English: Creative Writing at Northwestern University

Programme overview

The Creative Writing major (for students matriculating Summer 2025 or later) has four tracks: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and cross-genre.

Department: Department of English | Study mode: full-time | Location: Evanston, IL, United States

What you will study

The major is 13 courses: three introductory courses (ENG 206, 207, 208), three advanced creative writing courses (a yearlong sequence in one genre, or any three of ENG 306-309 for cross-genre), ENG 392 The Situation of Writing, and six English literature courses including pre-1830 and post-1830 courses.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction tracks are by application only and competitive: applicants must be a sophomore, junior or senior, complete at least one 200-level course in the chosen genre and have completed or be enrolled in another 200-level genre course (ENG 206, 207 or 208), and submit a writing sample (7-15 pages for fiction or creative nonfiction; 4-5 poems for poetry). Cross-genre has no prerequisites to declare. Northwestern undergraduate first-year applicants: Common Application or Coalition with Scoir plus the Northwestern supplement and writing supplements; official secondary school transcripts and school report; one counselor recommendation and at least one teacher recommendation; SAT/ACT scores optional; $75 application fee or fee waiver. Applicants whose first or primary language is not English, or whose secondary schooling was not in English, submit Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) or TOEFL iBT results. Deadlines: Early Decision Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 4, 2027.

USD 71,802 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 (full-time $23,934 per quarter, fall/winter/spring); a single rate for all full-time undergraduate degree programmes; excludes room and board, student health, activity and athletics fees and health insurance. Source

Undergraduate terms run fall, winter and spring (quarter system); first-year applicants apply through Early Decision, Regular Decision or QuestBridge.

First-year deadlines for 2026-27: QuestBridge October 1, 2026; Early Decision November 1, 2026 (decisions December 2026); Regular Decision January 4, 2027 (decisions March 2027). Transfer: Early Decision March 1, 2027; Regular Decision April 1, 2027 (priority deadline for Bienen transfer applicants January 4, 2027).

Apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir (QuestBridge for QuestBridge applicants). The nonrefundable application fee is $75 or a fee waiver. Northwestern is test-optional and does not require SAT or ACT scores.

Graduate applications for 2026-27 open September 15, 2026; deadlines vary by programme. The Graduate School application fee is $95 and nonrefundable, paid by credit or debit card.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/

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