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 on both the expertise of faculty at the University of Toronto and 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 complete graduate-level courses in English literature, not just in creative writing. The degree can lead to a PhD in English. Therefore, students must have taken at least seven full-year undergraduate courses or fourteen half-year courses in English literature (not including courses in creative writing), 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 completed an English major as long as you have taken the equivalent of seven full-year undergraduate English literature courses. Students who do not meet this requirement are not eligible for admission into the program.
A B+ average (GPA of 3.3) and and evidence of first-class work in English is the minimum requirement for entry into the program. Along with the strength of the undergraduate transcript, 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 via GradApp (see the Application Information page) and are considered complete only when the following documents have been received by the Department of English:
- A statement of purpose.
- 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 see the Academic Transcripts section under Checklist for a Complete GradApp Package.
- 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. For more detailed information and instructions regarding letters of reference, please visit our APPLICATION INFORMATION page and see the Two Academic Letters of Recommendation section under Checklist for a Complete GradApp Package.
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. The program requires the completion of:
- 2.0 approved FCEs in English (the equivalent of four half courses)
- ENG6950Y Workshop in Creative Writing
- ENG6960HY Advanced Creative Writing Workshop
- a supervised Writing Project (the equivalent of a thesis) completed under the direction of a mentor
Students must attain a B- standing in each graduate course.
Commonly, in Year 1 MA CRW stream students complete ENG6950Y Workshop in Creative Writing, 2 half courses in the fall term, and 2 half courses in the winter term; in Year 2, they then complete ENG6960HY Advanced Creative Writing Workshop and the Supervised Writing Project.
English Coursework
Students complete four semester-long graduate English courses. All courses will involve lively class discussion, seminar presentations, and written research papers.
You may request permission from the Director of the MA CRW to enrol in up to 1.0 FCE (one full course or two half courses) in another graduate program, 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 their creative project. If you wish to take a course outside of English, please email the following to Director of the MA CRW and Tanuja Persaud for each such course: course code, full title, course description, and brief rationale for why the course is necessary for your research.
Writing Workshops
ENG6950Y Workshop in Creative Writing: This year-long full course (1.0 FCE) is taken in the first year of the program. 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.
ENG6960HY Advanced Creative Writing Workshop: This year-long half course (0.5 FCE) is taken in the second year of the program and meets twelve times over the course of the year. 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
Forms
- Mentorship Preference Form 2025-2026
- Adam Penn Gilders Scholarship Form
- Creative Writing Thesis Dates
FAQs
We admit approximately seven students each year.
No. Because the program is an MA in English, students must have a strong background in English literature. Students who do not have sufficient undergraduate training may wish to take additional courses in English in order to qualify for admission.
No. The academic requirements for admission to the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing are very strict. The B+ minimum must be met or a student’s application will not be considered. Students who do not have an adequate GPA may wish to take additional courses in order to improve their academic standing and qualify for admission.
If the courses were in English literature, as long as the texts were studied in the original (i.e., in English), then yes, they would count towards the required minimum number of courses in English literature.
Choose your best writing.
No. There is only one entry point for students in the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing, which is September. Students may not begin the program in January.
No. Students must enrol full-time.
Currently we are able to offer students in the Creative Writing program a TAship each year (number of hours TBA at the start of the program), to a maximum of two years. Successful applicants for the SSHRC CGRS M award can expect $27,000 minus tuition and fees. OGS award holders can expect $15,000 minus tuition and fees. All incoming students are considered for incoming scholarships.
Contact
For more information please contact us by e-mail.
creative.writing@utoronto.ca
Director, MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing
Department of English
170 St. George Street
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5R 2M8