Johns Hopkins University · The Writing Seminars
MFA in Fiction / MFA in Poetry (The Writing Seminars)
Overview
A two-year residential MFA in fiction or poetry with a workshop and a readings course each semester, a pedagogy course, a first-year portfolio and a second-year thesis. All students receive full tuition, health insurance and a teaching fellowship ($42,140 for 2026-27).
- Official program name
- MFA in Fiction / MFA in Poetry (The Writing Seminars)
- Awarded degree
- Master of Fine Arts in Fiction or Master of Fine Arts in PoetrySource: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- School
- Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
- Delivery / residency
- Campus-basedClasses and workshops meet in person on campus throughout the program.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Study intensity
- Not verified
- Duration
- Two yearsSource: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Required credits
- Not verified
- Teaching language
- English (not separately stated)
Why this degree is listed
The Writing Seminars offers a Master of Fine Arts in fiction and poetry; applicants apply for either the MFA in Fiction or the MFA in Poetry. Recorded as one record with two genres because the pages describe one program with genre-specific applications.
Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
Curriculum, genres and faculty
Genres
Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026Workshops
- Two courses per semester: a workshop in poetry or fiction and a readings in literature course.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Teaching opportunities
- First-semester pedagogy course, then teaching undergraduate fiction and poetry from the spring of the first year.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Thesis / dissertation
- First-year portfolio and second-year thesis: novella, novel excerpt or fiction collection, or a collection of poetry.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Other
- Foreign language proficiency at intermediate level shown by exam, translation test or a year of study.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Graduates may apply for one-year junior lectureships teaching three creative writing courses per semester.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Faculty listed by the program
- James Arthur — poetry
- Dora Malech — poetry
- Andrew Motion — poetry
- Lauren Russell — poetry
- Bruce Snider — poetry
- David Yezzi — poetry
- Susan Choi — fiction
- Danielle Evans — fiction
- Katharine Noel — fiction
- Eric Puchner — fiction
- Lysley Tenorio — fiction
As listed on the program's official page on October 9, 2026. Listing does not mean a faculty member is teaching or supervising new students in a given year.
Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026Admissions
- Statement of purpose
- Required1-2 page statement including a brief self-critique of the writing sample.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required3 letters — Three letters from former teachers or editors; at least one addressing the applicant's writing.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Application fee
- Required$75 — $75 application fee.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Transcripts
- RequiredTranscripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Writing portfolio
| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Poetry | up to 25 pages | 10 poems, not to exceed 25 double-spaced pages.Formatting: double-spacedSource: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Fiction | up to 25 pages | Up to three short stories or a self-contained novel section, 25 double-spaced pages maximum.Formatting: double-spacedSource: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
Tests
- TOEFL iBT
- RequiredTOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose native language is not EnglishSource: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.
Deadlines
- Year not printed
Application deadline
December 1
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Tuition and fees
Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
Funding
Fully funded (all admitted)Policy year: 2026-2027
- Funding guarantee
- All students receive full tuition, health insurance and a teaching fellowship of $42,140 (AY 2026-27).Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Assistantship duties
- Students teach undergraduate fiction and poetry from the spring of the first year.Source: writingseminars.jhu.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Sources and verification
- writingseminars.jhu.edu/graduate/ — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- writingseminars.jhu.edu/graduate/admissions/ — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- writingseminars.jhu.edu/graduate/requirements/ — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
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Creative Writing Programs is independent and not affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.