How to apply

Interested in joining our succesful grad program? You'll be in good company, as our MFA alumni have won and been nominated for the Governor General's Literary Awards, and frequently publish following graduation.

Admission to the master's program

To apply for admission to the program, an undergraduate degree in any discipline and from any accredited college or university will be necessary. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative B GPA and an undergraduate degree. A portfolio, a statement of purpose, and two letters of reference will be needed.

Portfolio

To apply for the MFA program, please submit a portfolio of writing samples in the genre you wish to study. One of the following will be required:

  • 10-15 pages of poetry
  • 20-30 pages of playwriting, screenwriting, fiction or creative nonfiction

Professional experience and publications will also be taken into account. These should be summarized in one to three pages. Submissions in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction must have a minimum 1.5 line spacing. Submissions in playwriting and screenwriting should follow their industry-standard formats.

Statement of purpose

You also should submit a 400-word statement of purpose, which will include an account of what you hope to accomplish in the graduate program and a rough description of the work you wish to pursue in your major writing project.

Letters of Reference

The Department of Writing and Graduate Admissions require two letters of reference which will include the following:

  • an assessment of the student’s academic standing
  • talent as a writer
  • critical ability
  • capacity for doing self-directed work
  • teaching potential

Letters are submitted electronically as part of your application to Graduate Admissions. More information about letters of reference can be found on the Graduate Admissions website.

Application and guidelines

Prospective students apply directly to Graduate Studies, University of Victoria. Applications and guidelines for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies are here.

Deadline for applications: December 1.