Overview

The Creative Writing programme at The University of Montana provides a rigorous environment for writers to refine their craft under the guidance of distinguished faculty. Students engage in a curriculum that balances creative workshops with academic study to prepare for professional careers in literature and education.

This long-standing Master of Fine Arts degree is built upon a tradition of excellence spanning over five decades. Participants benefit from a supportive atmosphere where they can focus on producing a high-quality thesis manuscript while gaining practical experience in teaching, editing, and publishing.

The department fosters a deep sense of community that extends beyond the classroom.

Why Creative Writing at The University of Montana?

The institution boasts a rich literary history, having been established by the renowned poet Richard Hugo. It is recognised for its diverse faculty and a strong track record of alumni success, including multiple Pulitzer Prize winners and numerous authors published by reputable houses.

Students have the unique opportunity to gain editorial experience by working on CutBank, a highly regarded literary journal. This hands-on involvement allows writers to engage with the contemporary publishing landscape while developing professional skills in prose, poetry, and critical art review.

The university also hosts a regular series of visiting writers, bringing acclaimed poets and novelists to campus for workshops and readings. These interactions provide students with invaluable networking opportunities and exposure to a wide range of stylistic approaches and industry perspectives.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 38750 per year
National fee: USD 38750 per year
Local fee: USD 11158 per year

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

Syllabus

The curriculum is structured to provide a comprehensive foundation in both the practice and theory of writing. Modules may include:

Fiction Workshop
Nonfiction Workshop
Poetry Workshop
Techniques
Literature
Special Topics
Critical Theory
Film
Storytelling
Teaching
Thesis

Careers with Creative Writing

Graduates of this programme are well-prepared for a variety of roles within the literary and academic sectors. Many alumni have secured tenure-track positions at universities across the country, with several advancing to direct their own creative writing departments.

Beyond academia, the course equips students for successful careers as published authors, editors, and professional writers. The programme's focus on teaching preparation also enables graduates to pursue roles in higher education, teaching composition and creative writing at the college level.

The skills developed during the degree are highly transferable to industries such as publishing, journalism, and communications. By the end of the programme, students possess a significant body of work and the professional connections required to navigate the competitive global literary market.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Creative Writing: Fiction

Creative Writing: Poetry

Creative Writing: Nonfiction

Intermediate Fiction Workshop

Advanced Fiction

Special Topics: Screenwriting

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-06 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

45 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Missoula, United States

Disciplines

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

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

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

Copies of unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended. (Official transcripts will be required if you are selected.)

CV or resume with a list of any relevant awards, honors or publications

Goal Statement

Writing sample

Three confidential recommendations

Expository Essay (if applying for Teaching Assistantship)

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

38750 USD / year

≈ 38750 USD / year
Out-of-State

38750 USD / year

≈ 38750 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

11158 USD / year

≈ 11158 USD / year

Living costs

Missoula

United States

1000 - 2071 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.

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

Missoula

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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