Applying to U.S. Creative Writing Programs as an International Student

U.S. creative writing programs admit international students on the same basis as everyone else — the writing sample comes first — but international applicants have extra steps on both sides of admission: proving English proficiency, getting credentials evaluated, finding funding they are eligible for and, after admission, obtaining the documents needed for a student visa. This guide covers each step using official federal and test-maker sources and examples from program pages. Requirements differ by school and change between cycles, and immigration rules change too, so confirm every detail with the program, the graduate school's international office and the official government sources listed below.

English proficiency: who has to show it

Programs define the requirement differently, and the definition decides whether it applies to you:

• By native language and where you studied. Arizona State requires proof from applicants whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a U.S. college or university, regardless of where they live now.
• By language of instruction. UC Riverside's campus MFA asks for TOEFL or IELTS scores if your degree is not from a university where English is the primary language of instruction.
• From everyone. The University of Houston's Graduate School requires proof of English proficiency from all applicants, regardless of citizenship.

If you studied in English, look for the waiver language before booking a test, and ask the graduate school if your situation is not clearly covered.

Test scores and the new TOEFL scale

Minimum scores are set by each institution, not by the test maker: ETS states that the TOEFL program sets no passing or failing scores. Programs in our research show how much the minimums vary:

• Ohio State: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS Academic 7.0 or Duolingo 120.
• University of Michigan: TOEFL 106 (internet-based) or IELTS Academic 6.5 overall.
• University of Pittsburgh: TOEFL 90 with at least 22 in each section, or IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each section (the page states the minimum for 2024–2025 applicants, so confirm the current figure).
• Texas State: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no module below 6.0, among other accepted tests.

The TOEFL iBT changed its score scale. As of January 21, 2026, ETS reports section and overall scores on a 1–6 scale in half-point steps, aligned with the CEFR. For a two-year transition period, score reports also include a comparable score on the old 0–120 scale. ETS notes that institutions are updating their requirements at different times, so you will still see 0–120 minimums. Some programs already print both: the University of Washington, for example, gives a speaking threshold of 5, or 26 for tests taken before January 21, 2026. ETS says TOEFL scores are valid for two years.

For IELTS, choose IELTS Academic, which IELTS designates for undergraduate and postgraduate study; it has four sections (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Teaching can require a higher speaking score than admission. If you hope to hold a teaching assistantship, check for a separate threshold. The University of Washington requires a minimum speaking score (TOEFL, IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 140) to teach. Iowa's Nonfiction Writing Program says the equivalent of an iBT speaking score of 26 is required to teach and adds a telephone interview. Iowa State asks nonnative speakers for an audio or video file demonstrating spoken English.

Transcripts and application fees

Expect to send transcripts through a different route or with an evaluation. Southern Maine's Stonecoast MFA requires international transcripts to be evaluated by a NACES or AICE member service. Application fees are often higher for international applicants: the Iowa Writers' Workshop lists $60, or $100 for international applicants, and the University of Oregon $70 domestic and $90 international. Budget for score reports too — ETS includes up to four free reports if you add recipients by 10 p.m. on test day and charges US$25 for each additional report.

Funding: what international students can and cannot receive

Federal student aid is not available on a student visa. Federal Student Aid lists F-1, F-2 and M-1 student visa holders, and J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors, among those who are not eligible noncitizens. Study in the States likewise notes that international students are not eligible for U.S. government-funded financial aid.

Program funding often is available, but not everywhere on equal terms. Some programs state that international students receive the same support: Cornell's guaranteed two years of funding (stipend, full tuition fellowship and health insurance) applies to international and domestic students, and the University of Virginia says its funding for international students is the same as for U.S. citizens. Others differ: UC Riverside says international students receive the base package but are not eligible for certain Graduate Division add-ons, and UC Irvine describes very limited support for international students, with full support rarely possible. Read each program's funding page for international-specific language — see fully funded MFA programs and understanding full funding.

After admission: the Form I-20 and the student visa

Study in the States (run by the Department of Homeland Security) describes the sequence for F-1 students:

1. Financial evidence. Before issuing a Form I-20, the school's designated school official (DSO) must collect evidence that you or a sponsor can cover tuition and living expenses. Programs may state their own expectations — Syracuse says applicants who need an I-20 must show funding for at least the first year.
2. Form I-20. You receive it from the DSO at an SEVP-certified school; you and the DSO both sign it.
3. I-901 SEVIS fee. You pay it before the Department of State issues a visa, using the school code from your I-20, and bring proof of payment to your visa interview.
4. Visa interview and entry. You are expected to have your original I-20 at the interview, and you may enter the United States no more than 30 days before the program start date on the I-20.

Once enrolled, you must maintain a full course of study, and you may work only with the authorization required for your situation; ask your DSO how teaching or research assistantships are handled. Study in the States has also announced an August 2026 SEVP webinar on a final rule establishing a fixed time period of admission and an extension-of-stay procedure for F students; confirm the current rules on your period of stay with your DSO.

Low-residency and fully online programs

Delivery format matters for immigration purposes. Under the full-course-of-study rules on Study in the States, only one class or three credits per term taken online or through distance learning can count toward an F-1 student's full course of study. Enrolling in a fully online MFA therefore does not by itself meet the F-1 full-course requirement; if you plan to study online from outside the United States, ask the program about its own requirements for international students. They can differ from campus programs — UTEP's online MFA FAQ, for instance, says neither the GRE nor the TOEFL is necessary to apply.

Low-residency programs vary. Bennington states that international students receive a new I-20 for each session and need a visa for each of the five residency sessions. UC Riverside's Palm Desert low-residency MFA states it does not accept international students at this time. If you are considering a low-residency program, ask the international office how residencies are documented and what travel to each one requires.

A complete international application usually takes longer than a domestic one. Start test registration and credential evaluation early, read each program's international-applicant section in full, and keep copies of every document you submit.