Program Overview

Program Overview

The Certificate in Creative Writing is designed to help students develop their writing craft through study, practice, and workshopping. This program can be applicable to many forms of communication, including journalism, marketing, social media, film, performance, and popular music, as well as literary publication.

About the Program

The Certificate in Creative Writing is a two- or three-year certificate program that can be taken part-time. Students can enter this program directly from high school. The program focuses on the craft of writing in foundational forms of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and drama, as well as other established and emerging forms. Upon completion of the certificate, students will have a portfolio demonstrating their skill across a range of forms. The program may also serve as a step toward more advanced studies in creative writing.

Featured Classes

• ENG 220.3: Studies in the Craft of Writing - A study of "reading like a writer," this course explores two genres—typically, contemporary poetry and fiction—through the critical analysis and subsequent practice of literary technique.
• ENG 114.3: Literature and Composition Reading Culture - An introduction to historical and contemporary cultural forms in English, where students learn the tools of critical analysis and practice composition.
• DRAM 231.3: Introduction to Indigenous Playwriting - The purpose of this course is to learn the basics of dramatic writing, with a focus on writing for the stage, emphasizing First Nations and Métis cultural concerns.
• ENG 365.6: Creative Writing Workshop - Intended for students interested in the practice of imaginative writing, where course work includes an assignment of writing each week.

Why Study Creative Writing?

• Practical approach: The program's hands-on approach teaches students how to write and produce content, making them flexible writers who can tackle various forms.
• Career opportunities: Students develop skills needed to become professional writers, fine-tuning their skills for industries like publishing, marketing, and communications.
• Further studies: This undergraduate-level certificate may help prepare students for further studies, such as a M.F.A. in Creative Writing at the University of Saskatchewan or other institutions.

Careers

The program is designed to be of particular use to students who wish to employ their writing skills in their career paths. Some opportunities may include:

• Advertising copywriter
• Creative director
• Digital copywriter
• Editorial assistant
• Lexicographer
• Magazine journalist
• Newspaper journalist
• Playwright
• Publishing copy-editor/proofreader
• Writer

Tuition Estimates

| Canadian students | International students
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Tuition | $775.50 per 3 credit unit class | $3,753.30 per 3 credit unit class
Student fees | $1,308.24 per year | $1,308.24 per year
The cost of books and supplies varies widely, recommended to budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.

Program Options

The Certificate in Creative Writing is offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science. Students may earn the certificate on its own, concurrently with a degree, or after having already received a degree from the University of Saskatchewan or another institution.

International Students

The College of Arts and Science strongly recommends that international students do not enroll in a certificate program alone, as course offerings per term and program length may not be sufficient to maintain eligibility for a study permit, on/off-campus work permit, or post-graduation work permit when taken as a stand-alone program. International students are advised to plan to enroll in their certificate of interest only alongside a degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements depend on the student's situation, including their education background. High school students or graduates, university/college students or graduates, and international students have different requirements. The specific requirements can be viewed based on the student's educational background and where they attended high school.

Application Deadlines

Start term | Application deadline | International deadline
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Winter
January 2026 | Dec. 1, 2025
Documents due: Dec. 15, 2025 | Sept. 1, 2025
Documents due: Oct. 1, 2025
Spring
May 2026 | April 1, 2026
Documents due: May 1, 2026 | Feb. 1, 2026
Documents due: March 1, 2026
Summer
July 2026 | May 1, 2026
Documents due: June 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026
Documents due: April 1, 2026
Fall
September 2026 | July 15, 2026
Documents due: Aug. 1, 2026 | May 1, 2026
Documents due: June 1, 2026
Winter
January 2027 | Dec. 1, 2026
Documents due: Dec. 15, 2026 | Sept. 1, 2026
Documents due: Oct. 1, 2026

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