Master of Creative Writing at The University of Montana

The Creative Writing is a Master degree offered by The University of Montana at its main campus in Missoula , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 2 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 21, 2027.

About Master of Creative Writing

Study Creative Writing at the University of Montana

Join one of the oldest and most prestigious creative writing programs in the nation. We offer outstanding opportunities to hone your writing skills for publication, prepare for jobs in the private sector or develop a portfolio for applying to an MFA program.

At UM, you can pursue creative writing as a concentration of the bachelor's degree in English, or as a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree – we are the only program in Montana to offer both. The BA offers a unique focus of literary study, allowing you to explore various works while creating your own stories, poems and essays. The BFA combines a workshop-based approach with a rigorous literature component, offering expanded internship and professional development opportunities. Both programs give you the unique opportunity to work with faculty from our nationally-ranked graduate program, as well as visiting writers who are known around the world.

The creative writing major at UM is distinguished by small, intimate classes that foster mentorship and personal attention. Collaborative workshops in fiction, nonfiction and poetry encourage you to explore diverse genres, as you learn to read with attention to writing craft and apply those lessons to your own creative works.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Creative Writing at The University of Montana

Entry Requirements

To be granted full admission, applicants must hold the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Usually transcripts will be evaluated by the Graduate School, however, in unusual circumstances, the University may require applicants to submit their credentials to an outside agency before an admission decision will be made.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Creative Writing

Career development in the English degree

When you major in creative writing at UM, you can count on getting the support you need to hit the ground running when you graduate, and faculty who are ready to go the extra mile to help you succeed. You'll also benefit from the vibrant literary and arts community here in Missoula.

Readings, whether hosted by local bookstores or UM, are a great way to meet other aspiring writers. Our Montana Writers LIVE class, for example, showcases Missoula and Montana's amazing community of local and regional writers reading from their work and answering your questions.

As you engage in internships with local businesses, community mentors will provide insight into different ways you can apply your skills – ways that your ability to research, analyze, summarize, write and edit fit into the operation of a small business, a homeless shelter or a political campaign.

You can also participate in a wide variety of clubs and activities related to English and creative writing, including The Oval and Prose and Poems, volunteer for the Montana Book Festival and get involved with numerous other campus and community literary organizations and activities.

Creative writing faculty

One of the incredible opportunities you'll have as an undergraduate in the creative writing degree at UM is to work with faculty from our nationally-ranked graduate program.

Our faculty include Guggenheim Fellows, New York Times Bestsellers, and National Endowment for the Arts Fellows. They are winners of the American Book Award, Montana Governor's Arts Award, and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, among others. They serve as judges for the National Book Award, the PEN Faulkner award, and travel and lecture around the globe. Most of all, they share a powerful dedication to recognizing and nurturing developing writers.

Creative writing scholarships

Creative writers at UM are supported by thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, as well as those they may apply for as English majors. Explore creative writing scholarships and awards.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Creative Writing at The University of Montana

Application Fee 60

How to Apply for Master of Creative Writing at The University of Montana

1. Start Your Online Application

The University of Montana Graduate School processes applications for admission using ApplyWeb. Prospective students can navigate this system to submit an online application, review application, or make changes to an application.

Admission Application Instructions

Fill out the Application. There are three steps involved in the application process.

Fill out and submit the Graduate Program portion of the application that comes up when you click the above link. An email will be sent to you with a link to setup your account and finish your application.
Click the link in your email and complete the rest of the application fields and submit.
You will be directed to your application status portal. You will be able to pay your application fee and upload supplemental materials on this page. You will also receive another email with a link to this page so you can log in later and complete these steps and track your application progress.

2. Choose a Graduate Program

Once you find the program you are interested in, click the link below to explore. Requirements and deadlines are specific to each program.

3. Submit Application Materials

Most additional materials can be uploaded within the online application. Letter of recommendation forms are completed within the online application. Hard copies do not need to be sent in addition to the electronic copies. If a recommender does not want to use the online form sent from within the application, please have them use the Recommendation Form.

Official transcripts should be sent directly to the program you are applying to or the Graduate School. We also accept transcripts electronically through the National Student Clearinghouse, parchment or e-script. Be sure to list the email for the Graduate School as [email protected].

4. Complete Online Application

Complete the online application which includes submitting a $60 non-refundable application fee electronically using a credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover) or debit check (Note: when using a debit check, there is usually a delay of up to ten working days until the check clears and the application can be processed).

Applying to multiple departments requires an application for each department and a submission of a non-refundable application fee. The first application fee is $60.00; any application after, within a 12 month period is $20.00.

5. Review Application Status

Log into your application to see if all of your materials have been received. This checklist is updated by the department you applied to. Be sure to call them if you believe something has been received but is not marked as received on your application. This is also where your decision letter will be posted once a decision is made.

Master of Creative Writing at The University of Montana

The University of Montana

United States of America, Missoula