An independent directory of dedicated creative writing degrees in the United States
The University of Texas at Austin · Michener Center for Writers; New Writers Project (Department of English)
A three-year, full-time residency MFA in which writers are admitted in a primary genre (fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting) and also study a secondary genre, for a 54-hour degree plan with no teaching duties. Every admitted Fellow receives the same fellowship, tuition payment and health insurance stipend, renewed each year with satisfactory progress.
The Michener Center awards an MFA in Writing that its own pages describe as a creative writing MFA, with concentrations in fiction, poetry, screenwriting and playwriting.
Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026We list dedicated creative writing degrees only. Eligibility rules
FictionPoetryPlaywritingScreenwriting
Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026Faculty list: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
| Genre | Length | Requirement as published |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | up to 9000 words | Stories, a novel excerpt, or a combination, not to exceed 9,000 words.Formatting: double-spaced, 12pt minimum, standard marginsSource: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Poetry | 10–25 pages | At least 10 poems, not to exceed 25 pages.Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Screenwriting | 90–120 pages | A feature-length original screenplay (90-120 pages) or a 30- or 60-minute TV pilot.Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
| Playwriting | — | A full-length play or two one-act plays.Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026 |
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate competitiveness: programs rarely publish comparable figures.
Application deadline
Dec 1, 11:59 pm CT · for Fall 2027 · America/Chicago
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026Supporting documents
Dec 31, 11:59 pm CT (letters of recommendation) · for Fall 2027 · America/Chicago
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: michener.utexas.edu · verified October 9, 2026Tuition: not verified. We publish this only when the school states it on an official page.
Fully funded (conditions apply)
Published stipend: $32,500 – $36,500 (academic year (fall and spring); $36,500 total annual award with summer stipend) · 3 years
We do not judge whether a stipend is sufficient: living costs differ by city, household and year.
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Same degree level, nearby or in the same format. Listed for discovery, not ranked.
The University of Texas at El Paso
Creative Writing Programs is independent and not affiliated with The University of Texas at Austin. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.