How to Apply

General Information

Applications must be submitted via our online admissions system; materials sent by postal mail will not be considered. Go directly to the online application here.

The Boston University Creative Writing Program accepts applications for admission for the fall semester in any given calendar year. Our next deadline, for Fall 2025 admission, is January 9, 2025. We do not consider late applications. We do our best to respond to all applicants by the end of March or beginning of April.

The application fee is $95. You may apply for an application fee waiver here: http://www.bu.edu/cas/admissions/phd-mfa/apply/fee-waiver/

Playwriting

Please note that the MFA in Playwriting is separate from the Creative Writing Program in Fiction and Poetry. Playwriting is now a three-year program housed at the Boston Playwrights’ Theater, still a part of the BU English Department. For information on the program and its admissions, please visit the Playwriting MFA website.

Your Application

The application for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing will include the following:

A writing sample. For poetry, submit 10 poems; for fiction: submit no more than 40 double-spaced pages (stories are preferred)
A personal statement, roughly 2 pages in length, double-spaced
Two to three letters of recommendation. Recommenders must upload letters online. We do not accept letters submitted via Interfolio.
An updated CV.
Transcripts from any college or university you have previously attended (even if no degree was earned).
Optional: examination scores from the GRE General Test. Our GRE code is 3087.

Important Information for Those Re-Applying to the MFA Program:

If you are re-applying for Boston University’s MFA in Creative Writing, you may no longer re-use application materials (transcripts, test-scores, letters of recommendation, etc.) from your previous attempt. You will need to re-apply completely using our new application system, which can be found here.

For International Applicants:

You must supply additional paperwork, and in some cases, scores from the TOEFL exam. Please consult with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and note that we are unable to waive the English proficiency requirement.