university of british columbia mfa creative writing

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You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here .

Creative Writing

Degree Offered: M.F.A.

N. Hopkinson, A. Lyon, K. Maillard, A. Ohlin, L. Svendsen.

Associate Professors

N. Lee, S. McGowan, M. Medved, T. Taylor.

Assistant Professors

B-R. Belcourt, A. Irani, F. Koncan, S. Leavitt, A. Marzano-Lesnevich, C. Nicholson, E. Pohl-Weary.

Associate Professor Emerita

R. Tregebov.

Program Overview

The School of Creative Writing offers two streams of study leading to the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). The first is a two-year resident program. The second is an online distance program with part-time and residency options. See Creative Writing for more information. See also Film Production/Creative Writing and Creative Writing/Theatre .

The School of Creative Writing publishes www.prismmagazine.ca ; resident graduate students participate in the editing and production of the magazine.

Master of Fine Arts

Admission requirements.

Applicants must satisfy the general requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and should submit work in two or more of the genres listed in the Creative Writing handbook on our website, specifying which is their major area of interest. Short and long fiction are considered one genre. Screen, TV, and web series are considered one genre. Applicants who intend to focus on translation should submit translated material in any of the above genres and a sample of their own original creative writing. Consult the School of Creative Writing website or email for more information.

The deadline for receiving manuscripts for both MFA programs is in January, whether this be for the following July entrance date for students in the optional residency online stream, or for the following September entrance date for students in the on-campus stream. Late manuscripts will not be considered. Length of the manuscripts accompanying the application depends on choice of genres. Guidelines are available from Creative Writing .

Program Requirements

During the two years of the program, 36 credits of coursework must be completed 1 , including an overall minimum of 24 credits at the graduate level and a 6-credit thesis. The School of Creative Writing consists of work in three genres, chosen in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, as described in the program handbook on the Creative Writing website.

The thesis consisting of a full-length work in the area(s) of their special interest will be completed in the second year. The thesis may be a substantial revision and extension of work done during the first year. A work of translation may be used to fulfill the thesis requirement by students with the required ability and linguistic knowledge.

Students may be required to take advanced creative writing undergraduate courses as part of their programs.

1 A maximum of 6 credits is permitted from CRWR 420, CRWR 521

Contact Information

School of Creative Writing Buchanan E462, 1866 Main Mall Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1 Tel: 604.822.0699 Fax: 604.822.3616 Email: [email protected] Web: www.creativewriting.ubc.ca Alexandra Tsardidis , Graduate Support

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2016 1874 East Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1

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Film Production & Creative Writing

The Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing is a unique program offering an intensive, diverse and collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence in films and television.

Program Overview

Our master’s program is primarily a film production degree with an emphasis on screen writing. The final thesis for this joint MFA is a completed film that is written, directed and produced by the student.

The degree is designed for students who have a comprehensive background in filmmaking and screenwriting who wish to pursue a specific vision that combines both disciplines.

Students interested in the joint MFA degree must be experienced filmmakers and have completed films on which they were a principal creator to submit as part of their portfolio.

Degree Requirements

The MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing requires students to complete 36 total credits following these guidelines:

• FIPR 533: Advanced Problems in Directing (6 credits)
• CRWR 506: Advanced Writing for Television (6 credits)
• CRWR 514: Advanced Writing for the Screen (6 credits)
• The 12-credit thesis requirement can normally be met with the completion of a professionally finished film 20 minutes long (shorter works to be considered on a case-by-case basis) and full written documentation and evaluation of the process
• Productions longer than 40 minutes may be eligible for 15 or 18 credits on a case-by-case basis
• FIPR 534 (6) Producing for Film and Television
• FIPR 535 (6) Alternative Cinema Production
• FIPR 536 (6) Documentary Development and Production
• CINE 534A (3) Seminar in Cinema Studies
• CINE 534B (3) Seminar in Cinema Studies
• Alternate courses to fulfill the 0 to 6 credits of electives must be chosen in consultation with the MFA Advisor.

Applications are now open. Apply by: Jan 15, 2024.

The MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing is a joint program with UBC’s Creative Writing Department. Applicants must apply to the MFA in Film Production & Creative Writing, and completed applications will be sent directly to the Film Production program. Once accepted, the film program will arrange for the application and materials to be sent to the Department of Creative Writing for consideration into the joint degree program.

• Submit your UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies application
• Include a resume of your film and related experience
• Attach a copy of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended and are currently enrolled in. If your transcripts are in a language other than English you must also provide a certified translation
• Include a portfolio of completed films where you were a primary creator. These must be shared via accessible links, otherwise your application may be rejected.
• A description of each film you have submitted (title, length, production company) and your role on each project.
• A proposal for a thesis film. If your thesis is a feature-length film, you must also submit an alternate proposal for a shorter film. This proposal must include a description of the film, an outline, treatment or draft script and a proposed one-page budget.
• A statement of intent describing your reasons for wanting to complete the MFA Program.
• Applicants must also submit a portfolio of original screenwriting of at least 50 pages. This writing can be from a single screenplay or several different screenplays.
• Three letters of recommendation via UBC’s eReference system

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• Course load guide

Fine Arts - Creative Writing Optional Residency, M.F.A. (DIST)

Calculating your course load.

The number of credits you need depends on which program you’re in. Select from the list below to find your program’s course load information.

When you're calculating your course load, the table headings refer to the following:

• Credits: 100% of a full-time course load for September - April
• 60% session: 60% of a full-time course load for September - April
• 60% term: 60% of a 1-term full-time course load
• 40% session: 40% of a full-time course load for September - April 
• 40% term: 40% of a 1-term full-time course load

Full-year course credits are divided into 50% in Term 1 and 50% in Term 2. Make sure you maintain minimum enrolment in each term.

N/A credits: If your program and year level credit requirements are listed as N/A, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor . ES advisors are available to help all students.

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University of British Columbia (Distance MFA)

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MFA Program

Poetry : Susan Musgrave, Cecily Nicholson, Bronwen Tate Fiction : Anosh Irani, Nancy Lee, Annabel Lyon, Maureen Medved, Alix Ohlin, A. E. Osworth, Linda Svendsen, Timothy Taylor, John Vigna Children/YA : Emily Pohl-Weary, Jordan Scott, Tanya Kyi Nonfiction : Mandy Catron, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich Graphic Novel : Sarah Leavitt Screenwriting : Sara Graefe Playwriting: Frances Koncan Writing for Television : Zac Hug Speculative Fiction : Nalo Hopkinson Indigenous Writing : Billy-Ray Belcourt

The program offers partial funding. The program offers teaching assistantships, graduate supportive initiative scholarships, and endowed scholarships.

This Optional-Residency (Distance) MFA program was the first distance education MFA program in Canada and remains the only full MFA which can be taken completely online. The program offers courses in graphic novel writing, playwriting, writing for television, screenwriting, and writing for children. Students are required to take coursework in three genres during the degree.

Most students attend an optional ten-day residency that is offered each July at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.

Paulette Bourgeois, Amy Jones, Ellen Keith, Amy Stuart, Sarah Selecky, Shyam Selvadurai, Shauna Singh Baldwin, Katherena Vermette

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Creative Writing

This two-year studio program offers workshops in the following genres: fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, writing for children, translation, stage play, radio, television, song lyric and libretto, screenwriting, new media, and writing for graphic forms.

This program is also offered at UBC's Okanagan Campus

Program information.

• Campus: Vancouver
• Length 2 yrs
• Co-op Yes You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
• Honours No You can study intense specialization in a single field.

The Creative Writing program offers a two-year studio course, with instruction by faculty who work in a variety of literary and dramatic forms. The program leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing or a joint degree with another department, in which Creative Writing serves as half of the Double Major.

Campus features

The Creative Writing program is the editorial home of western Canada’s oldest literary periodical, PRISM International, which publishes the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world.

• PRISM International

What can you do with this major after graduation?

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including publishing, communications, marketing, public relations, social media, non-profit, government, tourism, education, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests, including:

• Arts administrator
• Book publishing manager
• Communications manager
• Communications policy researcher
• Community centre coordinator
• Community organizer
• Careers with Creative Writing

Your future

A UBC education will introduce you to people and ideas from around the world, open doors to new opportunities, and take you places you never imagined. You’ll graduate not only with expertise in your chosen field, but with the skills you need to continue growing, learning, and evolving with your career over time.

Related programs

You’ll find these pages helpful, deep dive into ubc programs and get a taste of campus life on snapchat, meet al, a lover of books and bacteria who double majored in english literature and microbiology, ready to choose your degree.

• Graduate School

Creative Writing

Creative Writing combines the best of traditional workshop and leading-edge pedagogy. Literary cross-training offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting, video game writing and graphic novel.

Explore our Programs in Creative Writing

Master of fine arts, faculty members in creative writing, student & alumni stories in creative writing.

Fiona Revill

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MFA Degree Program

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing provides studies in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, along with a variety of options for either a studio degree in Creative Writing, or a degree combining work in either the Department of English or other departments in which course work, or independent study, seems particularly pertinent to the student’s creative thesis. A book-length thesis of publishable quality is required; it will be directed by a member of the MFA faculty. The MFA requires 48 graduate semester hours, with a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate courses.

Admission Requirements

• An overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 at the undergraduate level.
• An official undergraduate and if applicable graduate transcript sent to Graduate Admissions.
• A portfolio of published or unpublished writing samples in the applicant’s chosen genre (at least 20-25 pages of fiction, 10 poems, or 25 pages of nonfiction), demonstrating a potential for development to a professional standard of writing, should be submitted to the English Graduate Office along with two letters of recommendation and a cover letter stating the candidate’s choice of genre and reasons for pursuing the degree. The writing sample will be evaluated by a committee of MFA faculty. The committee will recommend admission of those applicants with the highest demonstrated talent.
• Students who wish to change genres after being accepted in one genre, even if they are already registered and enrolled in the program, must submit a new portfolio of work in the new genre and be approved by the MFA faculty for admission in the new genre.
• Bachelor’s degree in English or if BA is in another field, twelve (12) semester hours in upper division literature or creative writing courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in these courses.
• Deadlines: for best consideration apply by March 1 for the following fall semester admission and October 15 for following spring semester. Applications may be considered later but prospective students applying by those dates have first priority.

Any applicant who holds an MA degree in English may apply up to a maximum of 24 semester hours in English earned for that degree toward the MFA degree, with the approval of the graduate coordinator. A student’s advisor will insure that the combination of MA credits and courses taken in the program has appropriate breadth. Credit previously earned at another institution must be presented for evaluation not later than the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment.

Program Requirements

All students must fulfill the 48-hour degree requirement from the Core Requirements in section 1 in combination with one area of specialization under the Additional Requirements in section 2: the Studio Option, the Literary Studies Option, The Creative/Professional Option, the TESL/TEFL Option, or the Cross-Disciplinary Option.

Core Requirements

Writing workshops and forms courses.

A total of 6 courses (18 hours) required:

Four Workshop courses, at least three of which must be in chosen genre:

• ENGL 7601 - Creative Nonfiction Wkshp Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7602 - Fiction Workshop Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7603 - Poetry Workshop Credit Hours: (3)

One Forms course in chosen genre:

• ENGL 7470 - Forms Creative Nonfict Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7471 - Forms Of Fiction Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7472 - Forms Of Poetry Credit Hours: (3)

One Cross-Genre Course:

For Poetry Students

• ENGL 6610 - Creative Writing/Translation Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7602 - Fiction Workshop Credit Hours: (3) for poets

For Fiction and Creative Nonfiction students:

Cross-genre course.

ENGL 6610    may serve as a cross-genre course if the focus was on a cross-genre, but the student must submit a portfolio of cross-genre work from the course and get written approval from the Creative Writing Coordinator.

Creative Writing Colloquium

At least two sections of ENGL 7900    must be taken (6 hours).

NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

• ENGL 7996 - Thesis Credit Hours: (1-6) (3 hours)

Comprehensive Exam

A Comprehensive Exam based on a reading list formed by the student and the student’s thesis director.

Oral Review of Thesis

Although it is not a core requirement for the degree, all students receiving a Teaching Assistantship must take ENGL 7003    either before they become a teaching assistant or during their first semester of teaching. It is included as an alternative course in each of the options for additional requirements below.

Specialization Requirements:

Studio option:.

7 courses, 21 hours, chosen from the following:

• ENGL 7475 - Literary Publishing Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7485 - Lit Arts Programming Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7604 - Creative Writing Wkshp Credit Hours: (3)

Students may take, as an alternative to replace up to 3 of these courses, an equivalent number of other courses (of 3 hours each) from other disciplines within the Department of English (this includes ENGL 7003   , which is a requirement if the student receives a Teaching Assistantship). Note: as stated in the course descriptions, ENGL 7475    and ENGL 7485    can only be counted for a maximum of 6 hours each toward the degree requirements.

Literary Studies Option:

7 courses, 21 hours, made up of the following:

At least 9 hours of Literature Courses

At least 3 hours of theory of writing and english language/linguistics courses, selected from:.

• ENGL 7020-7049 - Special Topics in English Credit Hours: (3) through
• ENGL 7003 - Thry/Prac Tchng Comp Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7501 - History English Lang ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7511 - Survey of Linguistics ** Credit Hours: (3) through
• ENGL 7517 - Discourse Analysis Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7531 - Theory and History of ESL ** Credit Hours: (3) through
• ENGL 7537 - Issues in Second Language Reading ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7590 - Appl/Theory Linguistics Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7801 - History Composition Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7805 - Foundations of Writing Studies Credit Hours: (3)

Literary Editing

Up to 6 hours of

Literary Arts Programming

Forms courses.

Up to 9 hours of

Creative/Professional Writing Option:

At least 9 hours of professional writing courses:.

• ENGL 6618 - Document Design ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 6619 - Web Design/Online Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7013 - Wkshp Hlth Care Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7014 - Wkshp Public Hlth Care Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7806 - Resch Meth In Writing Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7807 - Wksp/Govmt & Corp Wrtg ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7808 - Wksp/Sci & Techn Wrtg ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7809 - Technical Editing ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7818 - Collaborative Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)

Note: Up to 6 hours of ENGL 7811 - Internship Prof Wrtng    may be counted toward this requirement. All internships must be pre-approved by the coordinator of the Creative Writing program along with another professor in the student’s primary genre.

Up to 6 hours of:

Tesl/tefl option:.

• 15 hours in the Certificate Program in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL), including 12 hours in the certificate core:
• ENGL 7530 - Field Experience and Practicum in ESL ** Credit Hours: (3-6)
• ENGL 7531 - Theory and History of ESL ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7532 - Principles of Skills Assessment ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7535 - ESL Grammar ** Credit Hours: (3)

3 elective hours selected from:

• ENGL 7533 - Methods/Techniques of ESL in K-12 ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7536 - Issues in Second Language Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 7538 - Cultural Issues in ESL ** Credit Hours: (3)
• ENGL 6533 - ESL/EFL in Multicultural Settings Credit Hours: (3)

6 hours of electives in English, Creative Writing, or Foreign Languages

Cross-disciplinary option:.

Up to 9 hours of English courses from any discipline (includes  ENGL 7003   )

At least 12 hours of courses from another department: Art, History, Journalism, Theater, Foreign Languages, or other department in which course work, or independent study, seems particularly pertinent to the student’s creative thesis.

Up to 9 of the 21 hours may be fulfilled by independent study in another department and/or internship hours, but all cross-disciplinary courses/independent studies/internships must be pre-approved by the coordinator of the Creative Writing program along with another professor in the student’s primary genre. Internships must be of a nature that will allow the student to participate in research that will form the basis of the student’s thesis.

Although taking all 12 hours of the cross-disciplinary minimum in only one other department is not required, it is recommended that the student focus primarily on one area or else have a clear rationale for fulfilling the 12-hour minimum in more than one cross-disciplinary area.

Retention Requirements

Upon entering the MFA program, a student chooses an advisor in his or her concentration. The advisor will monitor the student’s progress toward completion of the degree. Each semester the Graduate Studies Committee will examine the academic progress of all students for retention in the program. If a student receives either two C’s, one D, or one F grade in any English graduate level course, that student will be subject to review and could be dismissed from the program. In order to remain in good standing, all graduate students must maintain a 3.0 average in all courses. Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.

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You will be asked to affirm that you’ve read the BFA Application guidelines when you apply; take some time to read through them carefully, as they contain all the information you need to put in an application that will progress. They also provide details on the portfolio and other parts of your application.

Please note that faculty will not review and provide feedback on a portfolio prior to application submission.

Important note for non-UBC applicants:  applicants who are not currently UBC students must apply to the university prior to applying to the BFA CRWR major program. Please see the Enrolment Services – Admissions  website for information on the UBC application process and requirements, and note that the deadline for the university application is January 15, 2024 .

BFA Applications

As part of the online application form, you will upload ONE document in MS Word or PDF format. This document must contain all of your submission materials (clearly labeled) in the following order: Personal Statement, Primary Genre, Secondary Genre.

Below is a checklist of what you will need to answer on the form: for external applicants, you must have applied to UBC for admission separately prior to making your application for the Creative Writing Major – you will receive a student number when you apply.

On the form, you will need:

• To positively affirm that you have read and understood the guidelines
• To provide your UBC student number and legal name as it appears on UBC records (you will also be able to indicate your preferred name if this differs from your legal name)
• To indicate how many course credits you will have completed by mid-May (54 required) of the application year
• To answer whether you already have a bachelor’s degree and if yes, from which institution and in which subject
• To affirm that you have completed the pre-requisite 200-level Creative Writing course or equivalent, stating the course number and institution where the course was completed
• If unable to affirm the above re CRWR 200, to indicate that you are registered or planning to complete this pre-requisite before the program start, and/or (for transferring or second-degree students) that the institution you attended did and does not offer an equivalent
• To indicate whether you intend to pursue a double Major, and if yes, in which subject.
• To indicate which two genres have been included in the writing sample and which further genres you intend to study if accepted.
• To confirm that you have removed your name and any identifying details from all application materials

Ready to launch your writing career?

Take the first step by applying to become a ubc student..