Minimum Requirements for Admission

• B.A. degree (for M.F.A.); M.A. in English or M.F.A. in Creative Writing (for Ph.D.)
• 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies (for M.F.A.); 3.5 GPA in graduate studies (for Ph.D.)

Application Dates

• Application deadline is January 15.
• Decisions are usually made by the end of March.

Application Details

Consult the UH Graduate School for detailed instructions on how to submit your application electronically.

The Creative Writing Program requires the following: 

• Online application and application fee.
• Three letters of recommendation from people who can assess your writing skills (often a former professor). Letters will be solicited by the UH Admissions Office and submitted electronically.
• Unofficial transcripts (with degrees posted) may be uploaded with your online application. If you are accepted, you will need to send official academic transcripts (sealed in the issuing envelope) from every university or college you have attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to the UH Graduate Admissions Office (University of Houston, Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 3947, Houston, TX 77253-3947 or electronically to gradschool@uh.edu.)
• An original creative manuscript (maximum 10 pages of poetry or 20 – 25 pages of fiction). Fiction manuscripts should be double-spaced, on numbered, single-sided pages: poetry can be single-spaced and formatted as desired. Note: Submitting more than the recommended amount is strongly discouraged and could adversely affect the evaluation process.
• A critical manuscript (Ph.D. Candidates only). Provide a scholarly paper written for a literature course.
• Your Statement of Intent. In 1,000 words or less, state why you wish to pursue graduate study in creative writing: which writers in your genre you are reading and their import to you and your work: and whether you have taught before and intend to pursue teaching as a career.
• The University of Houston Graduate School requires demonstration of proficiency in English for all applicants, regardless of citizenship status. Please visit their website for a list of ways this requirement may be met.

Helpful Tips

• You may apply in more than one genre, but in order to do so you must send separate application packets and application fees for each genre. The applications will be reviewed by different faculty members for each genre.)
• If you are submitting letters of recommendation through a dossier service such as Interfolio, you may leave the recommendation section of the application blank. Letters of recommendation submitted through dossier service should be sent to cwp@uh.edu. 
• Primary emphasis will be placed on the creative manuscript in all applications.
• Approximately 6 – 8 students in the genres of poetry and fiction are admitted each year. These numbers are inclusive for both the M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs.
• For more helpful tips and encouragement, visit our FAQ page, the Graduate Application Cheat Sheet and the Faculty Advice page. 

We’re here to answer your questions! Contact us at 713-743-3014.