conlon Mentor, MFA

Carlo Gébler Mentor, MFA

Diane Glancy Mentor, MFA

Geeta Kothari Mentor, MFA

Gerry LaFemina Mentor, MFA

Brian Leyden Mentor, MFA

Karin Lin-Greenberg Mentor, MFA

Jean O’Brien Mentor, MFA

Lee Ann Roripaugh Mentor, MFA

Sarah Shotland Assistant Professor, Creative Writing

Judith Vollmer Mentor, MFA

Niall Williams Mentor, MFA

Enda Wyley Mentor, MFA

Contact admissions.

If you are interested in this graduate program, our Admissions team is available to help you with the next steps, including scheduling an on-campus visit or attending an upcoming event .

View the contact page for more contact and location information

Playwriting (M.F.A.)

Course overview.

The theatrical landscape is constantly being moulded by theatre makers who are presenting original works or reimagining classics. Critical to this process is new writings and adaptations. The Master in Fine Art degree in Playwriting at The Lir Academy offers every student the opportunity to develop and hone their unique writing skill so that each play written is the best it can be.

Through a series of skills-based writing workshops and tutorials with professional playwrights, directors and a dramaturge, the individual voice of the student writer will be nurtured and developed. Classes in dramaturgy and contemporary theatre practice will supplement the training. The course will culminate in the writing of a full-length play for the stage. Excerpts of these final works are shared in a public event with an invited audience of industry professionals.

Students on the course will work in a dedicated space for writers in The Lir building. In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual tuition from The Lir’s dramaturge will be a key feature of the training. In addition, master classes by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience.

The course is designed to complement the existing MFA Theatre Directing and the MFA Stage Design including Lighting Design, Costume Design and Set Design. Students on all three programmes will work together in collaboration, developing a shared understanding of contemporary theatre practice and a collective appreciation of the dedication and commitment required to make innovative performances happen.

Is This Course For Me?

If you have a passion for theatre and are interested in the process of playwriting, from idea to completion, you should consider the m.f.a. in playwriting. this course is designed to encourage, nurture and promote the individual voice of the developing writer., career opportunities.

This course is designed to equip students of exceptional talent with the skills necessary to pursue a career in theatre and related industries through the development of skills, professional practices and creative approaches to writing for performance.

Course Structure

Students elect to take this course either full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months).

Full-time students take Contemporary Theatre Practice (20 ECTS), Dramaturgy (20 ECTS), and Writing Workshop (20 ECTS) modules in the first two terms, and The Play (30 ECTS) module in the third term and subsequent summer months.

Students who to take the course part-time ordinarily complete:

• Year 1: Dramaturgy (20 ECTS); Writing Workshop (20 ECTS)
• Year 2: Contemporary Theatre Practice (20 ECTS); The Play (30 ECTS)

The Play module will be taught by an ongoing series of individual tutorials.

Course Content

Core modules include:

• Contemporary Theatre Practice: Enables students to become conversant in the styles, forms, theories, and practices that constitute contemporary theatre making in Ireland.
• Dramaturgy: Introduces students to a range of dramatic texts for the theatre or related media with an emphasis on the dramaturgical composition of those texts.
• Writing Workshop:  Students share their creative writing in a workshop format and receive both group feedback and individual tuition in the development of their craft.
• Play: Individual supervision and showcase staged reading of a student’s full-length play.

Click here for further information on modules/subject.

Learn about the postgraduate degrees at The Lir Academy

Join The Lir's Director, Loughlin Deegan, to learn more about the three M.F.A. programmes at The Lir Academy, available full-time and part-time. He outlines course content, finance, funding opportunities, and more.

Course Details

Number of places, next intake.

September 2024

Course Director

Graham Whybrow

Closing Date

31st March 2024

Admission Requirements

In addition to the information required on the online form, applicants are also required to upload a copy of the following:

• A letter that outlines the applicant’s theatre education and highlights the applicant’s writing experience to date.
• A ‘statement of purpose’ that refers to the applicants ambitions in terms of writing style, form and medium.
• A résumé (CV).
• A writing sample in the form of a play, with a minimum 45 minutes reading time (samples will not be returned and The Lir does not provide critiques of writing samples).
• Two academic or creative references / testimonials.

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees.

To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below

• Playwriting (M.F.A.) - Full-Time 31/MAR/2024
• Playwriting (M.F.A.) - Part-Time 31/MAR/2024

Get in Touch

Telephone number.

+353 (0)1 896 2559

Professor Brian Singleton (Academic Director of The Lir): [email protected]

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in postgraduate study at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

As Ireland’s leading university, we offer a wide range of postgraduate programmes at masters, diploma and certificate level.

Trinity is an international university steeped in history, with a reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation.

Testimonials

I chose this programme because I wanted to finesse my writing and learn a more considered approach. This course encourages you to question what you are writing. One of the best things about it is there are many others studying different disciplines, so you graduate with a ready-made theatre company with people who can help stage your work. Jane Madden Graduate

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UCD School of English Drama Film Scoil an Bhéarla, na Drámaíochta agus na Scannánaíochta UCD

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‌ MA in Creative Writing 

*applications for 2024/25 are open*.

Creative writing in the UCD School of English, Drama and Film draws on the long literary heritage of Dublin as a place that has produced many world-famous authors. It takes full advantage of the range of vibrant and dynamic literary activities in a country and a city where writers and writing are celebrated. The University has played a major role in the development of literary cultures both in Ireland and internationally and has long been associated with some of Ireland's greatest writers, including James Joyce, Flann O' Brien, Mary Lavin, Patrick Kavanagh, Maeve Binchy, Thomas Kinsella, Eilis Ni Dhuibne and Marina Carr. It is committed to supporting writers in all fields, including fiction, poetry and performance writing, as well as a diverse range of creative non-fiction. 

UCD offers three graduate courses in creative writing, an MA, an MFA and a PhD programme.  The MA programme includes lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings, providing committed students with the support they need to produce a major piece of writing by the end of the course.  A weekly visiting writer programme brings all graduate students into contact with some of Ireland’s finest writers as well as literary agents and publishers. Every year a writer in residence, appointed with the Arts Council of Ireland, provides a credit-based workshop and individual direction to students. 

Writers currently involved with the MA and MFA programmes in creative writing include the playwright, novelist and poet Frank McGuiness, poet Ian Davidson, novelist and poet Paul Perry, novelist Anne Enright, short story writer and novelist Katy Hayes, novelist Declan Hughes, novelist Gavin Corbett and Sinéad Gleeson as Arts Council Writer in Residence. Participants in the MA also get the opportunity to attend the very many cultural and literary events that take place in UCD, and recent visitors include Margaret Atwood, Kevin Barry, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanain, Paula Meehan and Paul Muldoon.

The School of English, Drama and Film has always included in its programme of extra-curricular activities a rich array of readings, writing workshops, writers’ groups, and special seminars offered by writers-in-residence. In 2006 a structured programme of courses and supervision, the now well-established MA in Creative Writing, was introduced to enable committed writers to develop their potential within a supportive framework. It is a one-year course of lectures, seminars, workshops and supervision meetings which aims to provide committed writers with taught classes on theories and practices of writing, presentation and editing techniques, reading of selected texts as writers and supervision of a major writing project.

There are first-rate libraries in UCD and the Dublin area. Several have renowned archives as well as expertly resourced electronic collections. Over many years, the School has established a worldwide reputation for excellence in fostering postgraduate research and in teaching. Designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2009, Dublin has an immense amount to offer aspiring writers.

Further Information

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As a participant on the MA programme you will be part of a large world class School of English, Drama, Film and Creative Writing and will:

• be taught by experienced published writers with international reputations;
• experience and develop knowledge of the best contemporary writing;
• learn how to produce and develop new ideas for your own writing;
• gain skills in editing and revising;
• take part in workshops, seminars and one to one tutorials;
• explore the archives of some of the world’s leading writers in the Special Collections held in UCD;
• develop a portfolio of work in your own chosen genre. 

 For the academic year 2022/23, the following core and optional modules are offered. 

(Please note that these may be subject to change from year to year.)

Semester one, core modules.

• Craft and Composition [10 Credits]
• Writing Poetry [10 Credits]
• Writing Places [10 Credits]
• Peer Reviewing/Visiting Writers Workshop

Semester Two

• Creative Reading [10 Credits]
• Writing Project Preparation [10 Credits]

 Optional modules

• Chapter 1: Beginning a Novel [10 Credits]

           or

• Sound and Visual Poetry [10 Credits]

Writing Project –c.15,000 words  (30 Credits)

Students are assessed in a variety of ways, which may include writing assignments, editing exercises, creative responses to texts, class presentations, and writing portfolio.

The majority of teaching on MA in Creative Writing is structured around two intense block teaching days and requires students to be on campus on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please bear in mind that on occasion you may be required to attend lectures/seminars/launches outside of these hours.

(Please be aware that timetables can be subject to change due to spacing and resourcing conisderations.) 

Students on the MA and MFA come from diverse backgrounds. Some come straight from their undergraduate studies while others might have spent some years in different jobs before coming to the course to fulfil their ambition to be writers. The student group is international, and students come to UCD from many countries to pursue their writing ambitions including Ireland, the UK, US, New Zealand, India, Austria and Germany.  Most have a good deal of writing experience and wish to pursue professional careers in writing, with specialisations in novel writing/short stories or poetry. Several of our alumni have won prestigious awards.

Please read the following guidelines for the portfolio section of the application.

The portfolio should be approximately 3000 words and may be a mixture of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or a novel excerpt. This might be a 3,000 word sample of prose or 6 poems, or a combination of prose and poetry. The work submitted does not have to previously published but do show us your best work. When formatting your portfolio follow the general guidelines for submitting to a literary journal; double-space prose and single-space poetry unless your writing uses alternative formatting.  All genres and styles of writing are welcome.

The  personal   statement should  include a short summary of your writing experience to date and any courses or workshops you have attended.  Perhaps also include a brief introduction of your history as a writer (or poet) and how and why you want to apply for the MA.  What do you hope to achieve and how do you believe that the MA will help develop as a writer?  If you have been previously published or are the recipient of any literary awards, please include details of these, but bear in mind that a publication history is not required to apply.

Many of our alumni from the MA and MFA have gone on to successful careers in writing, publishing and media.

• Disha Bose MA (2015-2016)  Born and raised in India, Disha now lives in Ireland. She attended University College Dublin, where she completed a Masters in Creative Writing (2016).  Disha Bose’s debut novel Dirty Laundry, a domestic noir, is to be published by Viking Books in the UK and Commonwealth (May, '23), and by Ballantine Books in North America.
• Sonya Gildea MA (2019 - 2020) Winner of the John McGahern Literature Award 2021; Poetry Ireland Introductions poet 2021/22 (selected by Seán Hewitt), winner of an Ireland Chair of Poetry Student Award 2020; recipient of a literature Bursary Award 2021 from the Irish Arts Council and winner of the Cúirt International New Writer’s Award (2015). Sonya has published in Crannog; the Stinging Fly; the Irish Times; Tolka journal; the Cormorant Broadsheet; the Night Heron Barks; The Maynard journal of poetry; the commemorative anthology Hold Open the Door (UCD & Chicago Press 2020); the Poetry Ireland Introductions anthology This Is What You Mean To Me (2021); Arlen House Publishing anthology of contemporary Irish poetry (2022); and The Common literary journal (2022).
• Sree Sen MA (2019-2020)  Published in Poetry Ireland Review, The Honest Ulsterman, Local Wonders (poetry anthology by Dedalus Press), bath magg, Crossways, nether Quarterly, Headstuff and others. She’s the winner of the UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award 2020, recipient of Cill Rialaig Residency 2020 & Agility Award 2021 by the Arts Council of Ireland. 
• Aingeala Flannery MFA (2018-2019) The Amusements debut novel published by Penguin Sandycove June 2022 Arts Council Literature Bursary 2020 and 2021 Winner Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition 2019

'The MFA in Creative Writing at UCD gave me the encouragement and space I needed to focus on my writing. It was challenging and inspiring, I came away with fresh ideas and a stronger sense of my natural writing style and the themes that excite me.  Our class stayed in touch and it's wonderful to have that ongoing support - for the rejections as well as the celebrations. The MFA in Creative Writing changed my life'

• Aoife Fitzpatrick MFA (2018 - 2019) Debut novel, The Red Bird Sings, from Virago Press, June 2023 “I miss the MFA. Not just the notable experience and insight of its teachers, but their authentic interest and vital engagement. That's what makes this course special; why it can transform both writer and work-in-progress.“
• Liz Houchin MA (2018 - 2019) ‘Anatomy of a Honey girl (poems for tired women)’ published by Southword, 2021. Awarded Literature Bursary from Arts Council of Ireland, 2021. 
• Brendan Casey, MA (2018-2019) She That Lay, Silent-like, Upon Our Shore, was long-listed for the Deborah Rogers Foundation Award and will be published by John Murray Originals in 2023.

'The course allowed me to dedicate myself to writing in a structured nurturing environment in which I had the time and space to develop ideas. Since graduating I have signed with RCW literary agency in London, and the thesis I submitted in UCD went on to form the basis of my novel .' 

• Sarah Gilmartin MFA (2018-2019) Her debut novel Dinner Party (Pushkin, 2021) was shortlisted for best newcomer at the Irish Book Awards and the Kate O’Brien Award 2022. Her stories have been published in The Dublin Review, New Irish Writing and The Tangerine. Her story The Wife won the 2020 Máirtín Crawford Award at Belfast Book Festival.
• Colin Barrett won the Guardian First Fiction Prize with  Young Skins  [Pub. Stinging Fly Press / Jonathan Cape (UK) Grove Black Cat editions (US)] then went on to win both the Frank O'Connor International short story award and the Rooney Prize for Literature.  in 2015, Colin was nominated as one of the five under 35 honourees by the National Book Foundation in the US. His stories have appeared in Five Dials , A Public Space and The New Yorker .
• Dave Rudden is a leading writer of YA fiction and has been short-listed for the Hennessy New Writing Award and the Bath Short Story Prize. He is the author of numerous novels, most recent, The Endless King ,  Doctor Who: Twelve Angels Weeping: Twelve Stories of the Villains from Doctor Who, The Forever Court and Knights of the Borrowed Dark.
• Jessica Traynor won the Hennessy Emerging Poet Award and the Hennessy Writer of the Year Award in 2013 and was the recipient of the Ireland Chair of Poetry Bursary in 2014. She is the author of two collections of poetry, The Quick and  Liffey Swim  runner-up in the 2015 Troubadour International Poetry Prize and Liffey Swim which was nominated for the 2015 Strong/Shine Award for first collections. 
• Julie Morrissy is an Irish poet, critic, and activist. Her first collection Where, the Mile End  is forthcoming in February 2019 with BookThug (Canada) and tall-lighthouse (UK & Ireland). Her debut poetry pamphlet I Am Where (Eyewear 2015)   was shortlisted for Best Poetry Pamphlet in the Saboteur Awards 2016.
• Henrietta McKervey has published three novels,  What Becomes Of Us  [Pub. Hachette Ireland], The Heart of Everything and  Violet Hill .  Henrietta won both the Hennessy First Fiction Award and the UCD Maeve Binchy Travel Award in 2014. 
• Helena Nolan is a poet and short fiction writer and was selected for the 2015 Poetry Ireland Introductions Series and will read as part of the International Literature Festival in May. She won the Patrick Kavanagh Award in 2011, having come second in 2010. 
• Eamon McGuinness is from Dublin. His poetry has appeared in  Poetry Ireland Review ,  Boyne Berries, Abridged, The Honest Ulsterman , and elsewhere. In 2017, he was featured on the Poetry Jukebox in Belfast and shortlisted for the Strokestown International Poetry Prize. His debut collection is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry.

Yes. The HCE Review is an online quarterly journal run by the staff and students on the MA and MFA in Creative Writing.  The journal aims to publish fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and visual art from both established and emerging writers and artists from around the world.

You can read more about the journal here .

Aingeala Flannery MFA (2018-2019)

'The MFA in Creative Writing at UCD gave me the encouragement and space I needed to  focus on my writing. It was challenging and inspiring, I came away with fresh ideas and a  stronger sense of my natural writing style and the themes that excite me.  Our class stayed  in touch and it's wonderful to have that ongoing support - for the rejections as well as the  celebrations. The MFA in Creative Writing changed my life'

Aoife Fitzpatrick MFA (2018 - 2019)

“I miss the MFA. Not just the notable experience and insight of its teachers, but their authentic interest  and vital engagement. That's what makes this course special; why it can transform both writer and work-in-progress.“ 

Brendan Casey, MA (2018-2019)

She That Lay, Silent-like, Upon Our Shore, was long-listed for the Deborah Rogers Foundation Award and will be published by John Murray Originals in 2023.

'The course allowed me to dedicate myself to writing in a structured nurturing environment  in which I had the time and space to develop ideas. Since graduating I have signed with  RCW literary agency in London, and the thesis I submitted in UCD went on to form the  basis of my novel .' 

Aidan Dolbashian, MA Creative Writing 2016.

Disharee Bose MA Creative Writing 15-16

• Applications for the  MA  must be made online;  http://www.ucd.ie/apply/  
• Applications for 2024-25 academic year opened on 1st October 2023
• The first round of offers will be made at the end of January. Applications thereafter are reviewed on a rolling basis.  We advise submitting your application early. 
• Applications will be closed once all places have been filled by suitably qualified and capable applicants.
• Scanned copies of relevant academic qualifications and the writing sample and references should be included in the online application. Referees will receive an email and link to upload the letters of recommendations. References should be on headed paper and signed.

For further details, please see the MA Creative Writing programme UCD webpages.

The entry requirement for the MA programme  is a BA Hons English or equivalent, and/or proven commitment to and experience in the field of creative writing; a portfolio (c.3000 words) of recent creative work; a personal statement of reasons for taking the course and references.

If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact Fiona French, Graduate Administrator at  [email protected] .  

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BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN CREATIVE WRITING

Creative writing touches on all aspects of written communication, with particular emphasis on those that lie outside the purely academic and technical fields. Creative writing draws on the author’s imaginative capacity, stylistic felicity, and originality of composition, insight and expression. It encompasses a wide range of approaches, including prose fiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, and writing for stage. Thus, an undergraduate degree in creative writing is one of the most useful programs of study that a student can contemplate, offering not only the means to explore and develop one’s expressive abilities in a variety of written forms, but also providing the means to develop advanced skills and competencies in written communication and academic research. In a digital age that is heavily reliant on effective, interesting, original and attractive writing, a BFA in Creative Writing is an exciting, relevant and vocationally desirable course of study: it provides a range of opportunities for artistic and intellectual growth, enhanced expressive ability, a rich variety of career development possibilities in the arts and business, and many avenues for further development in graduate study.

The BFA program examines all of the main areas of creative writing, with introductory courses on the discipline as a whole, courses on the technical requirements and the analysis of creative writing, and specific courses exploring the practical aspects of composing novels, short stories, poems, scripts and screenplays. As the student progresses, the program makes increasing use of the workshop method of teaching, and in the final stages there are opportunities for approved students to undertake extended independent writing projects. The student may combine the major in creative writing with other majors offered by the institution, depending on his or her interests; these include performing arts, liberal arts and international business, either as a double major or as minors.

The degree normally takes four years (eight semesters) to complete, though approved students may complete the program more quickly than this by taking summer semester classes. The student must complete a total of 120 credits, according to the following requirements (note that all classes are worth 3 credits unless indicated otherwise):

45 credits minimum from the creative writing major

• Academic communication
• Imagination and storytelling
• Anglo-Irish writers
• Introduction to creative writing
• Writing prose
• Close reading
• Shakespeare
• Writing for screen
• Writing for stage
• Literary modernism
• Writing workshops
• Creative writing projects (3 to 15 credits, depending on the size of the project undertaken, with approximately 6,000 words of text required for each 3 credits awarded; only available to junior and senior students, and requiring approval for the size of the project attempted)

30 credits minimum of general education classes

• 200-level creative writing and liberal arts classes above are all rated as general education courses and may be counted towards the general education requirement.

45 credits of free electives

• The remaining classes to achieve the required total of 120 credits may be freely chosen by the student, with the proviso that prerequisite stipulations are followed.
• The student may select as free electives more than the minimum 45 credits of creative writing major classes.
• The student may select as free electives more than the minimum of 30 credits of general education classes.
• If a student wishes to take a minor, a minimum of 15 credits must be taken in the minor, with at least 9 credits in the upper divisions (300+); these minor credits are taken from the free elective requirement.

Entry requirements

The programme has three intakes: January, May and September.

Applicants are required to have graduated from high school at a standard that satisfies the institution that they have a strong likelihood of being able to complete the program of study. Applicants still in high school must provide evidence from high school transcripts and / or report cards that suggest a likelihood to graduate from high school; conditional acceptance is granted pending the completion of the applicant’s senior high school year.

Applicants are also required to submit with their application a sample of original creative writing (any form of creative writing) of approximately 1,000 words.

Along with academic knowledge that students receive throughout the duration of their chosen subject, students will also acquire and develop transferable career skills from their degree discipline. These skills along with potential career paths are provided below to give you a well-rounded view of what the course has to offer.

These skills include:

• Skills and competencies in written communication.
• Skills and competences in academic research.
• Detail-oriented
• Self-management
• Organisational competencies
• Critical and editorial commentary

Graduate of BFA in Creative Writing will be prepared to participate in a range of complementary fields including:

• Online writing
• Advertising

The programme also serves as an effective platform for successful participation in a variety of postgraduate programmes such as the MFA in Creative Writing, Liberal Arts and Performing Arts.

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Online MFA in Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts

Earn an MFA in Creative Writing Online

• $637/credit (48 credits total)
• Transfer up to 12 graduate credits
• 100% online – no residency required
• Four fiction genres to choose from
• Career-focused certificate included
• No application fee or GRE/GMAT scores required

Online MFA in Creative Writing Program Overview

Share your story with the world and let the power of storytelling take your career to new heights with an online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing . As one of the only programs available that encourages a focus on genre fiction, our online MFA lets you hone your craft in an area specific to your strengths and interests. You'll also learn about the business side of creative writing, preparing you to market your work in the real world.

While most MFA programs require a residency, Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA in Creative Writing can be completed entirely online, with no travel necessary.

“Traditional MFA programs, whether full-time or low residency, are out of reach for many writers,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing. “The SNHU online MFA was designed to make the MFA experience accessible to all fiction writers, opening the door to diverse voices excluded for too long from the literary conversation. Our program is dedicated to giving writers the tools to succeed on the page and beyond it.”

Graduates leave the program with a completed and revised novel in one of our four offered genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance and Speculative. With the included certificates in either online teaching of writing or professional writing , you'll have the skills to support your writing career, no matter where it takes you.

.st0{fill:#21386D;} What You'll Learn

• The business and technical sides of professional writing
• How to navigate the publishing ecosystem, identify agents and editors, and market your work to appeal to decision-makers
• Using social media to gain a following and build your brand
• How to teach writing in a classroom setting

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

The Value of an Online MFA

Emily Jones ’20 embraced a transformational experience through the online MFA in Creative Writing program, which supported her in taking her writing career to the next level. “I can now say, without even a hint of imposter syndrome, that I am a writer,” said Jones. “And that is because of Southern New Hampshire University.”

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors made a median annual salary of $69,510 in 2021, while editors made $63,350. 1

“Our mission is to give students a degree and associated practical skills they can use to forge successful pathways in academia, business, or by blazing their own career trail,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing.

Earning one of the included certificates in online teaching of writing or professional writing will also be an invaluable addition to your resume for part-time, full-time and freelance jobs in a variety of fields, including:

• Higher education. Instruct writing courses in higher education settings. In 2021, postsecondary teachers made a median annual wage of $79,640, and you can expect to see a 12% growth in available positions through 2031, according to the BLS. 1
• Advertising. Use your storytelling skills in a way that influences consumer action. As a copywriter, you could find yourself doing any number of writing projects from crafting emails and ads to writing entire commercials.
• Marketing. If you're more comfortable with long-form prose, many businesses have invested in content writers who create quality content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.
• Entertainment. Good at building suspense or setting up punchlines? From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, being a good storyteller and writer is important to finding success in the entertainment industry.
• History. Every person's life has a plot, but it takes writers like you to tell their stories in a compelling way. Help readers relive the experiences of historic figures and pop culture icons as a biographer.

Higher Education

Instruct writing courses in higher education at a college or university, either in-person or online.

Advertising

Influence consumer action through copywriting, from print ads to digital advertising and broadcast commercials.

Create written content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.

Entertainment

From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, writers often find success in the entertainment industry.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts favorable job growth in postsecondary education. And while statistics are not available for all job settings mentioned above, the BLS reports the following:

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Job Growth

You can expect to see a 12% growth in available postsecondary teaching positions through 2031, according to the BLS. 1

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Potential Salary

Writers and authors made a median annual salary of $69,510 in 2021, while editors made $63,350 and postsecondary teachers made $79,640. 1

Understanding the numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online MFA in Creative Writing

If you're looking to earn your Master of Fine Arts online, you've found the right program. Even though there are no residency requirements, you'll still interact frequently with other students and faculty members in asynchronous discussions, critique workshops and within our online writer’s community, where students come together to share industry news, extend writing tips and develop critique partnerships.

"I liked MFA-514 (Advanced Studies in Genre Literature) best," said student Jamilla Geter . "It was a great look into the different genres. It really helped me narrow down what genre I wanted to write in."

"Though it was not writing exactly, its connection to it – especially in our digital world – was made clear almost immediately," she said. "Writing is not just providing content of value to your readers, but also creating avenues of access so those readers can find your content. This course helped me to understand that and to learn how I can create those avenues."

Besides allowing you to focus on your own creative interests, part of our 48-credit online MFA curriculum requires you to choose from 2 certificate offerings designed to round out your education and better prepare you for a multitude of writing-related careers.

The first choice is a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing , which is tailored to those who see themselves teaching in an online classroom setting as a supplement to their writing careers. Students practice approaches to editing and coaching, learning how to establish a virtual instructor presence and cultivate methods for supporting and engaging students within online writing communities.

Learn more about the online teaching of writing graduate certificate .

Students can also choose the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing , which highlights the technical and business opportunities available to writers. Students will develop a range of skills, such as copywriting, social media, marketing principles and/or content generation, learning many of the freelancing skills integral to today’s project-driven economy.

Learn more about the professional writing graduate certificate .

All of our courses are taught by accomplished authors and industry professionals who know both the craft and business of creative writing. They will work closely with you to develop both your creative and professional skill set.

"All instructors within my program were extremely knowledgeable and helpful," Warden said. "I learned a lot about the different career paths my instructors chose. ... The course instruction, along with their anecdotal experiences, helped in offering knowledge in different areas of our field.

MFA Program Thesis

The thesis for the Online MFA in Creative Writing is required to be a novel of at least 50,000 words in one of the four genres the program offers: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, and Speculative.

Every Southern New Hampshire University online MFA student who graduates from the program will do so with a revised novel manuscript in their chosen genre, which is completed in a three-course thesis series. Throughout your tenure in the program, you can either work on a singular idea that you will develop during the three thesis courses, or you can begin a new project for your thesis. You can also combine elements of the four genres offered in the program for your thesis. For example, your thesis might be a YA Speculative Fiction novel.

"My three thesis classes for the MFA degree were the most helpful," said Kathleen Harris '21 . "I was actually writing a book as my thesis, so it was both enjoyable and advantageous for the degree. And it was the end of a very long milestone of accomplishments."

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')); University Accreditation

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: Course Materials ($ varies by course). Foundational courses may be required based on your undergraduate course history, which may result in additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Types of Communication Styles And How to Identify Them

A Place of Belonging for All: More Than A Decade of The Penmen Review

What is a Liberal Arts Degree

Related programs.

Graduate Admissions

Creative Writing (MFA in English)

The MFA in English with a focus in Creative Writing is awarded by the Graduate College. The Creative Writing Program, also known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, also offers  Nondegree Course Work . For the MFA in English with a focus in nonfiction writing, apply to the  Nonfiction Writing Program .

Applicants must meet the  Admission Requirements of the Graduate College  and the department offering the degree program (review the department's web site or the General Catalog for departmental requirements).

Tuition and fees vary by degree program and the type of student you are.

• Fall semester—Dec. 15
• Spring semester—not offered

The graduate application process has two steps

• You must first submit the online application to the Graduate College and pay the $60 application fee by credit card ($100 for international applicants).
• Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. A few programs require materials be sent directly to them. However, almost all supplemental material can and should be uploaded from your Admissions Profile in MyUI , our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access this AFTER you have submitted your application.

Degree Program Supplemental Materials

• Mail manuscript of your best work, with a  Manuscript Cover Sheet (PDF) - address listed below Receipt of your manuscript will be noted on your Admissions Profile.
• A Statement of Purpose
• Application for Graduate Awards
• Your General GRE test scores (optional but recommended)
• Supplemental Financial Aid

Recommendations

The application requirement section of your Profile includes an electronic letter of recommendation feature. If your program of study requires letters of recommendation, you will be asked to give the contact information of your recommenders including their email on your Admissions Profile. The recommender will then get an email giving them instructions on how to upload the recommendation letter and/or form.

• Three letters of recommendation

Materials to send to Admissions

• A set of your unofficial academic records/transcripts uploaded on your Admissions Profile. If you are admitted, official transcripts will be required before your enrollment. For international records, all records should bear the original stamp or seal of the institution and the signature of a school official.  Documents not in English must be accompanied by a complete, literal, English translation, certified by the issuing institution.
• Your official GRE scores are not required for admission to this program. However, applications that include GRE scores may be more competitive for a greater range of financial assistance (the University's institutional code is 6681).
• International students may also be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo scores to comply with the university's English Language Proficiency Requirements .
• Once recommended for admission, international students must send a  Financial Statement .

Apply Online , the $60 application fee ($100 for international students) is payable by Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

Creative Writing Program The University of Iowa 102 Dey House Iowa City, IA 52242-1000 [email protected] 1-319-335-0416

Enrollment Management The University of Iowa 2900 University Capitol Centre 201 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA 52242 [email protected] 1-319-335-1523

General Catalog

English (creative writing), mfa.

This is the first version of the 2023–24 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

The Master of Fine Arts in English with a creative writing subprogram features advanced courses in writing fiction and poetry. Students in creative writing study at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, renowned as a pioneer in teaching writers since its founding in 1936.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• develop expertise in the art of writing through practical, immersive engagement with techniques and principles of craft in fiction or poetry;
• build deep knowledge and broad appreciation of the literary landscape through immersive engagement with diverse literary traditions;
• gain practical experience teaching literature, rhetoric, and/or creative writing at the college level;
• create and revise a significant body of top-level creative work in fiction or poetry;
• develop a strong individual artistic vision; and
• gain exposure to a wide range of career options in both academic and non-academic literary disciplines.

The Master of Fine Arts program in English with a creative writing subprogram requires a minimum of 48 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa grade-point average of at least 3.00. The degree is offered through the Creative Writing Program (Iowa Writers' Workshop), a two-year residency program that culminates in a creative thesis, such as a novel, a collection of stories, or a book of poetry.

Throughout the program, workshop students craft their manuscripts and engage in an exchange of ideas about writing and reading with each other and with the renowned teacher-authors who make up the workshop's faculty.

Admission to the program is competitive.

For details about the MFA in English (creative writing) and about the Iowa Writers' Workshop, see Creative Writing (Iowa Writers' Workshop) in the catalog.

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2023-24 Catalog

A PDF of the entire 2023-24 catalog.

Celebrating 20 years of Words Without Borders

• Post author By John Rice (he/Them)
• Post date November 13, 2023

We have to bring some special attention to Words Without Borders , and not just because MFA alum Eric Becker has been the Senior Editor there for several years now, but because WWB is one of the few magazines in the world dedicated to literature in translation. One of the things that makes our program so unique is our dedicated translation track, which means we share in the very same global literary conversation that Words Without Borders publishes in their pages.

This anniversary is the perfect time for this write-up in The New York Times, “ Celebrating Literature That ‘Brings the World Close’ ,” which highlights the importance of what WWB does, especially in the midst of all the strife occurring around the world as we speak.

Being situated in the most diverse place on the planet naturally connects us to the world at large around us, through all the cultures that surround our humble program. That’s why we’re so grateful to WWB for creating unparalleled access to the world’s literary voices, because we all need to hear each other.

Congratulations on 20 years, and here’s to 20 more!

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.

• Terms of Service
• Creative Commons (CC) license unless otherwise noted

Theatre Arts

Cheta Igbokwe Brings Nigeria’s Rich Literary Culture to Iowa Playwright’s Workshop

“In search for other things, we find other things.” In October, at the public reading of his new play, No Gun Salute for Ofek e, Sixtus Chetachi “Cheta” Igbokwe, a second-year Theatre Arts MFA student in playwriting, introduced his project with these wise words from his late mother.  

Igbokwe is an established author in his home country of Nigeria. He returned home this summer with support from the University of Iowa Graduate College’s 2023 Summer MFA Fellowship, where he conducted research and oversaw the production of his play, Awele , which premiered at The Arts Theatre of The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, under the direction of Ugochukwu Ugwu.  

He also found his new story in Nigeria. 

“Creativity, in my perspective, is born from the very forces of nature, like water and air,” Igbokwe discusses his development as a writer. “Through my artistic endeavors, I have become even more convinced that a storyteller is akin to a dibia. Just like a dibia mgborogwu, a healer, sets out to find a specific herb but discovers others along the way, my journey to Owerri last summer to research a story led me to begin weaving the tale of Ofeke .”  

The new project explores themes of bargaining, blackmail, and manhood by playing with the dual meaning of Ofeke—a word that means both clown and a non-initiate of the masquerade cult.  

“In the Igbo community, to be a full man, you must be admitted into a masquerade cult,” Igbokwe explains. “To be admitted, the cult must determine that you can keep the secrets of the mask. Ofeke is the story of a young man’s attempts and failures to gain admittance.” 

Igbokwe is an alumnus of Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop. He has written multiple poems and wrote the screenplay for Agwaetiti Obiuto (Island of Happiness) —a film described by Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, as a “magnificent work of art.”  

Igbokwe’s first play, Homecoming , was the winner of the 2021 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Drama.  Homecoming is a story about misrecognition that follows Nwakibe and Adannaya Echeruo, a couple desperately searching for their long-lost son.  

“My motivation for storytelling is mostly from personal experiences,” Igbokwe reveals as he tells the story behind Homecoming . “In 2019, I had a sister returning from outside the country after eleven years and I was the only family member in Lagos to receive her. I kept asking myself if I would really remember my sister. I felt if I didn’t recognize my own sister, I’d failed. So, I wrote a play about the burden of recognition.” 

The play was first performed in spring of 2021 at The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while Igbokwe was still a student there. Upon its success, the play was contracted for publication with Noirledge Publishing and was released December 2022. It was also selected as one of only eleven outstanding plays on the longlist for the 2023 Nigeria Prize for Literature—which is the largest and most prestigious literary prize in Africa.  

Igbokwe’s work is rooted in his Igbo-African culture, and his love for stories and theatre come from his Nigerian upbringing. “I have always known how narratives are an integral part of our society,” he says.   

Igbokwe grew up reading classics like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart  and fell in love with the beautiful simplicity of Achebe’s language. It was, however, Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus that influenced the way Igbokwe engages with contemporary Nigerian culture. “In reading Adichie,” he says, “I discovered it was possible to write modern stories, stories set in this time—to have characters who are young and like me.” 

At the University of Iowa, Igbokwe brings Adichie to his students. Alongside developing his own work, he teaches two undergraduate courses in playwriting. “We recently looked at Adichie’s ‘The Danger of a Single Story’—a speech about balance in storytelling.” Igbokwe pauses, laughing a little, and adds, “it’s actually what Adichie told me while I was at her workshop: Balance generates better conversations.”  

Igbokwe decided to pursue an MFA in playwriting after receiving the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Drama. Encouraged by Homecoming’s success, he set out to find a program that would give him the opportunity and time to create new plays. “I didn’t know about it before my search,” Igbokwe admits. But, after learning about the Iowa Playwrights Workshop, he was sold.  

“The workshop gives you the opportunity to have people gather, hear your work, and give you the feedback you need. I’ve met a lot of talented writers,” Igbokwe says about his experience at Iowa.  

“Every Monday, when we read the plays of my peers, it challenges me. The next day, I sit at my computer and tell myself to put in my best just as my peers have. This is what the workshop does, it encourages that sense of community.”  

The Iowa Playwrights Workshop connects emerging writers with actors, directors, and other theatre practitioners in the Theatre Arts program so they can hear and see their productions on stage. The workshop offers abundant opportunities for playwrights to produce their work including weekly staged readings, smaller-scale Gallery Series productions, and the New Play Festival—an annual spring showcase of four fully-produced plays and numerous staged readings, all created by students in the workshop.  

Igbokwe will be presenting his play, Brother-Brother , for the Gallery Series this semester. Brother-Brother is about an ill professor who returns to Nigeria to plan his own funeral. Upon his return, he reunites with his brother and together they fight the monster, Death.  

“We call death Onwu. Onwu sounds tragic like a perpetual conclusion.” Reflecting on how the play conceives death, Igbokwe says, “I tell people I prefer to call death Nhapu , the Igbo word for transition.” 

Cheta Igbokwe’s Brother-Brother   is an original, engaging take on humanity’s age-old effort to grapple with the problem of death.