Program Overview

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Overview

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Distance Education (MFA) program at the University of British Columbia is designed for writers who want to hone their craft in a flexible and supportive environment. The program is a studio-based, distance education program that focuses on the work created by students as the primary text. Through intensive peer critique and craft discussion, faculty and students work together to achieve literary excellence.

What makes the program unique?

The UBC Optional-Residency (Distance) MFA was the first distance education MFA program in Canada and remains the only full MFA that can be taken completely online. It is designed to be uniquely flexible, allowing students across Canada and around the world to study writing at the graduate level while still living in their local communities and fulfilling career and family obligations. The program is unique globally for its multi-genre approach to writing instruction, requiring students to work in multiple genres during the course of the degree.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Academic Unit: School of Creative Writing
• Specialization: Creative Writing
• Mode of delivery: Online / Distance (100%)
• Program Components: Coursework + Thesis required

Admission Information & Requirements

Program Instructions

The optional residency MFA (distance) program only has a July 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.

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 English language proficiency tests:

• TOEFL:
  • Overall score requirement: 90
  • Reading: 22
  • Writing: 21
  • Speaking: 21
  • Listening: 22
• IELTS:
  • Overall score requirement: 6.5
  • Reading: 6.0
  • Writing: 6.0
  • Speaking: 6.0
  • Listening: 6.0

Prior degree, course and other requirements

The GRE is not required.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Application Fee: $118.50 (Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat), $168.25 (International)
• Tuition per credit: $693.38 (Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat), $1,388.59 (International)
• Student Fees: Vary

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based and need-based opportunities.

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.

Research Supervisors

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Applicants should apply without contacting individual faculty members prior to the application. Identification of potential faculty members in the application form is optional. Faculty members will review applications of applicants they are interested in and get in touch as part of the applicant evaluation.

Related Programs

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the UBC Okanagan Campus

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.

Program Website

The program website provides detailed information about the program, including admission requirements, program structure, and faculty members.

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Academic Unit

School of Creative Writing

Program Identifier

VGMMFA-FVZ9

Classification

Humanities and the arts » Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music), architecture and design » Creative writing

Program Enquiries

Still have questions after reviewing this page thoroughly? Contact the program for more information.