University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Helen Zell Writers' Program, Department of English Language and Literature
Helen Zell Writers' Program (MFA in Creative Writing)
MFAMaster of Fine Arts (creative writing)Fully funded (all admitted)Editorial selection: Best MFA Creative Writing Programs
Overview
A two-year, full-residency MFA in fiction or poetry with workshops each term, a thesis workshop and graduate electives. Accepted students are offered a tuition waiver, a stipend, summer funding and health benefits; up to six graduates may receive a post-MFA fellowship year.
- Official program name
- Helen Zell Writers' Program (MFA in Creative Writing)
- Awarded degree
- Master of Fine Arts (creative writing)Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- School
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Helen Zell Writers' Program, Department of English Language and LiteratureSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Location
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Delivery / residency
- Campus-basedClasses and workshops meet in person on campus throughout the program.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Study intensity
- Full-timeSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Duration
- Two yearsSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Required credits
- 39 total hours of course workSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Teaching language
- English (not separately stated)
- Start
- FallSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Why this degree is listed
Official program text describes a two-year graduate program in creative writing leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree, with concentrations in fiction or poetry.
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
Curriculum, genres and faculty
Genres
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026Workshops
- Six-credit writing workshop each term, 24 credits in total.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Thesis / dissertation
- Thesis of poems, short stories or portions of a novel, directed by two faculty advisors; final-semester thesis workshop.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Teaching opportunities
- Second-year students teach one undergraduate introductory writing course each semester as Graduate Student Instructors.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Other
- First-year students take an MFA exam in their genre in March, based on a reading list.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Internships
- Some first-year students hold an internship or volunteer position with a program partner.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Faculty listed by the program
Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
Admissions
Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
- Prior degree
- RequiredBaccalaureate degree by the time of enrollment; need not be in English.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Statement of purpose
- RequiredAcademic statement of purpose, up to two pages, double spaced.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Personal statement
- RequiredBiographical personal statement, up to two pages, double spaced.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required3 letters — Three letters through CollegeNet.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- CV / résumé
- RequiredCurriculum vitae or resume, no page limit.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Application fee
- Required$75 — $75 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $90 for non-U.S. citizens.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Application fee waiver
- OptionalFee waiver application for Fall 2027, restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Transcripts
- RequiredScanned official transcript for each degree earned or in progress.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Writing portfolio
| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Poetry | 10–15 pages | 10 pages of poetry (maximum 15); each poem on a new page.Formatting: each poem starts on a new pageSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Fiction | 30–40 pages | 30-40 pages of fiction, not to exceed 40 pages.Formatting: double spacedSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
Tests
- GRE General Test
- Not requiredSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- TOEFL iBT
- Required — minimum 106For applicants whose native language is not English, unless exemptSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- IELTS Academic
- Optional — minimum 6.5Academic version accepted as English proficiency evidenceSource: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.
Deadlines
Dates are shown with the admissions cycle the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.
- Upcoming
Application deadline
December 10, 2026 · for Fall 2027 · America/New_York
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026 - Upcoming
Supporting documents
December 20, 2026 · for Fall 2027
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Tuition and fees
Each amount keeps its applicant category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-year and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other.
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| In-state — Graduate, College of Literature, Science & the Arts (Rackham tuition), Michigan resident, 9+ creditsFrom the school's rate table for this level | $15,653 | per term · 2026-2027Source: ro.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Out-of-state — Graduate, College of Literature, Science & the Arts (Rackham tuition), Michigan non-resident, 9+ creditsFrom the school's rate table for this level | $31,555 | per term · 2026-2027Source: ro.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
Other published fees
- Mandatory fees per full term (2026-2027)
- $246.89 per termMandatorySource: ro.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
These are the published rates. The program also states tuition coverage for funded students — see Funding below for what is covered.
Funding
The program states that every admitted student receives tuition coverage and a stipend for the normal length of the program. “Fully funded” never means every personal expense is covered. How we classify funding
Fully funded (all admitted)Policy year: 2025-2026
- Funding guarantee
- All accepted MFA students are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $29,192 (2025-26), $6,000 summer funding and health care benefits.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Summer funding
- $6,000 in summer funding.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Mandatory fees
- No other cost of attendance or hidden fees according to the FAQ.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Assistantship duties
- GSIs teach one undergraduate course per semester.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- International students
- Full tuition remission and monthly stipend apply to all accepted students, including international students.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
- Other
- Six qualifying graduates may receive one year of post-MFA funding of $45,000.Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Named scholarships, fellowships and assistantships
Henfield Prize in Fiction prize
$10,000
Eligibility: Continuing or graduating student in the program
How to apply: Judged by an outside writer
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026Frederick Busch Prize prize
$2,000
Eligibility: Fiction writer in the program
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026Tyson Award in Fiction prize
$2,000
Eligibility: Continuing graduate students in the Department of English
Source: lsa.umich.edu · verified October 9, 2026
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 9, 2026.
- lsa.umich.edu/english/graduate/programs/mfa-in-writing.html — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- lsa.umich.edu/writers/graduate-students/prospective-students/financial-aid.html — Official funding / aid page, verified October 9, 2026
- lsa.umich.edu/writers/graduate-students/prospective-students/frequently-asked-questions.html — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- lsa.umich.edu/writers/graduate-students/prospective-students/how-to-apply.html — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- lsa.umich.edu/writers/program-overview/writing-workshops-and-coursework.html — Official program page, verified October 9, 2026
- ro.umich.edu/tuition-residency/tuition-fees?year=147&school=98&term_type=75&level=84 — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 9, 2026
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Creative Writing Programs is independent and not affiliated with University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.