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Your degree in Creative Writing

• Skills you’ll develop

While studying Creative Writing , you’ll learn the craft and process of writing through workshops led by experienced, working writers that make up the faculty. You’ll develop important skills while writing in multiple genres.

These skills may include:

• Creating original works such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, screenplays, lyric and graphic forms, and translations
• Using effective planning, time management, problem solving, and leadership skills on various creative projects
• Working knowledge and application of the professional standards and expectations for your chosen genres
• Researching, understanding, and assessing various types of creative works
• Analyzing artistic works clearly and concisely
• Adapting content to a variety of forms or mediums
• Providing and receiving constructive feedback on opinions and works
• Crafting and telling compelling and creative stories
• Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary 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. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

• Arts administrator
• Book publishing manager
• Communications manager
• Communications policy researcher
• Community centre coordinator
• Community organizer
• Festival/Event planner
• Fiction/Non-fiction writer
• Film/TV editor
• Fundraiser/Grant writer
• Human resources specialist
• Literacy program coordinator
• Literary agent
• Literary editor
• Literary translator
• Magazine editor
• Market researcher
• Marketing specialist
• Media relations coordinator
• News analyst
• Non-profit administrator
• Project manager
• Public relations specialist
• Recreation programs manager
• Screen writer
• Social media community manager
• Social policy advisor/analyst
• Special education assistant
• Speech writer
• Teacher/Professor
• Technical writer
• Tourism development officer
• Travel writer
• Web communications manager
• Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help you understand your values and interests.

• UBC Creative Writing Program events Meet other students at readings, info sessions, and other programs. 
• Creative Writing BFA group Join fellow creative writers for various events and make new friends.
• Departmental research opportunities Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• Preparation for a Career in Writing Check out UBC courses on how to build a career in writing, such as CRWR 430 or CRWR 530.
• Creative Writing co-op success stories Learn about the experiences of past and present co-op students from your program and others.
• Nineteen Questions online magazine Read or contribute profiles about the career trajectories, challenges, and the writing lives of established writers.
• PRISM international Inquire about volunteer opportunities to support an online magazine focused on modern and contemporary literature.
• Brave New Play Rites Festival Attend the festival in Term 2 or collaborate with theatre students for an opportunity to produce your short play.
• The Garden Statuary Showcase your essays, poetry, photographs, and other work in UBC’s English Undergraduate Journal.
• The Ubyssey Volunteer to write articles for this weekly student paper. No previous experience required.
• Vancouver Writers Fest Check out the works of local and international writers or volunteer at a literary event.
• Growing Room Festival Celebrate diverse Canadian writers and artists in Term 2 at this feminist literary festival.
• Writers’ Exchange Volunteer to support literacy programs for kids in Vancouver.
• Resources for writers Find local writing groups, contests, festivals and other resources for writers.
• BC Alliance for Arts + Culture job board Search for part-time and full-time opportunities in BC across a variety of fields in the arts.
• Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can  build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and accessing job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• Access Copyright
• Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia
• Association of Canadian Publishers
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canadian Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies
• Canadian Association of Broadcasters
• Canadian Association of Journalists
• Canadian Communication Association
• Canadian Media Producers Association
• Canadian Public Relations Society
• Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers
• Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC Society
• Crime Writers of Canada
• Editors Canada
• Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Federation of BC Writers
• First Peoples’ Cultural Council
• League of Canadian Poets
• Magazines Canada
• Modern Language Association
• Playwrights Guild of Canada
• Canadian Freelance Guild
• Society for Technical Communication
• Speculative Fiction Canada
• WorkInCulture
• Writers Guild of Canada
• Writers’ Union of Canada
• Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Creative Writing graduates on LinkedIn  to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

• More information

From your Arts degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Arts degree .

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Everyone is a writer, even if few would claim to write well. Both personally and professionally, we use writing every day in a multitude of forms to communicate and connect with one another. Regardless of your desired outcome, developing the writing skills to express yourself and your ideas in a clear, compelling or creative way is an invaluable endeavour.  

Our writing programs and courses cover a broad range of relevant and engaging content created and taught by experienced writers, journalists, authors and educators. Start with the basics and build your foundational skills to apply at work or in your personal writing; add in-demand writing skills to your professional wheelhouse; pursue a creative passion project or launch a career in writing.  

With diverse options and levels to choose from, you can focus on the skills that matter to you, build your confidence and gain the expertise to get your ideas noticed.  

Learn more about our writing courses and programs

Watch the recording of our latest information session to get an overview of our writing micro-certificates and 20+ courses. Instructors share tips on how to choose the right course for you.

Writing and Communication Skills for the Workplace: Business Communication

Ubc micro-certificate.

Improve your business writing and presentation skills in this part-time online program. Stand out at work and develop skills that will help you throughout your career.

Writing Skills for Digital Content: Copywriting and Content Marketing

Learn to write digital content that gets noticed, an essential skill for online content creators, editors and marketers working on various digital platforms and media.

Writing Skills for Digital Content: Freelance and Interviews

In this part-time program, build skills in conducting effective interviews and writing compelling articles for podcasts, web content, brand stories and more.

Writing and Communication Skills for the Workplace: Grammar and Style

Enhance the accuracy, style and impact of your writing, and build strong writing and communication skills sought after by employers in this part-time online program.

Writing Skills for Digital Content: Website Strategy

Develop strong website writing skills, and learn the essentials of planning and executing website content strategies that align with users' need and clients' goals.

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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.

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• Degree Requirements
• Application Procedures for Creative Writing Courses
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• Register for the Conference

Creative Writing Courses Application Procedures

Macl students interested in creative writing.

UBC’s Creative Writing Program (CRWR) invites MACL students who want to take Writing for Children and Young Adults to participate in specific classes related to their degree.

Please note that students applying to the MACL Program who wish to take CRWR courses can choose one of the following options:

• Apply to do a hybrid CRWR thesis which includes writing an entire early chapter book, middle-grade or young adult novel, or
• Take some creative writing classes.

Applying for a Hybrid MACL/CRWR Thesis

CRWR/MACL faculty member Emily Pohl-Weary supervises MACL students who undertake creative writing theses. To satisfy the requirements for your Master’s Degree, you will write and revise an entire manuscript for an original early chapter book, middle grade novel, or young adult novel. It is an intensive process that includes significant revision. You are expected to participate in advanced classes at or around the same level as CRWR graduate students.

When preparing your application to MACL: In order to assess your suitability for this specialized MACL stream, please include a creative writing portfolio of approximately 20 pages along with your application. Your portfolio should include some work in your intended genre: early chapter book, middle-grade, or young adult novel. It is also recommended that you briefly describe previous creative writing experience in your statement of intent.

Hybrid CRWR/MACL Thesis Stream Students Taking CW Classes

Once you are accepted into the Hybrid CRWR/MACL Thesis Stream, you will be granted access to CW’s advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults classes.

Advanced CW classes meet for two hours weekly but include a significant amount of preparation. They are workshops with very little theoretical or lecture content, and are designed so that students generate original writing for children, which is peer workshopped by class members, as well as the instructor.

You may take up to 12 credits of advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults classes throughout your degree with a range of different instructors (see the CW faculty list for more information).

If you have questions related to registration, please contact Heather Miller ([email protected]).

Other MACL Students Taking Creative Writing Classes

Other MACL students who are interested in taking CRWR classes in Writing for Children and Young Adults must send a portfolio of at least 10 pages of writing for young readers to Heather Miller ([email protected]) by May 1 . Also include a brief statement about your previous creative writing experience.

CRWR will assess your portfolio. It is likely you will be placed at an intermediate level, but may have the opportunity to advance. You can take up to 12 credits of CW classes throughout your degree with a range of different instructors (see the CW faculty list for more information).

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

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Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

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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 New Media: Jen Moss

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 professors go global with a course for aspiring novelists

December 9, 2016

This year, Lyon and Lee teamed up to do something new outside their busy ‘day’ jobs teaching fiction. They went global with a new course aimed at anyone who has ever dreamed of writing a novel. It may sound like an impossibly broad audience but with the help of Harvard and MIT’s innovative edX learning platform, it made it accessible to anyone with a decent Internet connection and a healthy desire to get their novel out into the world.

The authors brought everything they’ve learned in their illustrious careers to a series of six-week non-credit online courses designed to take your novel from concept to completion. It was a unique teaching experience for both writers and gave would-be novel writers from around the world an opportunity to tap into their expertise and experience. The next edX session of “ How to Write a Novel ” starts on January 10, 2017 and is open for registration.

Discover what motivated Lyon and Lee to create the course and what the experience has brought to their own writing practice.

What made you both decide to offer a novel writing course online? Why edX?

Annabel Lyon is the author of  The Golden Mean and The Sweet Girl.

Annabel Lyon: We were excited at the reach edX offered, their proven track record in providing high-quality professional education offerings and reaching students around the world.  We know we’re a competitive program and turn many students away every year, and felt this would be a way to offer those students (and many more) a bit of the UBC Creative Writing experience.

Nancy Lee: Novel writing is a long journey. This really is the course both of us wish had been available to us when we first started writing. We wanted to create a course that was both rigorous and accessible.

Who is this course for?

A: This course is for anyone who’s ever wanted to write a novel!  We don’t discriminate: bring us your speculative fiction, your fantasy, your literary fiction, your thrillers, your horror, your crime… we like it all! We believe that the tools we’re teaching are relevant to any kind of novel.

N: It’s for people who’ve dreamed of writing a novel, who’ve tried writing a novel and perhaps stalled or who have a complete novel draft in a drawer that they’re not yet happy with. We’ve had professionals in other fields who’ve always wanted to write a novel, people who have a life story they want to turn into a novel, writers with MFAs who are hoping to approach publishers and everything in between.

How does the course effectively break down such an enormously complex subject?

A: One step at a time. Each week is structured around a key concept (plot, dialogue, etc.), and we provide exercises and prompts to get

Nancy Lee is the author of Dead Girls and The Age .

you focusing consciously on those elements of craft but always in the context of your project; all the writing you do for this course will feed directly back into your novel project. We use a combination of text, audio, video, assignments, author interviews, and discussions to keep the course lively and engaging, and convey concepts as effectively as possible.

We also interview well known authors for this course including Miriam Toews, Paula Hawkins, Sarah Dunant, Jeff Vandermeer, Lauren Groff, Kelley Link, Esi Edugyan, Lawrence Hill, and many more.

N: We also use concrete examples from literature to illustrate the craft techniques we’re teaching.

Has teaching this course taught you anything about your own writing process?

A: It’s reinforced the immense value of making conscious craft choices, rather than trusting blindly to some elusive (read: non-existent) “muse”.  Like any craftsperson, you get better at what you do by practicing, learning techniques, and articulating what you need to work on.

N: The great thing about teaching this course with Annabel is that we’re constantly throwing new ideas at each other, questioning and working out how to concretize the things we sometimes do by instinct or habit. Because of this, I feel that I can view my own process with a lot more clarity.

Is there any credential you would receive by taking this course?

A: Yes, students will receive an edX-issued Professional Education Certificate of Achievement for completing the course successfully.

N: Our undying admiration. And the certificate of course.

What are you reading at the moment?

A: Susan Juby’s The Truth Commission .

N: The Brief Reincarnation of a Girl by Sue Goyette (sorry, I moonlight as a poet!).

Can anyone write a novel?

N: I absolutely believe that if you have the desire to write a novel, if it’s something you feel inexplicably compelled to do, you can do it! It will take time, it will involve a steep learning curve and periods of intense frustration and self-doubt, but it will also be fun, rewarding, and you’ll get to inhabit a world of your own creation. It’s definitely an accomplishable goal.

For more information visit UBC Creative Writing programs .

An earlier version of this story appeared on ubc.ca.

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• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
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Creative Writers are at the heart of our cultural industries. Poets, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, graphic novelists, magazine writers: they entertain, inform and inspire. For more than 50 years, UBC’s Creative Writing program has been producing writers who’ve shaped Canadian and international culture. A studio program with the writing workshop at its heart, the MFA focuses on the work created by students as the primary text. Through intensive peer critique and craft discussion, faculty and students work together with the same goal: literary excellence. 

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

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s Creative Writing program was the first writing program in Canada, and is the largest and most comprehensive in the country. It is highly ranked internationally, and draws students from around the world for its multi-genre approach to writing instruction. Students are required to work in multiple genres during the course of the degree. As a fine arts program rather than an English program, students focus on the practice of writing rather than the study of literature.

Small, intensive workshops characterize the program, as does our breadth of offerings: with 12 genres of writing available for study there are more opportunities for learning than at any other writing program in the world.

Faculty are distinguished, working writers. We have 12 professors, an additional 9 permanent instructors and regularly bring in a wide variety of writers in residence and adjunct instructors from the writing community.

The School of Creative Writing’s quality of professors was the biggest draw for me. I also want the teaching experience TA’ing for undergraduate students can bring me. I want to ultimately teach creative writing at a post-secondary level and learning how to do so at UBC will be rigorous and rewarding.

Brandi Bird

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

The residency MFA program only has a September intake.

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 : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

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 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

Graduates of the MFA program have found success in varied fields related to writing and communication. The MFA qualifies graduates for teaching at the university level and many graduates have gone on to teach at colleges and universities in Canada, the United States and overseas as well as holding writing residencies. Many publish books and win literary awards. Others go on to work in publishing, and graduates have become book and magazine editors.

Although the MFA is a terminal degree, some graduates go on to further study in PhD programs in the US, UK and Australia. 

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Fine Arts in 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

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

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.

• Belcourt, Billy-Ray (Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry)
• French, Whitney (memory, loss, technology, and nature)
• Hopkinson, Nalo (Creative writing, n.e.c.; Humanities and the arts; Creative Writing: Speculative Ficton, Fantasy, Science Fiction, especially Other Voices)
• Irani, Anosh
• Koncan, Frances
• Leavitt, Sarah (Autobiographical comics; Formal experimentation in comics; Comics pedagogy)
• Lee, Nancy (Fiction; Creative Writing)
• Lyon, Annabel (Novels, stories and news)
• Maillard, Keith (Fiction, poetry)
• Marzano-Lesnevich, Alex (Nonfiction)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Medved, Maureen (Fiction, writing for screen)
• Nicholson, Cecily (Languages and literature; Poetry)
• Ohlin, Alix (Fiction; Screenwriting; Environmental writing)
• Pohl-Weary, Emily (Fiction; Writing for Youth)
• Svendsen, Linda (Script development; Novels, stories and news; Writing for Television; Fiction)
• Taylor, Timothy (fiction and nonfiction)
• Vigna, John (Novels, stories and news; Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction, Creative Writing)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

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

Same Academic Unit

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

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

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.

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

Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li

I really liked what the program would be offering, and I love the mountains as well as nature—I find a lot of peace and inspiration from water, wind, and clouds. While I was at an Explore Program for a month at the University of Victoria (I wanted to explore the West Coast), I managed to visit UBC...

Fiona Revill

I have studied abroad in Australia, and at several local post-secondary institutions, but UBC has always felt like my academic home. The Creative Writing program is one of the best programs in the country, and I was really honoured to be accepted, as the competition is rigorous.

Considering Vancouver as your next home?

This city won’t disappoint. It has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches and all four seasons, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow.

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The majority of Creative Writing students are in the Faculty of Arts, Creative Writing’s home faculty. For these students, Arts Academic Advising is available to support your academic success and that of all the Faculty’s 14,000 undergraduate students.

From the point of admission, Advising provides programs and services to help you make informed and thoughtful decisions about your academic path throughout your degree program.

If you are a student in another Faculty, please visit your Faculty’s Advising Service for information, advice, assistance and services specifically tailored to you and your academic success.

Creative Writing Advising

The Creative Writing Undergraduate Advisor is available to advise on specific creative writing course options and pathways, while supporting and advising students both applying to the BFA major program or currently enrolled in the BFA major program.

Advising support includes providing recommendations on creative writing related registration questions, assisting incoming and transfer students to understand their creative writing options, and supporting Arts and other Faculty Advising Services in their work with students in creative writing degree programs and classes.

In-person Office Hours Tuesday – Wednesday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Please email if you would like to book an appointment outside of these hours.

Undergraduate Advisor

Alexandra Tsardidis [email protected] Buchanan E472

Not yet a UBC student?

Contact undergraduate programs and admissions for help with advising and completing your application to ubc..

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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

Admission requirements.

Prospective Creative Writing students can declare a Creative Writing major, combined major or minor at any time. 

Major in Creative Writing

Creative Writing majors are encouraged to enrol in two of the following first-year literature courses:

• ENGL_O 150 (Introduction to Literary Genre);
• ENGL_O 151 (Critical Studies in Literature);
• ENGL_O 153 (Readings in Narrative);
• ENGL_O 154 (Indigenous Narrative)
• ENGL_O 155 (Writing and Making Technology in the Humanities)
• ENGL_O 156 (Environmental Literature)

Graduation Requirements

B.A. requirements (a minimum of 120 credits), including the following required courses:

• CRWR_O 150 (Introduction to Writing Poetry and Non-Fiction), CRWR_O 160 (Introduction to Writing Fiction and Drama);
• 3 credits from ARTH_O, CCS_O, FILM_O, MUSC_O, THTR_O, or VISA_O; and
• 3 credits of VISA_O 106.

Second Year

• ENGL_O 220 (Literature in English to the 18th Century) or ENGL_O 221 (Literature in Britain: the 18th Century to the Present);
• CRWR_O 260 (Theory and Practice of Creative Writing); and
• CRWR_O 216 (Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing: Poetry);
• CRWR_O 217 (Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing: Fiction)
• CRWR_O 218 (Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing: Playwriting)
• CRWR_O 219 (Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing: Non-Fiction)
• CRWR_O 250 (Workshop in Creative Writing: Screenwriting)

Third and Fourth Years

18 credits from the following courses, at least 3 credits of which must be from CRWR_O 472, 473, 474, 475:

• CRWR_O 360 (3) (Creative Writing and the Racialized Writer);
• CRWR_O 380 (Writing of the Short Story);
• CRWR_O 381 (Writing of Poetry);
• CRWR_O 382 (Topics in Creative Writing);
• CRWR_O 384 (Spoken Word);
• CRWR_O 385 (3) (Writing for Children);
• CRWR_O 386 (3) (Poetic Forms & Genres);
• CRWR_O 470 (3/6) (Portfolio) (may be taken twice for a total of 6 credits);
• CRWR_O 471 (6) (Writing of the Novel);
• CRWR_O 472 (3) (Editing and Publishing);
• CRWR_O 473 (3) (Writing and Community Learning);
• CRWR_O 474 (3) (Writing with Media);
• CRWR_O 475 (3) (Preparing for a Career as a Writer).

Other Requirements

• 3 upper-level credits of ENGL_O or WRLD_O;
• 3 upper-level credits of ENGL_O in Canadian literature.
• 6 upper-level credits from ARTH_O, CCS_O, CRWR_O, CULT_O, ENGL_O, FILM_O, THTR_O, VISA_O, or WRLD_O (elective). With permission, students may take an upper-level FREN_O, GERM_O, JPST_O, or SPAN_O literature course for this elective.

The required courses above constitute the 30 upper-level credits required in the field of specialization for this Major: 18 credits in Creative Writing, 6 credits in English literature, and 6 credits in other Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies courses.

Combined Major with Creative Writing

A combined major is created by satisfying the requirement for a combined major in Creative Writing and another B.A. program that offers a combined major (currently Art History and Visual Culture , Cultural Studies , and English ). A single course can only fulfill the combined major requirement for one program.

The Creative Writing requirements for the combined major include the following:

First and Second Years

B.A. requirements , including the following:

• CRWR_O 150 (Introduction to Writing Fiction and Drama), CRWR_O 160 (Introduction to Writing Poetry and Non-Fiction);
• CRWR_O 260 (Theory and Practice of Creative Writing);
• 6 credits of second-year Creative Writing courses; and
• at least 70% (B-) overall average in second-year English and Creative Writing courses.
• 15 credits of 300-level and 400-level Creative Writing courses;
• 3 credits of third- or fourth-year English courses in Canadian literature; and
• 3 credits of third- or fourth-year English course in modern, contemporary literature.

Minor in Creative Writing

To complete a Minor in Creative Writing, students must complete at least 30 credits in Creative Writing, of which 18 credits must be at the 300- or 400-level. Students must complete ENGL_O 220 or ENGL_O 221.

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Stay informed about current and upcoming programming

Graduate Writing Consultants support student writers at UBC Vancouver, at all levels of English language proficiency, across a broad spectrum of writing situations: academic, creative, professional, and technical. Writing consultations are voluntary, anonymous, independent, and offered at no cost to students.

Find out about the benefits of a writing consultation, what to expect from feedback, and how to book, via our most frequently asked questions below.

What is a writing consultation?

A writing consultation is an opportunity for UBC students to receive formative peer feedback on their writing at any stage in the writing process, from first drafts to final revisions. Graduate Writing Consultants ask non-judgemental and non-evaluative questions, and offer observations using a pedagogically sound approach based on research in the field of writing studies. The formative feedback aims to provide students with strategies for revision.

Who are writing consultations for?

Writing consultations are for all UBC Vancouver students, writing in any discipline or profession, at any level of expertise. We serve students new to university writing, masters students in professional and academic programs, and doctoral students completing course work or writing the dissertation.

What can I get feedback on?

Graduate Writing Consultants provide feedback (aimed at revision) on any and all documents: assignments set during a first-year writing course, thesis and dissertation chapters, and research articles for publication. Other examples include scientific abstracts, grant and scholarship applications, and all forms of creative writing.

Why should I book a writing consultation?

Writing consultations are beneficial for a number of reasons. They support students at no cost, providing feedback additional to that of instructors, teaching assistants, and peers. Writing consultations motivate students to reflect on the particular writing situation. For example, Graduate Writing Consultants might ask about the purpose of the document, the intended audience, the overall organization or structure, and the in-text citation practices.

Writing consultations aim to introduce students to a broader perspective about the typical kinds of writing practices that take place at a research institution like UBC. Students can book multiple appointments (one a day, two per week), and choose to consult the same or a different Graduate Writing Consultant, from within their own discipline (as available) or outside of their discipline.

This video further explains the benefits of a writing consultation.

What types of feedback can I get?

There are two types of feedback available: a thirty-minute in-person dialogue via an In-Person Writing Consultation; a thirty-minute Written Feedback Writing Consultation, which takes place in real time, but not face-to-face. At the end of a Written Feedback Writing Consultation, the Graduate Writing Consultant re-uploads the document with written commentary for the student to download.

How many writing consultations can I have?

Writing consultations are available once a day, twice a week. They can be booked up to fourteen days in advance and can be cancelled at any time in advance of an appointment.

Why are writing consultations only thirty minutes?

Writing consultations are limited to thirty minutes for accessibility and pedagogical reasons. First, there are many students at UBC Vancouver and they all deserve equal opportunity to book a consultation. Second, sessions of longer than thirty minutes risk providing a greater amount of feedback than can be incorporated in a revised draft. The same is true of more than one session a day, or more than two a week. Our goal is to make your time with us as impactful as possible, while serving as many UBC Vancouver students as possible.

How do I book a writing consultation?

Visit WCOnline . Using the “Schedules” tab at the top of the page, select either the written feedback schedule, or one of the in-person locations. Click on an available appointment slot and complete the appointment form to secure your booking. Prior to your appointment, select “Attach File” and upload your .doc or .docx document for review during the consultation. If relevant, upload the assignment description and/or rubric as well.

If you have booked an in-person appointment, arrive at the location of your booking no earlier than 5-minutes prior to your appointment time. Details of the location, including a map, will be emailed to you with your booking confirmation.

If you have booked for written feedback, the Graduate Writing Consultant will provide feedback via the comment function in Word and re-upload your document. You will receive an email when this has happened.

Watch this video demonstration for further information.

Who gives the writing consultations?

Writing consultations are given by a team of Graduate Writing Consultants representing a broad spectrum of UBC disciplines, from Biomedical Engineering to Education, from Neuroscience to Forestry, and from Public Health to Creative Writing! All Graduate Writing Consultants are trained in providing the same pedagogically-informed feedback derived from detailed research in the field of writing studies. You can meet with the same Graduate Writing Consultant over a succession of appointments, or you can select different consultants to get different perspectives on your writing.

How do I prepare a writing consultation?

Upload the document you want feedback on prior to your appointment time using the “Attach File” option in WCOnline . If you also have the assignment description or rubric, upload those as well. Complete the appointment form specifying what you would like feedback on.

If your appointment is for written feedback, that is all you need to do. You will be able to download your feedback from WCOnline at the end of the appointment time. If your appointment is in person, arrive at the location of your appointment no more than five minutes before your appointment time. You will receive a map specifying the location when you receive the email confirming your appointment.

Can I get feedback on a co-authored paper or assignment?

You may submit co-authored articles and co-authored research papers for a writing consultation (but not group assignments). You must tick the box on the writing consultation appointment form to confirm that the document is co-authored. After the writing consultation, the feedback must be shared with all co-authors. If you are booking an in-person appointment, only one co-author can attend. A consultant will not meet with more than one student.

I’m a faculty member, can I get a writing consultation?

Yes! Faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical researchers who would like a writing consultation should contact the CWSC Program Manager Dr. Patty Kelly.

I have additional questions, who should I contact?

Email the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication: cwsc.info [at] ubc.ca

September 9, 2024 – December 6, 2024

In-Person Writing Consultation

IKBLC: Mon 12-3 | Tue, Wed, Thu 10-4 | Fri 10-1 David Lam Library: Mon 11-2 | Tue 1-4 Woodward Library: Tue 11-2 | Wed 12-3 Research Commons: Wed 10-1 | Thu 1-4

Written Feedback Writing Consultation

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10-4 Thu 12-4