Overview

The Creative Writing M.F.A. at the University of Southern Maine offers a transformative experience for writers seeking to refine their craft within a supportive, professional community. This low-residency programme allows students to balance rigorous creative work with their personal lives through a blend of independent study and immersive in-person sessions. Students are encouraged to explore diverse genres while addressing vital themes of social justice and equity.

Why Creative Writing at University of Southern Maine?

The Stonecoast programme is distinguished by its commitment to inclusivity and social equity through the WISE initiative. Students benefit from one-on-one mentorship with award-winning faculty who have received prestigious honours, including Guggenheim Fellowships and Pulitzer Prize nominations. The scenic Maine coast provides an inspiring backdrop for bi-annual residencies featuring innovative workshops and public readings.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 3610 per semester
National fee: USD 3610 per semester
Local fee: USD 3610 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Creative Nonfiction
Fiction
Poetry
Popular Fiction
Scriptwriting
Creative Thesis
Craft

Careers with Creative Writing

Graduates are prepared for the professional literary world, equipped with knowledge of the business of publishing and writing. The programme supports career development through opportunities with the Stonecoast Review, teaching experiences, and internships. Alumni have become successful published authors, poets, academics, and advocates, earning recognition such as the National Book Award and Pushcart Prize.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Between residencies, students engage in coursework (9 credits per semester) with an assigned faculty mentor. Students submit packets of creative writing and critical essays as part of a study plan they co-develop with their mentor. Faculty respond with extensive, in-depth critiques of the student work.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-21 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

105

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TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

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Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

Blended

Campus Location

Gorham, United States

Disciplines

Creative Writing View 381 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Provide financial documentation that shows you are able to support educational and living costs.
Pay the US $50 application fee (except Canadian applicants).
Submit an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies:
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)
Evaluations must be course-by-course and provide verification that the degree you hold is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the United States
NOTE: Some universities in Canada are exempt

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

7220 USD / year

≈ 7220 USD / year
Out-of-State

7220 USD / year

≈ 7220 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

7220 USD / year

≈ 7220 USD / year

Additional Details

fees for summer semester; fall: $5,414.40; spring: $9,024

Living costs

Gorham

United States

1370 - 2127 USD / month

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.

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Scholarships Information

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

Available Scholarships

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

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Gorham

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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