MFA Creative Writing at University of Virginia

Programme overview

Selective, fully funded, workshop-based MFA in poetry or fiction within the Department of English, culminating in a book-length thesis.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: English | Duration: 3 years | Intake: Application deadline December 15; admits four poets and four fiction writers each fall. | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Advanced workshops, craft seminars, mentorship and professional development over three years, ending in a thesis.

Career pathways

Published author; university or college creative writing instructor; editor at publishers or literary magazines; writer-in-residence; arts administrator; freelance writer; grant writer.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (all master's and PhD programs, University of Virginia): online application with a 500-1,000 word statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation (some programs require more), unofficial transcripts of all post-secondary study, and an $85 non-refundable application fee. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is expected. GRE is not required unless noted for the programme (required for Economics, Sociology, Statistics; Physics GRE required for Physics). International applicants need TOEFL iBT 90 (22 speaking, 22 writing, 23 reading, 23 listening), IELTS 7.0 in each section, or Duolingo English Test 130 overall unless waived (automatic waiver for undergraduate degrees earned entirely in English-medium instruction); committees may consider scores below these minimums. Enrolling students without an English-medium undergraduate degree take the UVA English Language Proficiency Exam in May before their first term. A writing sample is required for this programme.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Domestic applicants: USD 22,770 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. International students pay the non-Virginia resident rate only if the schedule so applies; Source

International applicants: USD 38,384 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for non-Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. Source labels this rate as non-Virginia residents (not specifically international). Source

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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