master in creative writing canada

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Program overview

Fast-track your skills in the company of other writers. Pursue your thesis with a professor whose expertise  complements your area of interest. Take literature seminars that broaden your understanding of others’ work and your own. The literary culture you encounter will enhance every aspect of your development as a writer.

You’ll have the freedom to explore your creative vision and find your voice as a writer and scholar in the artistically vibrant city of Montreal. Our program’s flexibility allows you to propose a thesis project in traditional or innovative genres and media, including digital.

By pursuing training as a writer in the context of a literature program, you’ll experience a learning environment informed by a multiplicity of insights. Your classmates will include people pursuing scholarly interests as well as those with their sights set on writing careers, publishing and editing, gaming, and teaching.

You’ll also have the opportunity to forge professional and artistic relationships that will last throughout your career.  Concordia is home to the Centre for Expanded Poetics, the Mordecai Richler Reading Room , numerous publications, and the Writers Read series , which attracts renowned and emerging writers alike.

Program Details

Admission requirements, english literature ma with thesis (option a), english literature ma with thesis (option b) (45 credits), creative writing with thesis (option c), degree requirements, degree requirements.

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the English Courses page for course descriptions.

English MA (45 credits)

Program options.

Degree options

You may choose one of three options. English Literature MA with Thesis (Option A) English Literature MA with Thesis (Option B) Creative Writing with Thesis (Option C)

Application process

Your completed application will include:

• Application form and Fee
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Reference and assessment form
• Statement of Purpose (2 pages maximum) outlining your academic and creative writing background and areas of interest, potential thesis area, and objectives in pursuing graduate studies
• Creative Writing  portfolio
• For international students, a sample of your written work, such as a course paper (15 pages maximum).
• Transcripts  for all post-secondary institutions attended
• Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
• Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit  official language test scores , unless exempted.

Please apply  online . Read the  how-to guide  for application procedures.

Application deadlines

Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of courses  and  read about upcoming, current and past course offerings .

Portfolio information

How to submit your portfolio 

Upload a PDF version of your portfolio on or before the application deadline.

If you are experiencing issues with uploading your portfolio, please send it to the Graduate Program Assistant  [email protected] .

Your portfolio MUST include the portfolio cover page   and a copy of your statement of purpose.

The subject line should read:   Last name, first name - graduate portfolio submission

About the portfolio

It is not necessary to submit all three genres; though you may wish to reflect your strengths in various genres, the focus should be on that in which you propose to complete your thesis. If you write prose, submit 35 to ( a maximum of ) 45 pages (double-spaced); if poetry, 20 to ( a maximum of ) 25 pages (single-spaced). If you are applying in drama, you must submit one complete play. In the case of a combined-genre portfolio, the total should not exceed 35 pages (unless drama is included).  Submit your strongest work that which you feel accurately represents your abilities and interests. Where possible, complete works are preferable to excerpts.

Students not accepted into the Creative Writing program may enter the Literature Option if they have met admission requirements and have indicated that they are interested in the other option on the  portfolio cover page form.

We’re committed to providing students the support they need to focus on their studies. Top students benefit from scholarships and teaching assistantships, and all students are eligible for conference awards and other funding .

Please also consult the English Department’s funding page and Financial Aid and Awards .

Faculty research interests

Our faculty members are accomplished scholars across many fields of literature. Learn about the diverse research interests through our research initiatives  and recent publications .

Student initiatives

Graduate students hold writing sessions and workshops, host literary and scholarly events, and publish a journal. Learn more about Concordia Write Nights , Headlight , and visit SAGE to get involved.

Your professional future

An MA in English prepares you for careers that require strength in research, writing, and communication.

You’ll also be qualified to teach in Quebec’s CEGEP system.

Our graduates  are well-placed to take on advanced study in a PhD program, in either English or Creative Writing.  Others have become icons of the Canadian literary scene. Still others work in such fields as editing (literary, copy), publishing (as employees or as small press publishers themselves), writing for online and print magazines (e.g. Maisonneuve , The Walrus ), developing video games, teaching CEGEP, teaching ESL, translating, and technical writing.

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• MA Programs
• MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing

The Department of English at the University of Toronto launched the MA Program in English in the Field of Creative Writing (MA CRW) in 2004-05. The program draws both on the expertise of faculty at the University of Toronto and on the extraordinary vitality of Toronto’s writing community. Internationally acclaimed writers, a multiplicity of cultural traditions, and an energetic publishing industry provide the environment for nurturing new talent. Students have at their disposal the academic and creative resources of the English Department, including its strengths in historical research and traditional scholarship, numerous interdisciplinary collaborations, its acknowledged expertise in world literature, and a faculty engaged in new theoretical studies in culture, race, and gender. Students also have access to one of the world’s great library systems, including the manuscript collections at the Fisher Rare Book library. While the program is designed to prepare participants for careers as professional writers, it will also qualify those wishing to pursue further graduate studies.

Admission Requirements

The MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing requires students to attend graduate-level English courses. The degree can lead to a PhD in English. Therefore, students must have at least seven full-year undergraduate courses in English or the equivalent in half-year courses (i.e., fourteen), or any combination of full- and half-year courses that add up to the equivalent of seven full-year courses .  It is not necessary to have an English major, as long as you have the seven undergraduate English courses. Students who do not meet this requirement cannot be admitted into the program.

A B+ average (GPA of 3.3) is the minimum requirement for entry into the program. Once this is met, the primary basis for the selection of candidates is the quality of the portfolio submission. It is not expected that students will have publication credits. Applicants do not need to provide GRE results.

Applications must be submitted online and are considered complete only when the following documentation has been received by the Department of English:

• Two academic letters of reference submitted online by academic referees/recommenders, each addressing your performance in university English and/or Creative Writing coursework. At least one letter must discuss your performance in English coursework. Do not use editors, publishers, employers, or fellow writers as referees.
• A statement of purpose, submitted electronically
• Digital Transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended (in pdf format), uploaded to the application, and UPON REQUEST ONLY official paper transcripts mailed directly to the Department. For more detailed information and instructions regarding submitting transcripts, please visit  "Checklist for a Complete GradAPP Package" in the section entitled Academic Transcripts  on our  APPLICATION INFORMATION page.
• Do not submit academic essays.
• To view the application details and requirements, please visit the SGS website here  SGS Admissions & SGS Application Requirements  and the application instructions on the SGS  How to apply  page. Additionally, here is the link to the School of Graduate Studies pages for Future Students .

Program Requirements

The MA program in English in the Field of Creative Writing usually requires 18-24 months to complete. Applicants must have an overall average of B+ or better and evidence of first-class work in English for admission to the program. The program requires the completion of two FCE’s (full course equivalents) in English; ENG6950Y Writing Workshop; and a supervised Writing Project (the equivalent of a thesis) completed under the direction of a mentor.

All candidates must complete the Writing Workshop in the first year of their program. Some sessions may feature on-campus visits from editors, publishers, professional archivists, researchers, and agents so that students can learn the pragmatics of the publishing industry. In their second year, students undertake a book-length Writing Project in a genre of choice – poetry, drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction. Each student is assigned a faculty member or adjunct faculty member with whom to consult on a regular basis about the Project. All advisors are published writers.

Writing Workshop

ENG6950YY: All candidates for the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing must complete this workshop in the first year of their program. Students will also submit creative work in order to receive feedback from the instructor and fellow students, and this will allow them to develop their portfolios.

Writing Project

In the second year of the program, students will undertake a book-length Writing Project in a genre of choice (poetry, drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction). Each student will be assigned a faculty member or adjunct faculty member with whom to consult on a regular basis about the Project. All mentors will be published writers. The completed Project should normally be submitted before the beginning of April of the second year. The Department will then arrange an oral defense, to be chaired by the Director of the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing. The Writing Project can be designated as Pass, Fail, or Distinction.

Student Funding

Students accepted into the MA Program in English in the Field of Creative Writing are eligible for teaching assistantships, including a number in Creative Writing courses. All incoming students are considered for incoming scholarships.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. For more information visit the Department of English Finances & Awards  webpage.

Faculty, Mentors, and Alumni

• MA CRW Program Adjunct Faculty (Mentor) Biographies
• MA CRW Faculty Biographies
• MA CRW Alumni Biographies

How many students are admitted each year?

We admit seven students each year.

I do not have 7 full-year (or equivalent) undergraduate courses in English. Can I still apply?

Because the program is an MA in English, students must have a strong background in English literature. Students who do not have sufficient undergraduate training may wish to take additional courses in English in order to qualify for admission.

My average is less than a B+. Can I still apply?

The academic requirements for admission to the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing are very strict. The B+ minimum must be met or a student’s portfolio will not be considered. Students who do not have an adequate GPA may wish to take additional courses in order to improve their academic standing and qualify for admission.

I have taken courses in literature in a language other than English. Can I apply?

Unless the texts were studied in English translation, courses in literature in a language other than English do not qualify students for admission to the program.

How should I choose what to submit?

Choose your best writing.

Can I apply to enrol in January?

There is only one entry point for students in the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing, which is September. Students may not begin the program in January.

Can I enrol in the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing part-time?

Students must enrol full-time.

How much Financial Support can I expect?

Currently we are able to offer students in the Creative Writing program a TAship each year (number of hours TBA at the start of the program), to a maximum of two years. Successful applicants for the SSHRC CGS-M award can expect $17,500. OGS award holders can expect up to $15,000. All incoming students are considered for incoming scholarships.

For more information please contact us by e-mail, phone or by mail.

[email protected]  Director, MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing Department of English 170 St. George Street University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Canada M5R 2M8

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English and Creative Writing (MA)

Feed your love of literature and creative writing through our English and Creative Writing graduate programs. Our graduate-level course seminars are guided by the expertise and research of our faculty, letting you become immersed in engaging topics—from the historical reception of the works of William Shakespeare, to the writing of the formal lyric, to the figure of the zombie in contemporary culture—all under the guidance of specialists in the subject. Our programs cultivate not only critical writers and readers, but also accomplished researchers and public speakers.

In our creative writing Master of Arts programs, you can find your voice and hone your craft as a writer of verse, fiction, and creative non-fiction.

Our graduate students have the choice of not only diverse course offerings and accomplished mentors and supervisors, but also of several distinct degree paths, allowing for extensive learning through coursework, for intensive individual study in the project or thesis route, and for the pursuit of one’s own craft as a writer through creative writing projects and theses.

We offer the following graduate programs:

Master of Arts in English (course-based)

The course-based Master of Arts consists of 10 seminar courses. In this program, you will achieve a breadth of knowledge in many areas of English literature and in the most current developments in the subject.

Master of Arts in English (thesis-based)

The thesis-based Master of Arts consists of five courses plus a thesis requiring in-depth research on one area of English literature.

Master of Arts in English (project-based)

The project-based Master of Arts consists of seven courses plus an academic project. In this program, students study English while completing a project the size of a scholarly journal article.  This program includes a public presentation of the completed project.

The Master of Arts in Creative Writing and English (thesis-based)

This program includes a creative writing workshop requirement. Of the five courses required, at least two graduate courses in creative writing must be taken. The remaining courses are advanced seminars in English literature or literary theory. The creative writing thesis takes the form of  a substantial manuscript of poems, short stories, or creative nonfiction, and it must include a critical introduction explaining the aims, methods and contexts for the creative work.

Master of Arts in Creative Writing and English (project-based)

This Master of Arts program has an emphasis on creative writing and requires the submission of an extended creative work (e.g., a chapbook collection of poetry; 1-2 short stories or creative nonfiction pieces; an excerpt from a novel). This program includes a public presentation of the completed project.

Of the seven courses required, at least two graduate courses in creative writing must be taken. The program also requires a substantial amount of work in the subject of English, which is a valuable part of the education of creative writers. It is intended for students who have aspirations in the fields of creative writing and editing but who have not had the extensive professional experience required with gaining admission to a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program.

Regardless of the route you choose, all of our English and creative writing graduate programs offer excellent preparation for graduate studies at the doctoral level or in related fields, or for a wide range of careers.

English Meet Your Faculty

Quick facts, connect with us, why study english and creative writing at the university of regina.

The writing, reading, and research demands of our seminar courses and intensive, self-directed study equip students to be independent thinkers capable of processing complex information, of researching intricate issues, of identifying and solving problems, and of communicating findings clearly and compellingly. This sets them up to succeed in a wide range of workplaces.

By allowing students to cultivate their own voice in both creative and critical writing, and to pursue their passions in readings and assignments, our graduate programs also enrich our students’ lives and empower them to speak and write with eloquence and confidence.

Our faculty is noted for its diversity, its renown, its record of innovation, and is committed to mentoring graduate students.

A choice of routes – thesis, course-based, or project

Graduate students have the choice of five program routes:  coursework, English thesis, English project, Creative Writing and English thesis, Creative Writing and English project. The new project route emphasizes professionalization, while the English department’s ongoing commitment to a thesis degree gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a major independent research project under the supervision of expert professors. This is an experience fewer and fewer graduate programs in the field still offer.

Student support

The English department has a long-standing tradition of professorial availability and mentoring. Since the master's degree is the highest degree offered by the English department at the U of R, we can offer close support of Master's students and high-priority supervision of Master's theses that is often unavailable in departments with doctoral programs. 

Expert faculty members

We have a number of celebrated professors, including the U of R’s Canada Research Chair in Truth, Reconciliation, and Indigenous Literatures, Dr. Michelle Coupal, as well as award-winning creative writers, scholars, and teachers.

Our faculty research interests include:

• Renaissance, Romantic, and Modernist periods
• Post-colonial literature
• Prison writing
• Fantasy literature
• Literary and political theory
• Canadian Indigenous literature
• Creative writing in prose and verse
• Film adaptation
• Creative writing faculty members include novelists, Fantasy writers, short story writers, poets, and writers of memoir and creative nonfiction.

University library

The holdings of the University Library are ample for Master’s research in all traditional areas of literary study, and have particular strengths in the following areas:

• Victorian writers and periodicals
• Romantic poets and novelists
• Literary theory
• American fiction and periodicals 1741-1910
• Hemingway and Fitzgerald
• Canadian Institute for Historical Microproductions archive
• Utopian literature
• Criticism of fantastic literature (science fiction, fantasy, horror)
• North American Indigenous Literature
• Literature and religion, e.g. Patrologiae Cursus Completus

The University Library’s databases include extensive holdings in primary materials, such as:

• Shakespeare in Quarto
• Women Writers Online
• Nineteenth Century Collections Online
• Eighteenth Century Collections Online
• Early English Books Online
• British Library Manuscripts Online
• Gale Primary Sources

The Library’s databases also include substantial secondary materials for literary research, such as:

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• Artemis Literary Sources
• Literature Criticism Online
• MLA Bibliography

The Dr. John Archer Library houses the University Archives, with archival staff to facilitate primary research using archival materials. Graduate students also have access to hands-on personal research support from the English Librarian, opportunities for digital humanities research supported by the Research & Scholarship Librarian, and more.

English and Creative Writing Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree in English with an overall grade point average of at least 75 per cent. Applicants with a strong background in English who hold degrees in other disciplines may be considered for admission as Qualifying students. Applicants must have successfully completed ENGL 399 or an equivalent course in Literary Theory.

You must also submit a writing sample and other supplementary materials (depending on which program you are applying to.)

Creative Writing: Writing Genre

This graduate-level creative writing seminar will focus on popular genres, including fantasy/science-fiction, detective fiction, horror, young adult literatures, and digital genres. Students will workshop their own creative texts while also reading criticism on genre studies and the craft of writing.

Life Writing: Experimental Memoir

This course introduces students to the creative non-fiction memoir and personal, lyric essay. It is a hybrid course; both academic and creative writing students can enroll.

Shakespeare as Cultural Icon

By studying the cultural reception of four popular, contested plays in the Shakespeare canon, this course examines the ways Shakespeare has been used as a national and international icon, both to maintain institutionalized power and to serve as a resistance point for underprivileged groups.

Indigenous Science Fiction and Speculative Storytelling

This course examines Indigenous science fiction and speculative storytelling as an emerging genre. Beginning with its origins in oral traditions and ending with contemporary short fiction and film, this course asks what makes Indigenous science fiction distinct from Western science fiction, and also from historical fiction about Indigenous peoples.

The Rhetoric of Apology in Canada

This course examines the rhetoric of government apologies in Canada as national mythologies or narratives of forgiving and forgetting government policies that defined, “who belongs and who does not belong to the nation.” We will examine ideological underpinnings of apologies and attempts at reconciliation through Canadian tragedies.

Security and Surveillance: The Making of "Bad" Subjects

This course will use Foucault's mid-1970s lectures on security and surveillance as a starting point to discuss how bodies and behaviours are policed. We will discuss how some cultural texts play a role in producing "good" citizens, while others challenge the boundaries that delimit what it is to be human. 

Yes! Once you have been accepted as a fully-qualified graduate student with no conditions or holds on your admission, then you are eligible to apply for our scholarships, awards, or graduate teaching assistant positions.

English Scholarships and Awards

• Dorothy and Leon Goldman Award
• Morris Shumiatcher Graduate Scholarship in English
• Lloyd Person Scholarship
• Lucy Murray Scholarship
• Ken Probert Memorial Scholarship.

The English department also offers support for student travel to scholarly conferences.

Apply for these scholarships, and more, by visiting our Graduate Awards Portal (GAP), the U of R online graduate scholarship application system.

All Graduate Funding Opportunities

Visit our Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research website to learn about all graduate funding opportunities including:

• National Scholarships (including Tri Council funding)
• Awards to Study Abroad
• FGSR Funding/Special Awards
• Funding for Indigenous Students
• Funding for International Students
• Other Awards and Scholarships
• External Scholarship Opportunities
• External Student and Faculty Awards

Yes! Mitacs Globalink is a student mobility and research funding program in Canada with many options for travel for graduate students for the purpose of conducting research. Some programs are open to all countries and applications are accepted throughout the year, while other programs are limited to partner countries and are call-based.

What Can You Do With an English and Creative Writing Degree?

Upon successfully completing your graduate program in English, you will be ready for the next step of your career. Some of our graduates pursue a doctoral degree or other advanced studies. The jobs that graduates go on to include:

• Published author
• Composer of hit pop songs
• Senior policy analysts

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• Creative Writing Programs
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• Optional Summer Residency
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Indigenous Engagement

• Prize for Best New Fiction
• Job Opportunities

We warmly welcome applications from Indigenous students to our BFA and MFA programs.

Undergraduate Programs

Imagine. Create. Find your voice. Hone the fundamentals of craft in a variety of genres in our BFA and Minor Programs.

Graduate Programs

Wherever you’re writing from, our renowned MFA program offers a world-class educational experience either on-campus or online.

Continuing Education

Learn from leading professors and authors without the commitment of a degree program.

Study with our faculty of internationally renowned, award-winning authors in a student-focused program that blends the best of traditional workshop and leading edge pedagogy.

MFA Program

Land Acknowledgement

Featured event, 2024 alumni summer residency with zac hug, featured news, ubc creative writing seeks submissions for 2024 prize for best new fiction, mfa alumni kailash srinivasan and vivian li make the 2024 cbc short story prize longlist, indigenous engagement in the school of creative writing, faculty highlights, see recent publications and productions from our faculty..

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Graduate studies

Unique in Canada

UVic's grad program is the only one of three in Canada offering an MFA in writing, rather than an MA in English with a creative-writing option.

We are also the only Canadian institution with an emphasis not only on writing but on the  teaching  of writing, which is a specialized area of education. You'll take on teaching assistantships to gain experience in evaluating and assisting undergrads, and to acquire actual classroom teaching skills in the area of writing (rather than in English literature). Our program is designed so that teaching will be one of the skills you'll graduate with, to better prepare you for the job market.

MFA in Creative Writing

Our MFA program offers you:

• a supportive environment in which to create a publishable or producible body of work in one of five genres (fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, film and poetry), and
• training in the teaching of creative writing at the post-secondary level and for community groups.

You will work closely with internationally known and published faculty who respect and encourage their creative visions and voices. Through participation in workshop classes that simulate an editorial environment of critical feedback and positive reinforcement, you can develop a significant body of work in your genre.

Our department is connected to the lively literary community of Greater Victoria through off-campus readings and events, including the Open Word reading series and the Victoria Festival of Authors .

Find out  how to apply or consult our FAQ .

Deadline for applications: December 1.

Get to know our faculty

Check out our faculty profiles to learn more about the writers you could be working with!

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Guelph

Our MFA Program, located in Toronto, the most richly diverse city in the country, welcomes and is structured to nurture and support many voices and wide imaginaries. Our distinguished faculty and our many acclaimed graduates recognize the power of language to summon a different world. We offer workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, drama and poetry. Defining characteristics include innovative plenary courses, a semester-long mentorship with a professional writer, and the opportunity to design and teach creative writing workshops in downtown Toronto schools.

The deadline for consideration for Fall 2025 entry is Monday, December 2, 2024 at 11:59pm. 

Check out our monthly Speakeasy Reading Series . Upcoming dates and featured readers can be found on Facebook .

Upcoming Events

Features + news.

CW MFA: 2022 in Review

We’ve had a fabulous first year with canisia lubrin at the helm of the mfa program and catherine bush continues to supervise mfa students and teach fiction for us and the many writers clamoring into the new creative writing undergraduate program at the university of guelph..

Writing & Publishing

Master of fine arts in creative nonfiction, we’ve got your book..

Whether you are a mid-career writer, a journalist, or an aspiring author, King’s MFA is designed for you. Bring us your idea for a novel, a collection of short stories, a narrative nonfiction book, a collection of essays, or a biography or memoir and we can help you turn it into a manuscript that’s on the road to publication.

We’ll help you learn the craft and practice of being an author as you hone your skills under the mentorship of award-winning writers and editors. With the additional help of top publishing professionals in Canada and the United States, you’ll do all this and more in just two years. The bonus, of course, is that you earn a prestigious MFA degree along the way.

Download our free ebook Mastering Nonfiction: Tips & Techniques from the Mentors and Faculty of the King’s MFA in Creative Nonfiction

The MFA is a two-year limited residency program. During annual June residencies on the campus at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, students deepen their understanding of the art and craft of nonfiction writing through lectures, seminars, panels, workshops and readings as well as work intensively on their own projects with their mentors. During two online six-day January residencies, one featuring guests primarily from New York and one featuring guests from the Canadian publishing industry (most based in Toronto), students learn about the latest trends in the publishing industry and discuss their writing projects with editors, agents and publishers based in North America’s main publishing hubs. Between residencies, students take part in occasional online webinars and readings and continue to work off-campus on their two major projects—a book proposal and their book manuscript—with the support and guidance of their mentors. This low-residency feature, and the exclusive focus on creative nonfiction, make the King’s MFA the only program of its kind in Canada.

Director of Writing & Publishing, Gillian Turnbull , Cohort Directors Kim Pittaway ,  Stephen Kimber and Dean Jobb – along with the stellar group of writing mentors – are all published authors, award-winning journalists and highly successful writing instructors. Together they have written or edited more than fifty books and been nominated for at least a hundred national magazine or newspaper awards. So far, almost 50 graduates of the program have published or are under contract to publish nonfiction books , and our alumni have been finalists for and winners of numerous nonfiction book awards, including the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award (Non-Fiction), the Pottersfield Creative Nonfiction Contest and more.

We invite you to take the challenge. Join other talented writers and our award-winning faculty and turn your great idea into an equally great book.

Read about MFA book deals

The MFA is a limited-residency program, with one nine-day summer residency and an online one-week winter residency each year. Students will pursue independent writing and research in the interim, in collaboration with a project mentor. Students are free to live anywhere in these interim periods.

The summer residencies run for nine days in June, and are focused on the crafts of structure, research and writing. They aim to develop a strong narrative focus and scope for your work. The residency is a high-volume learning experience that comprises morning sessions with mentors, afternoon readings, lectures and guest lectures and evening sessions featuring student readings and talkback.

The winter residencies run online for one week in January, and are focused on the business of writing, and developing the skills necessary to be a working writer in nonfiction. Students will meet with literary agents, editors and publishers, and learn crucial skills like developing marketing plans for their book. In addition, they will meet with their mentors to continue development on their book proposal and manuscript.

In the interim terms, students work with a mentor to progress on their book proposal and manuscript. They will establish a contract of deliverables with their mentors to be reviewed and updated each summer and winter session. Students may have a variety of mentors over the course of the program. Mentors are assigned to help students develop specific skills vital to the progress of their project.

Explore courses

Summer/fall, nonfiction writing craft i, wpub6100.03, nonfiction mentorship i, wpub6101.06, nonfiction publishing i, wpub6102.03, nonfiction mentorship ii, wpub6103.06, nonfiction writing craft ii, wpub6200.03, nonfiction mentorship iii, wpub6201.06, nonfiction publishing ii, wpub6202.03, nonfiction mentorship iv, wpub6203.06, the mfa was like a ‘sheltered workshop.’ i’d never written a book before, and certainly never something so personal. the program gave me a structure and the support i needed to help me to write it.

Pauline Dakin

Author, Run, Hide, Repeat (Penguin Canada 2017), MFA in Creative Non-Ficton, 2015

Faculty & Staff

Jessica j. lee, mfa mentor, creative nonfiction, gillian turnbull, director of writing & publishing, kim pittaway, cohort director, mfa in creative nonfiction, inglis professor, cohort director, mfa in creative nonfiction, dido devlin, administrative support, writing & publishing, cooper lee bombardier, david hayes, lezlie lowe, mfa mentor, creative nonfiction & instructor (part-time), lori a. may, ken mcgoogan, omar mouallem, lorri neilsen glenn, karen pinchin, carol shaben, kelly s. thompson, harry thurston, ayelet tsabari.

Students cover travel, meal and accommodation costs themselves for the summer residencies. These expenses are not covered by tuition. If you are in need of accommodation during the summer residency, contact King’s Conference Services .

Get more information about graduate-level writing and publishing programs

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April 01, 2024, waiting to tell these stories.

“I feel like everything [in my life] is a slow build,” says writer, instructor, parent disability advocate and mom of three, Adelle Purdham (CNF22). Purdham recently signed a contract with Dundurn Press for her essay collection, I Don’t do Disability and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself, which examines the joys and complexities of raising a…

Lana Hall (CNF23)

Tags: accessibility and inclusion alumni mfa writing & publishing, september 28, 2023, peter mansbridge creates award for investigative journalism and writing at king’s.

The Peter Mansbridge Investigative Writing Award will benefit students in King’s Master of Journalism and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction A $100,000 gift from esteemed Canadian journalist Peter Mansbridge will endow a new scholarship, the Peter Mansbridge Investigative Writing Award, to be awarded annually to a student in the second year of the…

Tags: Journalism Writing & Publishing Campus & Community Current Students Giving & Gratitude Scholarships

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April mfa book club - the tides of time, april 25, 2024, halifax central library, 5440 spring garden rd., halifax, ns.

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Tags: Alumni Campus & Community Current Students MFA Writing & Publishing

• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Please note that the applications for the MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing are accepted on a biennial basis.  Applications for Fall 2024 will open in late September 2023.

Film Production is a major component of Vancouver’s economy, as well as in cities across the globe. UBC has an over 40-year history of training some of Canada's (and the world's) brightest filmmakers and technicians. The MFA in Film Production focuses on the areas of directing, screenwriting and producing live action narrative or documentary film for students who already have a comprehensive background in filmmaking and wish to pursue a specific creative or intellectual vision in an academic environment. The Joint MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing offers the same film production education but with an additional focus on screenwriting. Students in the Joint degree take additional coursework in screenwriting through the Creative Writing program and are required to write the script for their thesis film. Our graduate and student work has screened at film festivals across the globe, and graduates have had key roles in films as diverse as District 9, 65 Red_Roses, and The Editor.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The film industry employs 36,000 people in Vancouver and pumps over $1 billion dollars into the local economy. UBC maintains partnerships and agreements with post-production facilities, rental houses, and professional and union organizations to facilitate student work, education, networking, and post-grad opportunities. Our faculty includes Rachel Talalay, a working director who has film and television credits in the US, the UK and Canada. Furthermore, students have the option to learn from and collaborate with UBC’s top-tier Creative Writing department and Theatre and Film Studies programs.

UBC offers the only Master’s Degree in Film Production and Creative Writing in Western Canada, and is one of the few MFA Film Production programs in the world to require an undergraduate degree in film production to be considered. Our courses are advanced and small; only 1-2 students are accepted every year out of the 30-40 that apply. 

My career aspirations are in writing and directing, and doing the program at UBC helped me gain confidence in my writing, directing and producing skills in film. I worked closely with my instructors to really find my own voice as a writer and director. I learned a lot about the film industry and about myself, and I am very grateful to have had that experience.

Anaisa Visser

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

UBC MFA Film Production and Creative Writing graduates can be found working in the film industry as producers, screenwriters, and directors. Some also choose to pass on what they have learned by working as instructors and professors at educational institutions. Many serve on the boards of film organizations or serve on juries at film awards.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Bourges, Antoine (Film Production)
• Brown, William (film-philosophy, digital media, posthumanism, critical race theory)
• Drljaca, Igor (Creative writing; Film, television and digital media; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Documentary FIlm; Film Production; Narrative Film; Screenwriting; Virtual Reality; Video and New Media)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Scholte, Tom (Theatre, film, and television)
• Walsh, Shannon (Media arts; Critical identity, ethnic and race studies; Social and cultural anthropology; South Africa; Afropessimism & Critical Race Studies; Documentary; Film Production; Indigenous studies; Environmental justice; Affect Theory)

Related Programs

Same academic unit.

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Film Production and Creative Writing provides an intensive, diverse and collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence films and television. It is primarily a film production degree with an emphasis on screen writing.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Considering UBC for your graduate studies?

Here, you can choose from more than 300 graduate degree program options and 2000+ research supervisors. You can even design your own program.

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Study and Work in Creative Writing in Canada

What Creative Writing Students Learn Topics and concepts that are covered and the overall approach or focus taken in studying Creative Writing.

Career and Employment Opportunities in Creative Writing Professions or occupations available to graduates in Creative Writing and links to employment resources.

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48 Best universities for Creative Writing in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 246K citations received by 19.8K academic papers made by 48 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Toronto

For Creative Writing

2. University of British Columbia

3. University of Alberta

4. McGill University

5. York University

6. University of Calgary

7. University of Victoria

8. Simon Fraser University

9. Western University

10. Queen's University

11. University of Ottawa

12. McMaster University

13. University of Waterloo

14. Carleton University

15. University of Montreal

16. University of Manitoba

17. Memorial University of Newfoundland

18. Wilfrid Laurier University

19. Dalhousie University

20. University of Saskatchewan

21. Brock University

22. Ryerson University

23. Concordia University

24. University of Windsor

25. University of Guelph

26. University of Regina

27. Trent University

28. University of Quebec in Montreal

29. Laval University

30. Laurentian University

31. St. Francis Xavier University

32. University of Lethbridge

33. University of New Brunswick

34. University of Winnipeg

35. Lakehead University

36. Mount Saint Vincent University

37. University of Sherbrooke

38. University of Northern British Columbia

39. Saint Mary's University

40. Acadia University

41. University of Prince Edward Island

42. Nipissing University

43. Ontario Tech University

44. Thompson Rivers University

45. Brandon University

46. Mount Royal University

47. MacEwan University

48. Mount Allison University

The best cities to study Creative Writing in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton , and Montreal .

Art & Design subfields in Canada

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Creative Writing

About this program.

Have you longed to explore your creative potential?

Embrace the unknown and start your journey here. As part of one of the largest Creative Writing programs in Canada, you can learn the essentials of excellent writing and put them into practice. Whether you aspire to write a novel or short story, explore poetry, pen a script or screenplay, or explore other writing styles, we have the courses you need to improve your skills.

Class sizes and writers workshops are kept small to ensure you receive the individual attention you need to help your writing thrive, whether you take your class in-class or online. 

Courses in the genres listed below can be applied to the Certificate in Creative Writing

• Creative Non-Fiction
• Escritura Creativa en Español
• Literary Fiction
• Multi-genre
• Poetry and Songwriting
• Popular Fiction
• Stage and Screenwriting
• U of T Summer Writing School
• Writing for Children

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UCL European Institute

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BACAH SUMMER: Learning from the masters

22 April 2024–05 June 2024, 10:00 am–8:00 pm

BA Creative Arts and Humanities Summer Programme. This series comprises masterclasses, career sessions, and writing opportunities. It's a rich and stimulating programme of events including work with some fantastic artists and chances to learn from people established in their fields.

Event Information

Availability.

BACAH SUMMER: LEARNING FROM THE MASTERS is a program designed to introduce you to the range of support and skills development resources available at UCL East and allow you to meet creative industry professionals representing diverse lived experiences and working in the three core areas of study that make up BACAH: writing, moving image, and performance. You will learn what it takes to prepare for a career in the creative industries, how to build networks and use contacts, how and where to look for internships, volunteering roles, scholarships, mentorships and competitions to help you gain valuable industry insight while developing your skills and experience to progress your career. BACAH SUMMER incorporates different formats—from writing sessions, through urban walks, to masterclasses and career panels—and follows our motto: take creative risks and learn by making! The various events included in the program will broaden your knowledge about the creative industries sector conditions, trends, priorities, and challenges, and help you reflect on your personal employability and skills. The program culminates in the highly anticipated trip to Margate, an epic cohort-building event that will allow us all to reflect on the first year of BACAH and look forward to many more!

April 22, 2-5 pm, Marshgate 635

“Shut Up and Write” Writing Session for students and staff (led by Matthew Sperling)

May 3, 10am-1pm, Bloomsbury Urban Walk “Seeing the Obvious” with Joanna Elmy (part I)

M eet in front of Malet Place Engineering Building (on the Bloomsbury campus) at 10am.

Joanna Elmy is a Bulgarian-born writer and journalist. She is among Bulgaria’s most prominent young literary voices. Her debut novel received the most prestigious Bulgarian prize for emerging literature in 2022 and was shortlisted for several other national awards. Elmy was the recipient of the  Per Aspera ad Astra  scholarship for literature and became an  Elizabeth Kostova Foundation  fellow in the 2019 edition of the Sozopol writing seminars. She lives between the United States and her native Bulgaria, where she is the founder of a project aiming to modernize the Bulgarian literary canon and to improve access to literature and literary knowledge. In March 2024 she was selected as European Literary Map of London inaugural Writer in Residence, an initiative supported by the UCL European Institute, UCL Arts and Humanities, and the European Writers’ Festival. Joanna is a columnist in  Deutsche Welle . Her journalistic work focuses on communication and international politics, with a preference for the long form and a more literary, human-centered approach to journalism. Her literary criticism, interviews and essays have also appeared in  The Literary Journal ,  Capital Weekly  and other national newspapers and magazines. In her capacity as a researcher, she has been a part of several international projects focusing on media and countering disinformation, including work as a consultant researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD).

May 8, 1-3pm, Marshgate 512, UCL Careers session

With Tomoyo Miyakawa and Barnaby Mollett from UCL Careers

Finding/making opportunities workshop focused on skills development.

May 8, 4-6pm, Marshgate 512 - Creative Careers Panel: How to Break into the Creative Industries

Rachael Nanyonjo  is a London based Black British Theatre Award nominated choreographer and movement director. She recently worked as associate director on Disney’s award-winning musical Newsies , which premiered in London in December 2022, and as movement director for the Olivier award nominated West End hit Misty . In 2022 Rachael was appointed Associate Artist at the Bristol School of Acting. Her work spans opera, film, tv, theatre and dance.

Samuel Fisher is a writer, bookseller and publisher. He is Director of Peninsula Press, an independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction, and owner of Burley Fisher Books, an independent bookshop in East London. His debut novel, The Chameleon , was recipient of a Betty Trask Award. His second novel, Wivenhoe, was published by Corsair in 2022.

Justin Hardy is a London based, award-winning writer, director, and producer known for his innovative genre-defying work. One of his most recent productions is the BBC feature-length, mixed current affairs/dramatized satire of Brexit politics Theresa v. Boris: How May Became PM.

May 9, 10-12pm, Marshgate 512, Session on Publishing with Josh Weeks

A workshop on getting into non-academic criticism and reviewing with Josh Weeks . Josh Weeks received his Ph.D in Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis from the University of Amsterdam and is currently postdoctoral research fellow at UCL. He has written for publications such as Financial Times, Times Literary Supplement, LA Review of Books, New Socialist. His postdoctoral project is about evidencing and showcasing the work carried out by the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE): a Bloomsbury-based initiative that fosters knowledge exchange between Higher Education and the arts and culture sectors. It forms part of the AHRC-funded StoryArcs programme run by the Story Society at Bath Spa University.

May 9, 2-5pm, Bloomsbury, Malet Place Engineering Building, room 1.20. - Writing Workshop with Joanna Elmy (part II)

Meet in front of Malet Place Engineering Building at 1:45pm.

May 10 - Trip to Margate + Masterclass with writer Eli Goldstone [only open to BACAH Students]

Eli Goldstone  lives in Margate and is a graduate of the City University Creative Writing MA. She is the former prose editor of  Cadaverine and author of  Strange Heart Beating  (Granta 2017).

The coach will pick us up at 10:15 AM at UCL East, London, Greater London, E20 2AF. The masterclass with Eli Goldstone will be at 1:30 PM at Droit House. The coach will leave Margate ( Droit House, Margate, Kent, CT9 1JD) at 6:30 PM, getting back to Pool St at around 8:45pm.

May 13, 2-5 pm, Marshgate 512

May 21, 11am – 3pm, Marshgate 443 – Text and Improv Workshop with Larisa Faber

In this workshop we will practice unlocking a text playfully using improv and movement. Please memorise a short text of about 2-3 minutes. It can be any text: song lyrics, a poem, a news article, a monologue, etc. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  No improv or movement experience necessary, as long as you're happy to experiment and lean into goofiness in the process! Literature mentioned during the workshop: “The Actor and the Target” by Declan Donnellan.

Larisa Faber is a self-producing writer-director, currently associate artist  at Neimënster (Luxembourg). Her plays have been performed in  Luxembourg  (neimënster, Théâtre d’Esch, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Mierscher Kulturhaus),  Germany  (Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe),  Lithuania   (Kaunas City Chambre Theatre, Vilnius Arts Printing House) and the  U.K.  (Camden People’s Theatre, VAULT Festival). Her show stark naked won BEST NEW SHOW at the Luxembourg Theatre Awards and was nominated for an Artists’ Choice Award at VAULT Festival London. Good Girls  was awarded at the Kaunas City Theatre Awards. Writing commissions include texts for  Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe , Germany, and  Centre National de Littérature , Luxembourg.

June 3, 2-5 pm, Marshgate 512

Other events for which BACAH students are working as interns:

European Writers Festival, British Library, May 18-19, 2024

http://europeanwriters.co.uk/

Festival of Afro-European Arts, Performance and Scholarship,  4-6 June 2024 

Check https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-institute/black-europe-1 for updates