Admission Requirements

General

The MFA program focuses on five genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwrighting and screenwriting.

Admission to Master’s Program

An undergraduate degree in any discipline and from any accredited college or university in BC as well as from accredited post-secondary institutions from outside the province. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree and a cumulative GPA of B.

There will be only one admission point: September of each year. We will accept only those prepared to make a commitment to full-time studies in the fall and spring semesters of their first year. Applicants will submit a portfolio consisting of samples of writing in the genre in which they wish to study. One of the following will be required: 10-15 pages of poetry; 20-30 pages of playwrighting, screenwriting, fiction or creative nonfiction. Professional experience, screenings and publications will also be taken into account. These should be summarized in one to three pages.

Applicants must also submit a 400-word statement of purpose, which will include a description of the manuscript to be worked on and the specific area of expertise to be explored.

In addition to the letters of assessment required for admittance to Graduate Studies, the Department of Writing will require two letters of reference which will include the following: an assessment of the student’s academic standing, talent as a writer, critical ability, capacity for doing self-directed work, and teaching potential.

Deadlines

Applications with supporting material must be received by December 15. Those who seek fellowships must submit applications to the Graduate and Admissions Office by January 15.