As a Major in Creative Writing, you will cover a range of writing genres in depth. You work and learn in small genre-based writing workshops, guided by faculty who are themselves published and working writers, alongside peers who are as committed and engaged as you in the process of becoming a writer. This active, collaborative and highly participatory learning environment builds skills and confidence, equipping you for a writing future, and beyond.
While building your own identity, personality and skills as a writer and adding strong new material to your portfolio, you will also develop invaluable skills in peer-working, collaborative communication and creative problem solving, skills employers love.
You will graduate with a grounding in the professional standards and expectations for your chosen genres – screen, stage, fiction, comics, and more – equipping you to work in those fields.
Opportunities
- Chance to volunteer with PRISM international, a quarterly magazine that publishes the best in modern and contemporary literature from Canada and around the world.
- Gain transformative paid work experience and a network of professional contacts through UBC’s Co-op program
- Participate in numerous international learning opportunities while gaining new perspectives, skills and networks through Go Global and other international programs.
- Playwrights have the chance to have their scripts performed at the Brave New Play Rites Festival
Funding
- Each year, Majors in the Creative Writing program benefit from scholarships specifically endowed for them. Students don’t need to apply for these awards; all current and incoming BFA students are automatically considered.
- UBC offers other more general awards, and provides advice and support for you to explore funding opportunities for your undergraduate studies.
Admissions
Creative Writing Major Admissions
Admission to the Major is by application only, and restricted to students about to enter at least their third undergraduate year, as formally determined by UBC Vancouver. If you are eligible to apply, you will submit a portfolio-based application to the program, through an online form. The application window is only open for a short period, beginning in January, and admits students to our Major for the subsequent Winter Session – for instance, students who applied in early 2023 were admitted as Majors for the 23W academic year, and started their studies in September 2023. There is only one application cycle per year.
If you are eligible to apply, you will submit a portfolio-based application to the program, through an online form. The application window is only open for a short period, beginning in January, and admits students to our Major for the subsequent Winter Session – for instance, students who applied in early 2023 were admitted as Majors for the 23W academic year, and started their studies in September 2023. There is only one application cycle per year.
The only specific course requirement for admission to our program is three credits of CRWR 200, or equivalent. CRWR 200 is the introductory CRWR course we offer at UBC, so we will consider a wide range of alternative options, as long as they are college/university level Creative Writing courses. This is
a prerequisite for entering the program.
For applicants from outside UBC, this means that you must have taken a recognized (for academic credit) introductory creative writing course. We will give special consideration to transfer students
whose home institution did not offer any suitable courses – you are given space to indicate this on the application form.
External applicants, please note – you must apply to UBC as well as directly to the program, and UBC admission deadlines precede our program’s deadline.
BFA Admissions
High School Students:
- Graduation from high school
- Minimum of 70% in Grade 11 or Grade 12 English (or their equivalents)
- At least six academic/non-academic Grade 12 courses (recommended, but not required)
- English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12
- Writing Portfolio
- Related Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses
Transfer Students:
- The minimum academic standing to qualify for admission to UBC is an admission average of C (60%, where 50% is a passing grade), or a 2.0 on a 4.0 point scale, typically on the most recent 30 credits attempted.
- Second-year applicants should ideally present 30 credits and satisfy all promotion requirements for advancement to that year.
- Third-year applicants should ideally present 54–60 credits and satisfy all promotion requirements for advancement to that year. Some programs do not admit students at this year level.
- Applicants who apply with fewer than 24 credits will be evaluated on the basis of final secondary school grades and the partial post-secondary studies completed.
- Writing Portfolio
Mature Students:
- You must be outside of full-time education for at least four years
- Eligible applications will be assessed on a variety of factors that demonstrate preparedness for rigorous university-level studies. Be prepared to provide evidence of relevant accomplishments, intellectual curiosity, advanced literacy, and numeracy (particularly important for science, social science and management-related disciplines).
Estimated Tuition per year (30-credit course load): $6,201.00
For more information: https://creativewriting.ubc.ca/undergraduate/creative-writing-programs/major/