BA Creative Writing at University of Chicago

Programme overview

The Program in Creative Writing takes a comprehensive approach to the study of contemporary literature from a writer’s perspective. Through a variety of workshop and small discussion-based classes, our students work alongside established authors to explore the practice of creative writing. The Program is committed to artistic experimentation, academic inquiry, and interdisciplinary exploration.

Faculty: The College | Department: Creative Writing | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Autumn | Location: Chicago, IL, United States

What you will study

The Creative Writing Standard Major Track requires a total of 11 courses (1100 units) as described below. Students planning to complete the major must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies or the Student Affairs Administrator by the end of Autumn Quarter of their third year.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to the College, not to the major (university-level requirement): first-year applicants apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with the UChicago supplement essays and submit the secondary school report and transcript, two teacher evaluations and a mid-year report; testing follows the University's No Harm Testing Policy. Majors are declared after enrolment and must satisfy the College general education Core plus the major requirements listed in the catalogue.

USD 75,960 a year (2026-27). College tuition for the 2026-27 academic year (cost of attendance table); excludes student services fee, U-Pass fee, class fee, housing, food and books. Source

First-year admission is offered for entrance in the Autumn Quarter only (except prospective students-at-large).

First-year application plans (as published for the 2025-26 cycle): Early Decision I and Early Action deadline 3 November 2025; Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadline 5 January 2026. Applications are accepted through the Common Application and Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. An application fee or automatic fee waiver is required, SAT/ACT scores are covered by the No Harm Testing Policy.

Apply through the official page: https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/application/

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