creative writing ma open university

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MA in Creative Writing

Open university, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities.

Distance without attendance

Key information DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type.

MA - Master of Arts

Subject areas

Creative Writing English Language

Course type

This qualification is an opportunity to develop your skills as a writer in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and scriptwriting for film, radio and the stage. You'll be able to write in a genre of your choice and experiment with at least one other through practical and inspiring activities. You’ll work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard. You'll also hone your practice through sharing, reading and critiquing the writing of your peers in online forums. You’ll work towards producing a substantial piece of your own creative writing to a professional standard.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent), preferably with at least a 2:1 classification. Although your degree does not need to be in Creative Writing or a closely related subject, you will need some knowledge of the subject to successfully complete this qualification, as the MA in Creative Writing assumes all candidates have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at undergraduate level.

MA Creative Writing

Manchester metropolitan university, mfa creative writing, phd in creative writing and english literature, creative writing ma, university of surrey, creative writing phd.

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• School of Arts & Humanities
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Meet the Team

Emily Bullock is a member of the A215 presentation module team and a Staff Tutor. Emily is a novelist and short story writer. Her debut novel,  The Longest Fight ,  published by Myriad Editions, was shortlisted for the Cross Sports Book Awards, and listed in  The Independent’s  Paperbacks of the Year. Her second novel is pending publication in 2020. She won the Bristol Short Story Prize with her story ‘My Girl’, which was also broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Her short stories have been included in collections such as  Aesthetica Creative Writing Anthology ,  A Short Affair  (Simon & Schuster, 2018), and  Bath Short Story Prize Anthology . She has an MA in 19 th Century Literature from King’s College, London; an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and completed her PhD at the Open University. Emily also teaches on Creative Writing undergraduate and postgraduate modules as an Associate Lecturer with the OU.

Siobhan Campbell is a member of the Creative Writing MA module team and has written chapters on Poetry, Creative nonfiction and Script for the MA. Siobhan, a poet and critic, is the author of five publications. Her latest book is Cross Talk from Seren Press which follows the Templar award-winning That Water Speaks in Tongues . She publishes widely in the UK and the US including in Poetry , Magma , The Hopkins Review and The Southern Review . Critical work appears in Agenda, the ILS and The Independent . Siobhan moved to the OU from Kingston University London where she was Associate Professor in English Literature and Creative Writing. With awards in National and Troubadour International poetry competitions, her work is collected in anthologies including Identity Parade: New British and Irish Poets (Bloodaxe), Women’s Work: Modern Women Poets writing in English (Seren) and The Forward Book of Poetry. Siobhan was educated at UCD and Lancaster University and also attended NYU and The New School, New York. She is part of the team developing the new MA in Creative Writing at the OU.

Ed Hogan is a member of the Creative Writing MA module team. His first book, Blackmoor , won the Desmond Elliott Prize, and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Other novels include The Hunger Trace , and Daylight Saving , which was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award. His next book, The Electric , is published by John Murray, in 2020. Ed has studied at the universities of Derby, East Anglia, and Greenwich. He completed his PhD at the Open University, where his research focused on cinemagoing, and D/deafness.  He has worked in hotels, libraries, schools and colleges. His current research interests include the contemporary short story, and the uses of oral history and ethnography in fiction.

Jules Horne was a consultant member of the Creative Writing MA module team for Part 2 and has written chapters on Script for the MA. Jules Horne is a playwright and fiction writer. Her stage plays Allotment and Thread for Nutshell Theatre have won Edinburgh Fringe Firsts. She has also written for the Traverse Theatre, Quondam and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she devised Scape for students on the MA in Classical and Contemporary Text. She is currently an Associate Playwright for Playwrights’ Studio Scotland. BBC radio drama includes Macmillan’s Marvellous Motion Machine , Inner Critic , and Small Blue Thing . Jules has also published two short story collections, Wrapped Town and Nanonovels , and filmed her script I Still Love You Really for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Yes, No, Don’t Know show. Her Three Border Songs in collaboration with composer Suzanne Parry have been performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra musicians. An ex journalist, she studied German and French at Oxford University and is from the Scottish Borders.

Lania Knight is a member of the Creative Writing Module Team. She has a BS in Plant Science and Environmental Conservation from University of New Hampshire and a PhD in English and Creative Writing from University of Missouri, where she worked as a student editor on The Missouri Review . Lania is interested in the natural world, creativity and mental health and she writes fiction and nonfiction and sometimes dabbles in poetry and scriptwriting. Her first novel Three Cubic Feet was shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award in debut fiction. Her second novel Remnant is set in the not-too-distant future after an agricultural collapse. Her stories and essays have been published in The Rumpus, Short Fiction, Literary Mama, PANK, Post Road, Fourth Genre and elsewhere. Her recent story in The Phare ‘My Name was Lin Yi’ was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her poem ‘Susurration’ was among the top 25 in Rattle magazine’s 2018 poetry contest.

Lania is working on a memoir about looking after an allotment in the UK and a sequel to her novel Remnant . Her current research examines interruptions to the creative practice and includes questions of neuroscience and creativity.

Dónall Mac Cathmhaoill is a lecturer in Creative Writing and a member of the MA module team. He has worked as a writer and director across film, theatre, television, and radio. Films include The Wayfarer, winner of the BBC Northern Lights competition, and Warning Signs, part of the BAFTA-nominated Citizenship series. His first feature script, Bull Epic, was commissioned by BBC Films. Recent projects include the NI Screen-funded film Invisible , which was nominated as Best LGBTQ short at the Queens New York World Film Festival. His first radio play, Bull Epic, was nominated for the Society of Authors’ Imison Award, and his Classic Serial Barry Lyndon was nominated for a Sony. In 2002 he won the Bill Miskelly Award from NI Screen.  He was formerly a producer and head of the Education department at the Soho Theatre in London. Theatre projects include work with companies including 7:84 Theatre Company [Scotland], Bruised Sky [London], Tinderbox [Belfast], Jagriti Theatre [Bangalore] and Aisling Ghéar, the Irish language theatre company.

His doctoral thesis examines modes of authorship in theatre for social and political advocacy, and research interests include: structures of production in theatre for social change; authorship and advocacy in post-conflict societies; alternative modes of authorship; and disruptive narrative structures in drama.

Derek Neale is the Creative Writing MA Production Chair, and has written chapters on Script, Fiction and Creative nonfiction for the MA. Derek is a fiction writer and dramatist. He helped design and write a whole new generation of Open University Creative Writing courses, recording several CD interviews with playwrights, novelists, autobiographers and biographers about their approach to writing. He taught creative writing at UEA over a number of years, where he also gained his Creative Writing MA and a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing. His novel The Book of Guardians was published in 2012.

Joanne Reardon is a member of the Creative Writing Module Team and has written chapters for the first year interdisciplinary modules in Arts & Humanities:  'L101, Introducing English Language' and 'A111, Discovering the Arts and Humanities'.  Joanne writes fiction, drama and poetry with a focus on ekphrastic collaborations.  Her work has been displayed at Burgh House, Hampstead, Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and the Roman Corinium Museum in Cirencester alongside the work of artists: Natalie Sirett, Iain Andrews and Richard Kenton Webb. Her poetry has been published by Beautiful Dragons Press and her prose has been published in magazines and anthologies including The London Magazine. She was shortlisted for both the Cinnamon Short Story Prize in 2014 and the Cinnamon Debut Novel award in 2017.  She is also a radio scriptwriter with plays and readings produced on BBC Radio 4 and BBC 4extra where she was also a Readings Producer for BBC Radio Drama.  Prior to teaching creative writing Joanne worked in developing new writing at the Bush Theatre and the National Theatre in London.  Joanne studied as an undergraduate at Leicester University and holds an MA in Creative Writing from UEA and a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. She also holds an MBA from Aston University in Birmingham.

Heather Richardson is a member of the Creative Writing MA module team and has written chapters on Fiction, Creative nonfiction and Script for the MA. Heather is a novelist, short story writer and occasional poet. Her historical novel Magdeburg was published in 2010, and her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies in the UK, Ireland and Australia. She is a former winner of the Brian Moore Short Story Award. Heather has taught Creative Writing at the Open University since 2006. Before joining the OU she taught in Further Education and community settings. She has a particular interest in teaching that uses archival material and specific locations as a starting point for creative work.

Clare Spencer is a member of the Creative Writing Team, and has contributed supplementary material to A215 ‘Creative Writing’.  She has also co-written chapters on the literature of the Romantic period for the module A230 ‘Reading and Studying English Literature’.  Her short stories have appeared in a range of magazines, including The New Welsh Review .  She has a particular interest in the role of place in fiction and life writing. Clare has taught Creative Writing at The Open University since 2007.  Earlier in her academic career, she worked at the University of Wales Lampeter, and at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.  Clare studied at Cardiff University, and the focus of her PhD was the poetry of John Clare.

Emma Claire Sweeney is Director of the Ruppin Agency Writers’ Studio – a nationwide literary mentorship scheme, and she co-founded City University’s Novel Studio. Emma was named as both an Amazon Rising Star and a Hive Rising Writer for her debut novel,  Owl Song at Dawn  (Legend, 2016). Inspired by Emma's sister who has cerebral palsy and autism, it went on to win Nudge Literary Book of the Year.  Stemming from Something Rhymed , the website on female literary friendship that Emma runs with her own friend Emily Midorikawa, Emma and Emily co-wrote their debut non-fiction book,  A Secret Sisterhood: The hidden friendships of Austen, Brontë, Eliot and Woolf  (Aurum, 2017). In her foreword, Margaret Atwood described the work as a great ‘service to literary history’ and  The Financial Times  called it ‘an , exceptional act of literary espionage’. Emma has won Society of Authors, Arts Council and Royal Literary Fund awards, and has written for the likes of  The Paris Review, TIME , and  The Washington Post .

Hannah Vincent was a consultant member of the Creative Writing MA module team for Part 2 and has written chapters on Script for the MA. Hannah is a novelist and playwright. Her first play for radio, Come to Grief won the 2015 BBC Award for Best Adaptation and was adapted from a play she wrote while writer-in-residence at the Royal National Theatre Studio. As a television script editor for the BBC she worked on original dramas including Close Relations by Deborah Moggach and Babyfather by Avril Russell, as well as classic adaptations such as Tony Marchant’s Crime and Punishment and Great Expectations . She studied Drama and English at the University of East Anglia, completed her MA in Creative Writing at Kingston University and is currently researching autobiographic practice as part of a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Sussex where she is Royal Literary Fund Fellow. Hannah’s first novel, Alarm Girl , was published in 2014 by Myriad and her second, The Weaning is forthcoming from Salt in 2018.

Jane Yeh is a poet and journalist. Her first collection of poems, Marabou (Carcanet, 2005), was shortlisted for the Whitbread, Forward, and Aldeburgh poetry prizes. Her next collection, The Ninjas , was published by Carcanet in 2012. She was a judge for the 2013 National Poetry Competition and was named a Next Generation poet by the Poetry Book Society in 2014. Her poems have appeared in The Guardian , The Independent on Sunday , The Nation (US), Poetry Review , and other journals, as well as in anthologies including The Best British Poetry 2012 and The Forward Book of Poetry 2013 and 2006 . Jane was educated at Harvard University and holds master’s degrees in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa and Manchester Metropolitan University. Before coming to the Open University, she was a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Kingston and Oxford Brookes universities, and was Co-Director of the MA in Creative Writing Programme at the latter. As a journalist, she writes on books, theatre, fashion, and sport for such publications as The Times Literary Supplement , Time Out , and The Village Voice (US).

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Creative Writing Degrees

The Open University honours degrees in which you can study creative writing includes English Literature and Creative Writing, and the Arts and Humanities (Creative Writing) degree where creative writing will be your specialism in a broader study of the arts and humanities.  

Honours Degrees (9)

• BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (Creative Writing)
• BA (Honours) English Literature and Creative Writing
• BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities
• BA (Honours) English Language and Literature
• BA (Honours) English Literature
• BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (English Language)
• BA (Honours) English Language
• BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (English Literature)
• BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree

Other Creative Writing courses

• Creative Writing Diplomas
• Creative Writing Certificates

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MA Creative Writing

Elevate your skills as a writer, course details.

online and part-time

Start dates

January, May and September

Next welcome week

27 May 2024

Next course start date

3 June 2024

Application deadline

17 May 2024

Total course fee

Want to learn more about this course?

Join our virtual Q&A: Exploring Environmental Narratives through Creative Writing & Photography. Book your place to attend on 16 April at 17.30 GMT.

Course overview

Develop an array of transferable skills on our MA Creative Writing course. Throughout your studies, we’ll encourage you to reflect on your own practice, explore the fundamental duty of the writer, and guide you in honing your creative identity.  

Unlike other courses, we place a special emphasis on the ethical and environmental aspects of creative writing. You’ll develop the unique ability to combine the art of storytelling with a deep commitment to environmental consciousness. As a graduate, you’ll stand out because you can harness your discipline to respond to the climate crisis and drive positive change in the world.  

By looking at a vast spectrum of literary genres and theoretical approaches, you’ll cultivate a holistic understanding of your craft. Coupled with a broad range of real-world insights into the contemporary publishing industry, you’ll be set to succeed as a published professional writer.   

Our course modules also highlight the importance of collaboration and constructive feedback in bringing creative ideas to life. On top of this, you’ll have unique opportunities to get involved with industry-specific events like the Writing the Earth symposium.   

As a graduate of Arts University Bournemouth, you’ll join a vibrant, thriving community with environmental ethics at its core. Armed with industry-ready skills and a global network, the opportunities you’ll have are boundless.  

Course modules

Our academics have designed this course to explore every facet of your craft. the breadth of theoretical and practical knowledge you acquire will help you position yourself in today’s literary publishing scene. through the common thread of a reflective journal, you’ll also document your own transformative journey., the writer as researcher (15 credits).

In this introductory module, we’ll orient you with f oundational knowledge and appropriate research methods . You ’ ll be challenged to reframe your practice , charting your journey as a writer- researcher and proposing a research paper at a student-led Research Symposium . This starting point will give you a clear focus for the rest of the programme .  

The Craft of the Writer (15 credits)

Together, we’ll deep-dive into all the practical elements of the writer’s craft – from notebook use and idea generation to drafting and exchanging feedback . You’ll also interrogate the concepts surrounding the lore of the writer – fro m ‘inspiration’ to ‘writer’s block ’. This will encourage you to break down your methodology and reflect on it intensively .  

The Writer in the World (15 credits)

In this module we’ll take a wider view, looking at where the writer fits into the culture and societ y around them. This will involve considering their ethics, culture , activism, and public image . Y ou ’ll then develop a public-facing platform which articulates your emergent identity as a writer.  

Im/Possible Worlds (15 credits)

T ogether, we’ll explore a range of imaginative genres across the full spectrum, from the grittily realistic to the wildly fantastic (e.g., science fiction, weird, speculative, solarpunk ) . You’ll explore how these often-subversive stories challenge geo political le adersh ip and cultural norms, creating a space for intellectual growth and inclusive representation. With a profound understanding of these stories , you'll develop your own prose narrative sample .  

Writing in the Anthropocene (15 credits)

The Anthropocene is the current geological age, where human activity predominantly impact s the climate and environment. I n this module, we’ll explore how the climate crisis and the UN’s sustainability goals can be woven into your literary vision. Together with your cohort, you’ll look at both classic and contemporary works to see how they engage with these pressing issues.  

Publishing in the 21st Century (15 credits)

Through current trends, emergent forms, and new opportunities, we’ll examine what distinguishes a 21 st Century publication from literature that precedes it. With input from a variety of industry professionals – including agents, editors, publishers, book designers, and booksellers – you’ll learn about print and publishing culture from a multi-faceted perspective .  

Advanced Poetics (15 credits)

In this module, we’ll explore the power of linguistic nuance, individual word choices, and layout choices . Through the lens of current trends, emergent forms, and both classical and contemporary poe ts , you’ll develop a deep understanding of the current poetry scene. We’ll also help you cultivate your communication skills in online open mics, sharing your poetry and critical feedback with fellow students.  

Transmedia Storytelling (15 credits)

With a focus on script-writing and emerging technologies, we’ll encourage you to think far b eyond traditional literary formats . We’ll consider screenplays, podcasts, audio drama, graphic novels, interactive fiction and role-playing games, to name just a few. You’ll also hear avant-garde perspectives from guest speakers at the forefront of contemporary practice.  

The Proposal (15 credits)

We’ll support you in developing a professional proposal for what will be not only your Major Project , but also a real-world industry submission. You’ll research available markets and emergent publishing trends to identify a focus. By the end of this module, you’ll be capable of confidently pitching substantial creative ideas – an essential skill for flourishing in your future career .  

Major Project (45 credits)

This module is the culmination of all the rigorous self-reflection, skills, and knowledge you've acquired throughout the course. You’ll produce a final written piece in a format of your choice (e.g., novel extract, short fiction, poetry, audio drama, stage script), accompanied by a critical reflective essay.  

Your Course Leader

Dr Kevan Manwaring's research focuses on the ecological imaginary in fantasy and other creative forms. An academic consultant for BBC 4’s The Secret Life of Books, and a contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking, he has much experience as a spoken word performer, panellist, and guest speaker. He blogs as the Bardic Academic .  

"Dedicated writing time, quality professional guidance, and a constructively critical, supportive environment are some of the most valuable things a writer can give themselves."

Dr Kevan Manwaring | Course Leader, MA Creative Writing

Entry requirements

We encourage applications from students with a broad range of qualifications and we welcome students from all educational backgrounds. We’ll take into account the knowledge and skills that you have developed outside the classroom, as well as your previous qualifications.

There are two different routes to entry: the  standard   and  non-standard   routes. Admissions staff will assess entries to determine which route is appropriate for you when you apply.

Students accepted on the standard route are given offers based on qualifications and supporting documentation alone. If you do not have a qualification at the designated level or in a subject not directly related to the course to which you are applying, you’ll be contacted to request a portfolio , and/or given an interview date.

You'll usually have BA (Hons) Degree graded at 2.2 or above, or an equivalent UK or international qualification in creative writing or the following related subjects: english literature, english language, screenwriting, journalism, writing for games, business writing, or any humanities subject.

As an overseas applicant, you’ll need to validate your proficiency in English. We accept a range of English language qualifications: 

• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) grade C
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) grade C
• Certificate of Attainment in English (London Board) level 5 or 6
• IELTS score of 6.0 or above with at least 5.5 in each band
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 or above with 19 in speaking, and 18 in listening, reading and writing
• Pearson PTE score of 64 and over, with a score of 59 in each component

IELTS, Pearson, and TOEFL scores must be less than two years old at the time the course commences to be valid. 

If you don’t have the standard academic qualifications, you could still be considered for entry if there’s sufficient evidence to indicate that you can fulfil the objectives of the course of study and achieve the standard of the final award. An example of this would be to showcase a portfolio of work as requested by the admissions team.

We also welcome applications from anyone with other qualifications or work experience that demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills to study at postgraduate level.

Fees and funding

The fees that you pay AUB help provide the necessary services and training for you to complete your course. There are a number of different ways that you can pay for your tuition.

How to apply

Head to our online application form to apply directly to us. We encourage applications from students with a broad range of qualifications – we'll take into account the knowledge and skills that you've developed outside the classroom as well.

Meet your Industry Patron

Michelle Zeitlin

MA Creative Writing Industry Patron

We’re delighted to welcome Michelle as the patron of our course and have her help our students reach their full potential. Michelle's role involves:

• Being actively involved in ensuring that the programme is grounded in industry practice and sets students up for success
• Acting as a vital connection between the industry itself and the course
• Holding exclusive talks for students
• Helping students put their work on the map and contextualising projects

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Careers and opportunities in Creative Writing

The versatile, distinctive skillset you acquire on this course will open up a wide variety of options for your future – in terms of both employment and further academic study. Projects such as the anthology submission will be viable for industry publishing, and through your final project, you’ll already have first-hand experience delivering an outstanding pitch.  

You’ll also benefit from guidance as part of the AUB Course Industry Patron scheme: a formal connection with a creative writing practitioner who offers unique collaborative opportunities and close relations within the industry. 

The project management, collaboration, market analysis and critical thinking skills you develop will increase your chances of employability as a writing professional – whether your goal is to be a freelance writer, in-house author, or publisher. On top of this, you’ll develop core soft skills surrounding resilience and flexibility that are highly sought-after in today’s fast-changing global economy.

Here are just a few of the options you could pursue as an MA Creative Writing graduate: 

You could also pursue opportunities in research, lecturing, lexicography, and communications.

Join us in May 2024

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Start writing fiction

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and setting s. You will also be able to look at the different genre s for fiction.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• identify strengths and weaknesses as a writer of fiction
• demonstrate a general awareness of fiction writing
• discuss fiction using basic vocabulary.

First Published: 09/08/2012

Updated: 14/05/2018

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Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing

Master of fine arts in creative writing and poetics (low-residency).

Our low-residency MFA provides the structure, support, and professional development you need to take your writing to the next level .

Program Overview

Naropa’s Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is designed for writers ready to hone their craft and earn their Master of Fine Arts degree through rigorous, cross-genre study. Students who can’t relocate to our Colorado Campus can acquire a quality asynchronous education with in-person residencies.

Whether you have a novel in progress, are preparing for a PhD program, or looking to strengthen your prose, poetry, and hybrid writing, our low-residency creative writing MFA program provides you with resources, accountability, and inspiration that fit your schedules.

Naropa takes traditional low-residency MFA programs a step further with our history of experimental and innovative writing, critical study, and cross-genre publishing. Our unique cross-genre online writing courses, generative residencies, and one-on-one mentorship provide students with a writing community, no matter where they live.

Cross-Genre Curriculum

Unlike other Creative Writing MFA programs, our low-residency MFA is open-genre. This means that writers can work in fiction, poetry, prose, non-fiction, playwriting, and hybrid forms throughout their degree program. Students experiment with narrative structures and forms that fit their unique voices. Writers develop their unique style, critical ear, and vast knowledge of contemporary trends across literary genres.

One-on-One Mentorship

One-on-one mentorship and small online writing classes help writers develop their style, refine their editing skills, and publish their work. Each writer dedicates their final semester to a thesis manuscript. Working one-on-one with their thesis mentor and workshopping with classmates through written exchange, students finish their MFA with a completed manuscript in the genre of their choice.

Generative Residencies

Every semester, our Low-Residency MFA students gather in Boulder, Colorado, for enriching and energizing residencies. MFA students meet one-on-one with mentors, enjoy master classes with guest writers, attend readings, and bond with writers. Residencies also overlap with our spring and fall symposiums, providing students with a rich 4-days of community and inspiration. Each academic year culminates in a week-long writing intensive at Naropa’s Summer Writing Program. This annual festival brings over 60 artists, writers, and thinkers to Boulder, for workshops, readings, panels, and professional development.

Quick Facts

• Fifteen annual days of residency in Boulder, CO
• Open-genre curriculum
• One-on-one mentorship with accomplished faculty
• Unique Experimental Approach
• Participation in the Summer Writing Program
• Cohort model developing a strong sense of community among MFA students
• Several Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities
• Applications open for August 2024

Program Format

Naropa’s Creative Writing MFA is a rigorous, generative, low-residency two-year program with 4 writing residencies in beautiful Boulder Colorado. The program combines asynchronous craft courses with on-campus residencies. 

Annual fall and spring residencies allow writers to connect with other writers and faculty , deepen their craft, and participate in symposium readings and panels with other MFA students in Boulder, CO. Spring and Fall Residencies run from Saturday through Tuesday during the Spring and Fall JKS Symposiums.

The summer residency immerses writers in a full week of the Jack Kerouac School’s world-renowned Summer Writing Program . Here, students attend workshops, lectures, panels, and readings by numerous visiting writers to hone their craft, make connections, speak on student panels, and prepare for the next step in their writing career.

Course Spotlight

Craft of writing: rooting in the archive.

This course delves into the Naropa University Archive and its rich offerings to explore traditions, movements, and/or schools of writing that inform or extend the aesthetic vision of the Jack Kerouac School toward mindful writing. Possible recent historical examples include New American Poetry, the Beats, San Francisco Renaissance, the New York School, Black Mountain Poetics, the Black Arts Movement, and Language poetry, among others.

Degree Requirements

Unlike many online creative writing MFA programs, our asynchronous classes build community through writer-to-writer feedback and a structured curriculum.

Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing Requirements

26 credits of online asynchronous craft courses.

Students work one-on-one with a mentor, exchanging packets —consisting of letters, bibliographies, contemplative reflections, creative manuscripts, and critical essays—throughout the semester.

• WRI-631E Craft of Writing: Rooting in the Archive(6)WRI-648E Craft of Writing: Contemplative Experiments(6)
• WRI-678E Craft of Writing: Cultures & Communities(4)
• WRI-735E Craft of Writing: Contemporary Trends(6)
• WRI-755E Craft of Writing: Professional Development(4)

6 credits of MFA Thesis

6 credits of MFA Thesis (faculty mentorship on a book-length creative manuscript)

4 credits of the Summer Writing Program

Two eight-day summer residencies are completed at Naropa’s Boulder campus. Choose two of the following:

• WRI-751 Summer Writing Program(2)
• WRI-752 Week Two Summer Writing Program(2)
• WRI-753 Summer Writing Program(2)

4 credits of fall and spring residencies in Boulder, CO.

• WRI-789WE Fall Residency(1)
• WRI-791WE Spring Residency(1)

Why Choose Naropa?

Strong writing tradition.

Founded in 1974 by Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman, the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics encourages experimental forms across genres , pushing for innovation inside and outside the classroom.

Career Readiness

Whether a student plans to teach, write, edit, or work in publishing, our low-residency program provides the framework they need to develop their professional skills alongside a vibrant and supportive writing community.

In-house Publishing

The Kerouac School’s student-run Bombay Gin literary journal publishes work from promising students and distributes it nationally through Small Press Distribution. Students interested in fine-craft letterpress printing can learn at Naropa’s Harry Smith Print Shop and Kavyayantra Press.

How this Program Prepares You

Professional dossier.

Graduates from our low-residency Creative Writing MFA emerge from the program with a solid record of written work . The pieces that make up their dossier are workshopped with peers and perfectioned with guidance from their tutor.

Critical Analysis

You’ll emerge from the program with critical analysis skills that go beyond reading between the lines of a written work. The program will teach you to recognize the role of intersectionality in the literary arts, looking at the wider spectrum that surrounds a piece, and identifying bias, assumptions and stereotypes.

Unleashing creativity

Our workshops, classes and Summer Writing Program encourage students to harness their creativity by exploring experimental forms . Low-residency students receive on-on one mentoring to help them develop their creative writing skills to the fullest, as well as feedback from their writing community, be it online or during their residency.

What You'll Learn

Highly developed writing craft.

Hone your voice in every step of the writing process.

Skill in Critical Analysis

Learn to discuss literary works through a variety of critical lenses.

Contemplative Writing Practice:

Use your writing practice as a tool for self-inquiry and discovery.

Social and Cultural Awareness

Recognize the role of race, class, and gender in literary history and works.

Career Preparedness

Graduate with a publishable manuscript and/or professional dossier.

Career Opportunities with a Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing

• Lyricist: write words for songs, matching melody and rhyme.
• Poet: use language to creatively express emotion, ideas and experiences.
• Proofreader: check written work for errors and inconsistencies.
• English Teacher: teach at the postsecondary level.
• Author: craft and publish original material.
• Editor: review and improve written work for publication.

Hear from a Graduate

Jackie henrion, faqs about the low-residency mfa in creative writing, what is a low residency mfa in creative writing, why choose a low residency mfa creative writing program, how long does it take to complete a low residency mfa in creative writing, how is naropa’s low residency mfa in creative writing different from other programs, what types of funding are available.

Funding includes the Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Anselm Hollo Graduate Fellowships.

The fellowships are awarded annually to three incoming MFA Creative Writing and Poetics students (residency program). Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Anselm Hollo fellowship recipients will receive full funding (tuition and fees), plus an additional $5,000 scholarship as well as a $4,500 stipend. Fellowship recipients may not simultaneously hold a Graduate Assistantship.

Additionally, partial funding is provided for students who have applied for and been offered graduate assistantships with the Naropa Writing Center.

Visit our Graduate Scholarship page to read more about funding, fellowships and scholarships for the Low-Residency Creative Writing & Poetics MFA and other degrees.

Learn More About the Program

Connect with your counselor

Olivia phipps.

Graduate Admissions Counselor

• [email protected]
• Schedule an Appointment
• Attend An Info Session

Ready to Apply?

Admission requirements.

Naropa University values both academic excellence and critical self-reflection . Our application process not only evaluates academic performance but also candidates’ openness and willingness to engage in contemplation.

Learn more about admission requirements and the application process for our Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA.

Graduate Students

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply to Naropa. When applying, candidates must submit a transcript of their undergraduate coursework, a statement of interest, a resume, two letters of interest and a creative writing sample. They may also apply for financial aid at this stage. Discover all admission requirements.

International Students

If you obtained your undergraduate diploma from a non-US university, we require additional documentation to review your application. Learn how to apply to Naropa as an international student.

Costs and Financial Aid

Naropa University students have access to several financial aid opportunities and scholarships – over 75% of our graduate students receive some sort of financial support to pursue their studies. Use our calculator to estimate your tuition, housing, materials and other costs.

Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities

Interested in our Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA?

Read our blog or listen to our podcast, heartfire festival returns to naropa university, episode 92. andrew schelling: writing as a spiritual practice, womxn of naropa celebrates national poetry month, summer writing program from the archives, together in spirit, student support and resources, academic support, online student support, career services, financial aid, accessibility, related programs, mfa in creative writing, ba in creative writing and literature, request information, plan a visit, about naropa, events & community, user information, support naropa.

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Naropa campuses closed on friday, march 15, 2024.

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.

2024 Creative Nonfiction (Up to 2,500 Words)

The Bacopa Literary Review is looking to publish true stories, written beautifully, and based on the author’s  experiences, perceptions, and reflections in the form of personal memoir  or literary essay (for example, nature, travel, medical, spiritual,  food writing).

Guidelines:

• You must be 18 years old or older.
• Only one submission to Creative Nonfiction, and do not submit to another genre unless this submission has been declined. Your uploaded file must contain only the title and work itself, not the author's name.
• One piece, limit 2500 words
• Double spaced, Arial 12-point typeface preferred 
• Submit the file in .doc .docx or .rtf  only
• Bacopa Literary Review does not accept previously published material

The submission process includes a text entry box titled "COVER LETTER,"  where you provide the following information:

• Name, address, email, phone, title, word count and bio of 50 words or fewe r. This is the only place where your name appears.
• Where did you hear about Bacopa Literary Review ?

Stephanie Seguin

Creative Nonfiction Editor