MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing

The Department of English at the University of Toronto launched the MA Program in English in the Field of Creative Writing (MA CRW) in 2004-05. The program draws both on the expertise of faculty at the University of Toronto and on the extraordinary vitality of Toronto’s writing community. Internationally acclaimed writers, a multiplicity of cultural traditions, and an energetic publishing industry provide the environment for nurturing new talent. Students have at their disposal the academic and creative resources of the English Department, including its strengths in historical research and traditional scholarship, numerous interdisciplinary collaborations, its acknowledged expertise in world literature, and a faculty engaged in new theoretical studies in culture, race, and gender. Students also have access to one of the world’s great library systems, including the manuscript collections at the Fisher Rare Book library. While the program is designed to prepare participants for careers as professional writers, it will also qualify those wishing to pursue further graduate studies.

Student Handbook

Applicants and current students are encourage to review the MA Creative Writing Handbook. For further information about the program contact us at creative.writing@utoronto.ca

Admission Requirements

The MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing requires students to attend graduate-level English courses. The degree can lead to a PhD in English. Therefore, students must have at least seven full-year undergraduate courses in English or fourteen half-year courses, or any combination of full- and half-year courses that add up to the equivalent of seven full-year courses.  It is not necessary to have an English major, as long as you have the seven undergraduate English courses. Students who do not meet this requirement cannot be admitted into the program.

A B+ average (GPA of 3.3) is the minimum requirement for entry into the program. Once this is met, the primary basis for the selection of candidates is the quality of the portfolio submission. It is not expected that students will have publication credits. Applicants do not need to provide GRE results.

Applications must be submitted online and are considered complete only when the following documents have been received by the Department of English:

• A statement of purpose, submitted electronically
• A writing portfolio of 20-25 pages of prose (drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction), and/or poetry, uploaded as a single document. Do not submit academic essays.
• Digital transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended (in PDF format), uploaded to the application, and UPON REQUEST ONLY official paper transcripts mailed directly to the Department. For more detailed information and instructions regarding submitting transcripts, please visit our APPLICATION INFORMATION page and navigate to the section "Checklist for a Complete GradApp Package" then to Academic Transcripts. 
• Two academic letters of reference submitted online by academic referees/recommenders, each addressing your performance in university English and/or Creative Writing coursework. At least one letter must discuss your performance in English coursework. Do not use editors, publishers, employers, or fellow writers as referees.

To view the application details and requirements, please visit the SGS website here SGS Admissions & SGS Application Requirements and the application instructions on the SGS How to apply page. Additionally, here is the link to the School of Graduate Studies pages for Future Students.

Program Requirements

The MA program in English in the Field of Creative Writing usually requires 18-24 months to complete. Applicants must have an overall average of B+ or better and evidence of first-class work in English for admission to the program. The program requires the completion of: 

• 2.0 approved FCEs in English (the equivalent of four half courses)
• ENG6950Y Workshop in Creative Writing
• ENG6960H Advanced Creative Writing Workshop
• a supervised Writing Project (the equivalent of a thesis) completed under the direction of a mentor

English Coursework

Students complete four semester-long graduate English courses. You may request permission to enroll in a course from other graduate programs such as Comparative Literature. Students are required to complete these courses in their first year of study so they can focus their attention in year two on the writing of their creative project. Courses will involve lively class discussion, seminar presentations, and written research papers. 

Writing Workshops

ENG6950Y: Workshop in Creative Writing: Students submit poetry, fiction, drama, and creative nonfiction and receive thoughtful feedback from the instructor and fellow students. Some sessions may feature on-campus visits from editors, publishers, professional archivists, researchers, and agents so that students can learn the pragmatics of the publishing industry. All candidates for the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing must complete this workshop in the first year of their program before beginning their thesis, and work from this course can be used toward the thesis. 

ENG6960H: Advanced Creative Writing Workshop: Students take this course in the second year of the program. It provides a framework for students to complete their thesis while considering other aspects of a writing life. A portion of each class is used as a writing session, 

Writing Project

In the second year of the program, students will undertake a book-length Writing Project in a genre of choice (poetry, drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction). Each student will be assigned a mentor with whom to consult on a regular basis about the project. All mentors will be published writers. The completed project should normally be submitted before the beginning of April of the second year. The Department will then arrange an oral defense, to be chaired by the Director of the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing. The Writing Project can be designated as Pass, Fail, or Distinction.

Student Funding

Students accepted into the MA Program in English in the Field of Creative Writing are eligible for teaching assistantships, including a number in Creative Writing courses. All incoming students are considered for incoming scholarships.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. For more information visit the Department of English Finances & Awards webpage.

Faculty and Mentors

• MA CRW Faculty Biographies
• MA CRW Program Mentors (Adjunct Faculty) Biographies

Forms

• Mentorship Preference Form 2025-2026
• Adam Penn Gilders Scholarship Form
• Creative Writing Thesis Dates

FAQs