MFA Creative Writing at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Programme overview

The Helen Zell Writers' Program is a two-year, fully funded, full-time residential MFA in creative writing in which students concentrate in fiction or poetry. Each year it admits nine poets and nine fiction writers from roughly 1,000 applicants.

Faculty: College of Literature, Science, and the Arts | Department: Helen Zell Writers' Program | Duration: 2 years | Intake: Fall; deadline December 10, 2026; decisions in early March | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ann Arbor, MI, United States

What you will study

Craft classes, workshops and literature classes, readings, individual faculty meetings and an MFA thesis at the end of the second year, alongside the Zell Visiting Writers Series.

Career pathways

Alumni teach in colleges and universities and work in publishing houses, arts foundations and community programmes.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree by enrollment with sufficient undergraduate literature training; writing sample in poetry (10 pages, max 15) or prose (30-40 pages); academic statement of purpose (up to 2 pages); biographical personal statement (up to 2 pages); CV; three letters of recommendation; GRE not required; TOEFL minimum 106 iBT or IELTS Academic 6.5 for non-native speakers (test within two years). Choose either poetry or prose. Fee $75 US citizens and permanent residents, $90 non-US citizens. All materials due December 10, 2026 (third letter by December 20).

Intake: Fall; deadline December 10, 2026; decisions in early March

Duration: 2 years

Apply through the official page: https://rackham.umich.edu/admissions/applying/

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