Overview

The Creative Writing programme at Western Kentucky University offers an immersive environment for students dedicated to mastering the craft of contemporary letters. This Master of Fine Arts prepares graduates for professional vocations as novelists, poets, scriptwriters, and editors within the global literary landscape.

Students benefit from a curriculum that balances intensive creative production with academic rigour. The three-year residential structure allows for deep engagement with faculty and peers, fostering a collaborative community of writers. This duration ensures ample time for the development of a substantial, publishable body of work.

A distinctive feature of the programme is the requirement for a secondary concentration.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 17907 per year
National fee: USD 16506 per year
Local fee: USD 10926 per year

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

Syllabus

The curriculum is structured around core workshops and specialised electives. Modules may include:

Creative Writing Studies
Rhetoric and Writing
Reading as a Writer
Composition
Editing and Publishing
Composition Theory and Practice in Writing Instruction
Theories of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing
Writing and Technology
Special Topics in English
Directed Study

Careers with Creative Writing

Graduates are prepared for diverse roles within the creative and academic sectors. Many pursue careers as published authors of novels, short fiction, and poetry, or find success as professional scriptwriters for stage and screen. The programme also equips students for essential roles in literary editing and the wider publishing industry.

The inclusion of secondary concentrations opens further pathways into secondary and higher education. Graduates often secure positions teaching English, composition, or English as a second language. The combination of creative mastery and technical expertise ensures that alumni are competitive in various communication-based industries.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Graduate Rhetoric and Writing
Reading as a Writer
Graduate Writing Workshop
Writing Memoir and Autobiography
Advanced Poetry Writing
Advanced Fiction Workshop

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-19 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.
Starting 2027-01-16 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

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

Credits

48 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Bowling Green, United States

Disciplines

Creative Writing View 385 other Masters in Creative Writing in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

153 _(verbal)

4 _(analytical)

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

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

Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
Minimum GRE Analytical Writing score of 4.0 and minimum GRE Verbal score of 153
Minimum GAP score of 453 [GAP = GRE-V + (undergraduate GPA x 100)]
Completion of four undergraduate English courses beyond general education requirements with a GPA of at least 3.0; two of the courses should be upper-level English courses. Undergraduate creative writing courses are highly recommended
Submission of writing sample

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

17907 USD / year

≈ 17907 USD / year
Out-of-State

16506 USD / year

≈ 16506 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

10926 USD / year

≈ 10926 USD / year

Living costs

Bowling Green

United States

900 - 1400 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.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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

Living costs

Bowling Green

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners