Overview

Key features

Through online group courses and one-on-one tutorials, as well as a week on campus, you'll hone your craft and find your voice.

Through the Harvard University master’s degree in the field of Creative Writing and Literature you will:

Master key elements of narrative craft, including characterization, story and plot structure, point of view, dialogue, and description.
Develop skills across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic writing.
Analyze works of literature and learn how to approach these texts as a writer and a scholar.

Practice the art of revision as a means to hone your voice as a writer.

Program overview

The degree includes 12 courses with one week on campus.

Get started. You begin by completing two stipulated degree courses as outlined on the degree requirements page. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and ability to perform well as a Harvard student.
Apply to the program. While you are completing your second degree course, you submit your application. We have application cycles in the fall, spring, and summer.
Continue your studies, online and on campus. As you progress through the program, you can choose from courses offered online and on campus all year round, fall, spring, and summer.
Complete your thesis. You work one-on-one with a thesis director on an original creative writing piece of a minimum of 50 pages. The thesis might be a novel (or part of a novel), a collection of short stories, a screenplay, play, or work of nonfiction. In the end, you produce a creative body of work worthy of publication.
Graduate with your Harvard degree. You participate in the annual Harvard Commencement, receiving your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, field: Creative Writing and Literature.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The Master of Liberal Arts, Creative Writing and Literature degree field consists of 12 courses. A one-week, on-campus writer’s residency is required.

12 Graduate Courses

The degree is customizable. Within the program curriculum, you choose the creative writing and literature courses that meet your personal learning goals.

Proseminar

Advanced fiction writing

3 creative writing courses

1 creative writing independent study

2 literature courses

1-week, on-campus writer's residency

Crafting the Thesis Proposal

Master’s Thesis Part One

Master’s Thesis Part Two

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-01-27 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-04-15 00:00:00
Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

Schedule an IELTS test!

PTE Academic

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TOEFL^® IBT

100

Duolingo English Test

125

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Pass IELTS with Swoosh English! Sign up for a free writing masterclass or claim your exclusive 25% Studyportals discount and accelerate your preparation by taking a course designed by experts to get you the results you need.

Credits

48 SCH

Delivered

On Campus, Online

Disciplines

Creative Writing Literature View 403 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

Academic requirements

GPA

3 _{(recommended)}

English requirements

IELTS

Schedule an IELTS test!

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Duolingo English Test

125

Take A Free Practice Test!

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Harvard University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

Admissions: Earn Your Way In

To begin the admission process, you simply register—no application needed—for the following two graduate-level degree courses (available online).

HUMA 101 Proseminar: Elements of the Writer's Craft

Before registering, you'll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42a Writing in the Humanities.
You have two attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt). The proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Advanced fiction writing
Before you enroll in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a four-year regionally accredited US bachelor's degree. You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master's degree in Creative Writing or a related field. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated, and the Admissions Office makes final determinations about eligibility.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

38640 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 38640 USD for the full programme during 12 months.
National

38640 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 38640 USD for the full programme during 12 months.
In-State

38640 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 38640 USD for the full programme during 12 months.

Living costs for Cambridge

1814 - 3756 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Creative Writing and Literature.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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