Creative writers are among the most versatile professionals across time. While not always lucrative, a career in creative writing can be rewarding for passionate artists.
Generally speaking, a university’s Creative Writing program may be evaluated through factors such as the strength of its faculty, alumni outcomes, workshop opportunities, curriculum, and access to literary communities. Some universities also offer seminars, workshops, residencies, and summer programs in cities recognized for their literary culture.
To gain a professional advantage, aspiring writers often look for universities that provide strong programs in Creative Writing. In the article below, we talk about some of the best creative writing schools in the world.
Top Creative Writing Schools in the World
1. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a culturally diverse institution made up of 31 Colleges and six Schools, with more than 20,000 students. It is over eight centuries old and has built a solid reputation among universities worldwide.
Recognized as a leading institution for creative writing, the University of Cambridge’s Master of Studies (MSt) in Creative Writing is taught part-time over two years in a hybrid format. It is designed so students can balance their studies with other responsibilities. Graduates may use the program to develop professional writing skills or continue to doctoral study in creative writing.
Through the program, students can choose one of four pathways: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or multidisciplinary writing. The course includes intensive residential teaching, genre-specific modules, writing workshops, supervision, and a final creative dissertation.
2. Columbia University
Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King’s College. It is the oldest higher education institution in New York and one of the oldest in the United States. Columbia offers a wide range of nationally and globally recognized programs.
The School of the Arts at Columbia University offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing. The major requires a minimum of 36 points: five workshops, four seminars, and three related courses. Students may select either a Single-Genre Major or a Cross-Genre Major, the latter allowing them to combine two genres.
Graduates may pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing. Columbia University’s MFA degree requires 60 points, including workshops, a thesis workshop, graduate writing seminars, lectures, master classes, and additional coursework.
3. Princeton University
Princeton University is another one of the world’s best-known creative writing schools. Chartered in 1746, it is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. It also ranks among the top academic institutions in the country and attracts outstanding students from around the world.
The university’s Program in Creative Writing, under the Lewis Center for the Arts, offers undergraduate students the opportunity to develop original work under the guidance of respected practicing writers. Students can participate in workshop courses in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and other forms, and Princeton offers a minor in Creative Writing for undergraduates.
4. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 as the first research university in the United States. It is home to academic divisions that work together across teaching, research, and public service.
The university offers an undergraduate program in Writing Seminars, where students take courses in fiction and poetry writing, seminars on the history and technique of prose and poetry, and literature courses focused on close reading.
The Master of Fine Arts program at Johns Hopkins University is highly selective and lasts two years. MFA students concentrate in either fiction or poetry, and all students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a teaching fellowship, which is listed at $42,140 beginning in AY 2026–27.
5. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a research university founded in 1890. Over the years, it has been affiliated with more than 100 Nobel laureates and remains one of the leading universities in the United States.
The Creative Writing major at the University of Chicago offers in-depth training in a student’s chosen literary genre, such as fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. The standard track requires 11 courses, while the intensive track requires 14 courses, literary community participation, and a creative thesis or major project. Students take creative writing workshops, technical seminars, literature courses, and courses that support the development of an original body of work.
6. New York University
New York University (NYU) was founded in 1831 and has long been known for its role in arts, culture, and innovation. New York City is home to many accomplished novelists, poets, and creative nonfiction writers, making NYU an attractive destination for creative writing students.
NYU offers undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts programs in Creative Writing. Undergraduate students may participate in intensive summer writing programs in Florence, New York, or Paris. They may also join writing competitions in the department and take advantage of internship opportunities.
Meanwhile, the MFA program provides a vibrant environment for students to learn from experienced instructors and participate in outreach programs, reading series, seminars, and more.
7. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is another excellent creative writing school that thrives on innovative education techniques and technology. It opened in 1740, and its long history has helped shape the university’s culture of innovation.
Penn LPS Online offers a Certificate in Creative Writing. The certificate is a four-course, four-course-unit program taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty. Students may choose from courses such as The Craft of Creative Writing, Poetry Workshop, Screenwriting, Advanced Nonfiction, Journalism Workshop, Writing About Place, and other approved creative writing courses.
Penn also offers a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with a concentration in Creative Studies. Students in this concentration engage with creative writing and other creative arts, and those who complete the requirements may also be able to earn the Certificate in Creative Writing with academic planning.
8. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a world-famous institution and one of the most selective universities in the world. Due to this strict admissions environment, it is home to many outstanding students from the United Kingdom and abroad. Oxford was also central to the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Oxford offers a Master of Studies (MSt) degree to students who wish to pursue Creative Writing. It is a two-year, part-time master’s degree with a cross-cultural and cross-genre approach. The first year focuses across genres, including prose fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and writing for stage and screen. In the second year, students specialize in an option area such as the novel, short fiction, radio drama, TV drama, screenwriting, stage drama, poetry, or narrative nonfiction.
Find Out: Oxford University Admission Process and Tips
9. Ohio State University
Ohio State University (OSU) is a major public research university in the United States. Motivated by its ambition to transform the lives of its students, this university aspires to nurture student growth and prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities.
The Department of English at OSU grants a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing as part of its graduate program. The program allows students to develop their talents, realize their potential, and stay in touch with their creative side. All admitted students are fully funded for the three-year MFA program, and graduate teaching associateships include a stipend of at least $22,000 for the nine-month academic year, a tuition waiver, and subsidized student health insurance premiums.
10. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university and one of Canada’s major teaching and research institutions. Established in 1908, UBC is consistently recognized among Canada’s leading universities and attracts students and scholars from around the world.
The Faculty of Arts at UBC offers a Creative Writing Program with on-campus and distance MFA options. UBC describes the program as Canada’s first writing program and one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive. Students are required to work in multiple genres during the degree, and the program focuses on the practice of writing rather than only the study of literature.
We hope that you found this article on the best creative writing schools in the world informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
