creative writing minor ubc

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Degrees & Programs

Matt Rader Creative Writing Program Coordinator 250.807.98092 [email protected]

Creative Writing

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Why study Creative Writing at UBC’s Okanagan campus?

Join a strong writing community.

Engage in lively discussions with fellow writers and faculty at community events, readings, and workshops where students are warmly welcomed.

learn from the best 

Study under a faculty of award-winning writers dedicated to helping students experiment with their prose and grow as writers. A visiting writer’s series and Writer-in-Residence program provide additional opportunities to meet, and learn from, accomplished writers.

build your portfolio

Create a varied body of work and build your portfolio during hands-on projects. Students are actively involved in writing projects, chapbook production, magazine editing, student anthology production, and community learning projects.

Broad Range of Knowledge

UBC Okanagan’s liberal arts degree prepares students for global citizenship by integrating foundational knowledge with interdisciplinary opportunities in social justice, sustainability and Indigenous content. Students who earn a BA degree graduate with a broad range of knowledge and the ability to think critically, be creative, problem solve and communicate effectively.

Co-op experience

Put your classroom learning to the test with Co-op job placements throughout the region and beyond. Co-op helps you to gain beneficial skills such as how to build your resumé, apply for jobs, expand your professional network and earn money to pay for tuition.

what you need to know

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Creative Writing is a four-year UBC degree with courses in poetry, creative non-fiction, short fiction, novel, playwriting, screenplay, writing with media, editing and publishing, spoken word, and writing and community learning. It is designed to build students’ range and confidence to the professional level, while familiarizing them with practical aspects of the writing life. Students apply to major in Creative Writing after the completion of their first year.

Students also have the opportunity to study Creative Writing as a minor in combination with another discipline or to combine their major in Creative Writing and the requirements of another BA program that offers a combined major (currently Art History and Visual Culture, Cultural Studies, and English).

Additionally, courses are offered that appeal to and benefit students in a variety of disciplines, including management, science, and medicine. The Power of Story and The Power of Metaphor offer creative tools for framing and understanding human experience and perception.

The Creative Writing program provides students with the opportunity to study literature and literary criticism as well as key aspects of the writing process—from crafting a scene, to pacing a story, working with imagery, and hooking a reader’s interest. Classes are taught by professional writers with a wealth of knowledge and experience they share with students at intimate workshops designed to build students’ range and confidence as they grow as writers. Students are encouraged to share their work and hone their skills with faculty who are actively involved in the editing process.

An intimate learning community is a hallmark of our program. Upper-year classes are capped at 15 students.

UBC Okanagan’s Creative Writing program offers a wide variety of foundational and advanced courses in poetry, creative non-fiction, short fiction, novel, playwriting, screenplay, writing with media, and editing and publishing. Several intensive summer courses are offered on campus and at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre in Kelowna.

Sample courses:

• CRWR 150 – Introduction to Writing Poetry and Non-fiction
• CRWR 250 – Writing Workshop in Creative Writing: Screenwriting
• CRWR 472 – Editing and publishing

View course descriptions for the 2020-2021 academic year. Browse here for all Creative Writing courses and their descriptions in the Academic Calendar.

The following links take you to Creative Writing program details in the Okanagan Academic Calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies at The University of British Columbia:

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Creative Writing:

• Major in Creative Writing
• Combined Major with Creative Writing
• Minor in Creative Writing

Prospective Majors in Creative Writing can declare a major at the end of first year. to declare your major, contact the Creative Writing Program Coordinator  Matt Rader  to set up an appointment.

Find out more about the required courses and how to declare your major .

Communications and Rhetoric Certificate

Students can receive a Certificate in Communications and Rhetoric by completing 15 credits through courses from four thematic interdisciplinary and relational clusters, and a final capstone project. This is an add on to any major; some credits can be double counted.

For your application to be considered, you’ll need to do three things:

• Meet general requirements (e.g., graduate from secondary school)
• Demonstrate a certain level of English competency
• Meet specific requirements for the degree you’re applying to.

Then, UBC will take a closer look at your application. We’ll read your Personal Profile to get a sense of who you are and what you’ve achieved.  We’ll also look at all of your Grade 11 (junior level) and Grade 12 (senior level) courses, paying special attention to the courses that relate to the degree you’re applying to.

Find your specific requirements at  you.ubc.ca

Students are encouraged to apply for a major or minor in Creative Writing at the end of their first year, provided they have a combined average of 70% (B-) in 6 credits of 100-level Creative Writing courses and 3 credits of 100-level English. Refer to the Academic Calendar for  required courses  to major or minor in Creative Writing.

Review the  First-Year English Requirements .

Application Deadlines  Plan ahead to ensure you meet  important deadlines  and other target dates listed at you.ubc.ca.

Tuition Fees UBC Okanagan’s fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre. See  Financial Planning  for helpful resources, and add up your first-year costs with our Cost Calculator.

Apply to UBC at you.ubc.ca—there are just five steps in the application process. Soon you could be studying at one of the world’s top universities.

Check out the  steps to apply to UBC , and be sure to choose “Okanagan campus.”

Or let our Student Recruitment & Advising experts guide you: call 1-877-807-8521.

Declaring your major

Students can enrol at UBC for their first year as a general BA student, to declare your major after the first year, simply book an appointment with Creative Writing Program Coordinator.

Your Career Options

Earn a UBC degree respected by employers around the globe. Build a broad foundation and great career potential with undergraduate studies in Creative Writing. Job opportunities range from arts journalist and web writer, to novelist and publisher.

• Abstract Writer
• Advertising Copywriter
• Arts Administrator
• Arts Journalist
• Author/Writer
• Bibliographer
• Communications/public relations professional
• Copy editor
• Fundraising/grant writer
• Video game writer
• Historical museum assistant
• Literary agent
• Manuscript reader
• Market research analyst
• Media planner
• Newspaper/magazine journalist
• Office manager
• Policy and procedures analyst
• Proofreader
• Radio/TV program assistant
• Reviewer for newspapers and magazines
• Screen/television script writer
• Script consultant
• Song writer
• Speech writer
• Technical writer
• Writing instructor
• Writing centre director
• Advertising agencies
• Book Publishers
• Corporate and consulting firms
• Federal, provincial and municipal governments
• Industry, political, professional, social and trade organizations
• Publishers of national, regional or specialty magazines
• Radio and television stations

Learn and earn with  Co-op , a paid opportunity for students to enrich their education with work experience. At UBC’s Okanagan campus, sign up for Co-op to: build your resumé with professional experience; learn valuable tips on how to successfully apply for jobs; expand your network of industry contacts; and earn money to pay for tuition. Inquire about Co-op by phone at 250.807.9623 or by  email .

The UBC Okanagan  Arts Career Apprenticeship Program  (UBCO ACAP) connects upcoming arts, humanities and social sciences graduates from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies with Okanagan-based employers for one-year, paid, early career opportunities.

The  Master of Fine Arts  (MFA) degree with a specialization in Creative Writing at UBC Okanagan provides students with the theoretical and practical tools involved in advanced creative writing.

UBC Okanagan also has an  Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies  (IGS) program in which students may have a Creative Writing department faculty member as their primary supervisor.

Gain Valuable Experience

Learning experiences beyond the classroom help prepare you for a career and life after university. Expand your horizons while studying abroad, conducting meaningful research, or working in the community with your UBC colleagues.

• See the world through  Go Global , a UBC program for exchange and study with more than 150 international partner institutions.
• Travel to conferences or competitions with financial assistance available through the  Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund , which provides financial support up to $3,500.
• Follow your ideas and get a head start on your career. Our professors engage students in research projects,  labs and centres  that range from Indigenous studies and the study of animal ethics to digitized cultural history.
• Take part in  Eco Art Incubator , a research initiative that provides students and artists with a platform from which to work, as well as access to artist-friendly resources for conservation and ecological initiatives.
• Investigate opportunities offered through the  Centre for Culture and Technology (CCT) , an interdisciplinary institute that engages in multiple forms of art, media, and information technologies as vehicles for the exploration and expression of community, culture, and identity.
• FCCS faculty run the  AMP Lab , which houses projects that engage the work of the humanities, adding value to cultural artifacts through interpretation and analysis in a digital context.

Get a financial boost to start your research experience and help pay for travel and other expenses. Merit-based cash awards also look impressive on your resumé.

• The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies Undergraduate Research Awards ($2,500) provide undergraduate students support to engage in research and creative activities over the summer months.
• The  FCCS Community Engagement Award  recognizes activities that make a significant and positive impact on communities beyond the university.
• More  scholarships and bursaries  are available for Creative Writing students.
• Apply to be an  undergraduate  or graduate teaching assistant and gain invaluable experience managing group discussions, marking, and assisting professors with paperwork.
• Learn through doing, create strong connections, and develop professional skills with a campus job arranged by  UBC’s Work Study Program. 
• Meet a community need and get practical experience by volunteering for a  Community Service Learning  project — a life-changing experience.
• Co-op  puts your classroom learning to the test, allowing you to explore career options while earning money. Inquire about Co-op by phone at 250.807.9623 pr by  email .
• More Employment Opportunities in FCCS

Meet Your Peers and Profs

Find out what students, faculty, and alumni have to say about the Creative Writing program at UBC’s Okanagan campus:  ourstories.ok.ubc.ca .

Lauren Marshall

Anne Fleming, UBC Professor

Joe Dermo, UBC Alumnus

Welcome to ubc’s okanagan campus.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. In the psychology program at UBC’s Okanagan campus, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

• Get a glimpse into life on UBC’s Okanagan campus at you.ubc.ca .
• Take a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art labs, modern facilities, campus residences.
• Visit the campus for a personal guided tour led by a student ambassador.
• Tour the campus, city and lake with this interactive 360-degree Kelowna From Above * video. * Best viewed in Chrome and Firefox 

On the first day of university, faculties offer “Meet the Faculty” sessions where you can get to know the Dean, professors, and the staff who provide student support. It’s all part of UBC Okanagan’s new student orientation: CREATE .

Attend an orientation tailored to your needs as an aboriginal student, domestic student, international student, or student living in residence. You can even register your parents for an orientation that includes a workshop and campus tour.

• Peer mentors are a great resource — ask questions and learn from students who’ve been there, done that.
• Navigate your studies with the help of a professor, your Program Advisor .
• Use the library which offers print, audiovisual and electronic research materials, a leisure-reading collection and loaner laptops. It also offers research consultations, instruction and workshops.
• The library’s Writing and Resource Centre can help you articulate your ideas. Pursue your research in a range of subject areas and scholarly genres, including essay writing, grammar, presentation skills, punctuation, thesis development, and coursework.
• Familiarize yourself with resources designed to help you succeed. Student Services offers a variety of academic supports , from study sessions to tutoring and writing workshops.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and stay active—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and varsity athletics.

Learn more at Sports and Recreation , which includes links to fitness facilities, sport clubs, intramurals and recreation programs, as well as the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat varsity teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association.

• Make friends with similar interests, attend events, and explore career options in the  Creative Writing Course Union .
• Follow our  Creative Writing program on Facebook  to keep up to date on events and connect with our community on campus and beyond.
• Branch out, get involved in student life, and have fun by joining a  club or association .

Meet new people while living in a study-oriented environment with easy access to academic and personal support.

UBC Okanagan offers modern residence living surrounded by hiking and biking trails. One of the newest residences, Purcell, includes a rooftop patio that offers a panoramic view of the campus and the Okanagan Valley.

Find out more about living in residence at you.ubc.ca.

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the Top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Explore the Okanagan lifestyle at you.ubc.ca.

Apply to UBC today!

Already applied? Check your status or accept your offer .

On May 21, UBC will move to a new system called Workday for courses starting in September 2024. Check your email that day for setup instructions. Summer Session students will continue using  SSC .

• Student Services
• Career and experience
• Your degree

Your degree in Creative Writing

• Skills you’ll develop

While studying Creative Writing , you’ll learn the craft and process of writing through workshops led by experienced, working writers that make up the faculty. You’ll develop important skills while writing in multiple genres.

These skills may include:

• Creating original works such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, screenplays, lyric and graphic forms, and translations
• Using effective planning, time management, problem solving, and leadership skills on various creative projects
• Working knowledge and application of the professional standards and expectations for your chosen genres
• Researching, understanding, and assessing various types of creative works
• Analyzing artistic works clearly and concisely
• Adapting content to a variety of forms or mediums
• Providing and receiving constructive feedback on opinions and works
• Crafting and telling compelling and creative stories
• Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary across a range of fields including publishing, communications, marketing, public relations, social media, non-profit, government, tourism, education, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

• Arts administrator
• Book publishing manager
• Communications manager
• Communications policy researcher
• Community centre coordinator
• Community organizer
• Festival/Event planner
• Fiction/Non-fiction writer
• Film/TV editor
• Fundraiser/Grant writer
• Human resources specialist
• Literacy program coordinator
• Literary agent
• Literary editor
• Literary translator
• Magazine editor
• Market researcher
• Marketing specialist
• Media relations coordinator
• News analyst
• Non-profit administrator
• Project manager
• Public relations specialist
• Recreation programs manager
• Screen writer
• Social media community manager
• Social policy advisor/analyst
• Special education assistant
• Speech writer
• Teacher/Professor
• Technical writer
• Tourism development officer
• Travel writer
• Web communications manager
• Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help you understand your values and interests.

• UBC Creative Writing Program events Meet other students at readings, info sessions, and other programs. 
• Creative Writing BFA group Join fellow creative writers for various events and make new friends.
• Departmental research opportunities Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• Preparation for a Career in Writing Check out UBC courses on how to build a career in writing, such as CRWR 430 or CRWR 530.
• Creative Writing co-op success stories Learn about the experiences of past and present co-op students from your program and others.
• Nineteen Questions online magazine Read or contribute profiles about the career trajectories, challenges, and the writing lives of established writers.
• PRISM international Inquire about volunteer opportunities to support an online magazine focused on modern and contemporary literature.
• Brave New Play Rites Festival Attend the festival in Term 2 or collaborate with theatre students for an opportunity to produce your short play.
• The Garden Statuary Showcase your essays, poetry, photographs, and other work in UBC’s English Undergraduate Journal.
• The Ubyssey Volunteer to write articles for this weekly student paper. No previous experience required.
• Vancouver Writers Fest Check out the works of local and international writers or volunteer at a literary event.
• Growing Room Festival Celebrate diverse Canadian writers and artists in Term 2 at this feminist literary festival.
• Writers’ Exchange Volunteer to support literacy programs for kids in Vancouver.
• Resources for writers Find local writing groups, contests, festivals and other resources for writers.
• BC Alliance for Arts + Culture job board Search for part-time and full-time opportunities in BC across a variety of fields in the arts.
• Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can  build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and accessing job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• Access Copyright
• Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia
• Association of Canadian Publishers
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canadian Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies
• Canadian Association of Broadcasters
• Canadian Association of Journalists
• Canadian Communication Association
• Canadian Media Producers Association
• Canadian Public Relations Society
• Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers
• Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC Society
• Crime Writers of Canada
• Editors Canada
• Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Federation of BC Writers
• First Peoples’ Cultural Council
• League of Canadian Poets
• Magazines Canada
• Modern Language Association
• Playwrights Guild of Canada
• Canadian Freelance Guild
• Society for Technical Communication
• Speculative Fiction Canada
• WorkInCulture
• Writers Guild of Canada
• Writers’ Union of Canada
• Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Creative Writing graduates on LinkedIn  to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

• More information

From your Arts degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Arts degree .

On this page

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Creative Writers are at the heart of our cultural industries. Poets, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, graphic novelists, magazine writers: they entertain, inform and inspire. For more than 50 years, UBC’s Creative Writing program has been producing writers who’ve shaped Canadian and international culture. A studio program with the writing workshop at its heart, the MFA focuses on the work created by students as the primary text. Through intensive peer critique and craft discussion, faculty and students work together with the same goal: literary excellence. 

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s Creative Writing program was the first writing program in Canada, and is the largest and most comprehensive in the country. It is highly ranked internationally, and draws students from around the world for its multi-genre approach to writing instruction. Students are required to work in multiple genres during the course of the degree. As a fine arts program rather than an English program, students focus on the practice of writing rather than the study of literature.

Small, intensive workshops characterize the program, as does our breadth of offerings: with 12 genres of writing available for study there are more opportunities for learning than at any other writing program in the world.

Faculty are distinguished, working writers. We have 12 professors, an additional 9 permanent instructors and regularly bring in a wide variety of writers in residence and adjunct instructors from the writing community.

While I was at an Explore Program, I managed to visit UBC for a few days. I really loved what I saw, and when I was applying for creative writing programs a few years later, UBC was top of my list. I was also drawn to the opportunities it gave students, such as editing for an internationally recognized journal.

Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

The residency MFA program only has a September intake.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

Graduates of the MFA program have found success in varied fields related to writing and communication. The MFA qualifies graduates for teaching at the university level and many graduates have gone on to teach at colleges and universities in Canada, the United States and overseas as well as holding writing residencies. Many publish books and win literary awards. Others go on to work in publishing, and graduates have become book and magazine editors.

Although the MFA is a terminal degree, some graduates go on to further study in PhD programs in the US, UK and Australia. 

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Belcourt, Billy-Ray (Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry)
• Hopkinson, Nalo (Creative writing, n.e.c.; Humanities and the arts; Creative Writing: Speculative Ficton, Fantasy, Science Fiction, especially Other Voices)
• Irani, Anosh
• Koncan, Frances
• Leavitt, Sarah (Autobiographical comics; Formal experimentation in comics; Comics pedagogy)
• Lee, Nancy (Fiction; Creative Writing)
• Lyon, Annabel (Novels, stories and news)
• Maillard, Keith (Fiction, poetry)
• Marzano-Lesnevich, Alex (Nonfiction)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Medved, Maureen (Fiction, writing for screen)
• Nicholson, Cecily (Languages and literature; Poetry)
• Ohlin, Alix (Fiction; Screenwriting; Environmental writing)
• Pohl-Weary, Emily (Fiction; Writing for Youth)
• Svendsen, Linda (Fiction, television)
• Taylor, Timothy (fiction and nonfiction)
• Vigna, John (Novels, stories and news; Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction, Creative Writing)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Creative Writing combines the best of traditional workshop and leading-edge pedagogy. Literary cross-training offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting, video game writing and graphic novel.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Brandi Bird

I only applied to UBC. I couldn’t justify upending my life with my partner and my cats for two years of schooling. I decided if I didn’t get in, I’d try again next year. But I was lucky! I just finished my undergraduate degree at UBC and so the familiarity of campus was and is comforting but the...

Fiona Revill

I have studied abroad in Australia, and at several local post-secondary institutions, but UBC has always felt like my academic home. The Creative Writing program is one of the best programs in the country, and I was really honoured to be accepted, as the competition is rigorous.

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The School of Creative Writing offers undergraduate courses that lead to the B.F.A. degree. For current offerings, visit Creative Writing .

Admission to the Program

Students must have 3rd year standing 1 in order to enter the Major. Each spring the Program will accept applications to enter the Major the following September. Year 2 students who anticipate they will achieve Year 3 standing at the end of the Winter Session (see Promotion Requirements and students in Year 3 or higher, including transfer students, are welcome to apply. As the Major is highly competitive and the number of places is strictly limited, students must ensure they submit their full application by the deadline indicated on the Creative Writing website. For more information, visit Creative Writing for details on deadlines, the admission process, and current offerings.

All students should view the Guidelines for Prospective Creative Writing BFA Majors for specific guidelines and course descriptions before submitting their manuscript.

1 Normally reached at 54 credits

Major in Creative Writing

Lower-level requirements.

Students must complete 3 credits of 200-level CRWR 1 , or the equivalent.

1 These credits should normally be completed prior to applying to the Major. Note that success in a lower level course does not assure admission to the Major program; applicants are accepted based on the quality of the entire application package.

Upper-level Requirements

Students must complete 36 credits of CRWR 400-level courses in at least four different genres.

Students may not take more than 36 credits of CRWR 400-level courses, with a maximum of 18 credits per genre, where those genres are defined as follows:*

• Poetry (CRWR 401)
• New Media (CRWR 402, CRWR 410)
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• Dramatic Writing for the Screen (CRWR 406, CRWR 416, CRWR 456) •
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• Indigenous Writing (CRWR 420) 1

*CRWR 440 is a special topics course which rotates among genres and is assigned by the Undergraduate Advisor depending on the term/instructor.

*CRWR 430 is a non-workshop class that does not count towards the four-genre requirement.

Creative Writing offers courses in multiple genres, but may not offer classes in each genre every year. For current offerings and information on the genres taught, please visit Creative Writing .

1 A maximum of 6 credits is permitted from CRWR 420 and/or its graduate equivalent CRWR 521.

Double Major in Creative Writing and Another Subject

Students who have completed all the requirements for a Double Major in Creative Writing and another subject falling within the B.A. program may choose to graduate with either a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a Bachelor of Arts provided they have completed the overall degree requirements of their chosen degree (please see B.A. Requirements or B.F.A. Requirements ).

Minor in Creative Writing

A Minor in Creative Writing is available, for further information please see B.A. Minor in Creative Writing .

Individual Courses

CRWR 400-level courses are restricted to students registered as Majors in Creative Writing; other students interested in upper-level creative writing courses are advised to consult Creative Writing .

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UBCO’s Kevin Chong discusses identity and heritage in his latest novel

Author, creative writing professor accepts the challenge of navigating the complex landscape of asian heritage month.

May 7, 2024

Author Kevin Chong, a UBC Okanagan professor in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, says Asian Heritage Month can present challenges and opportunities for Asian Canadian artists. Credits: Author photo by Iris Chia. Book cover courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

In The Double Life of Benson Yu , author Kevin Chong’s protagonist navigates a complicated future and a traumatic past by blurring the lines between fiction and reality as a graphic novelist.

As a creative writing professor in UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies , Chong must remain realistic when it comes to discussions around identity and self-discovery, especially during May—Asian Heritage Month.

He appreciates the nuanced ways the month can serve as both a spotlight and a platform for Asian-Canadian content while acknowledging the emotional and intellectual labour involved in representing one’s culture and heritage.

They are comparable to the issues Chong balanced delicately in Benson Yu , a novel that earned him a place on the Giller Prize Shortlist. Here, he discusses both his personal and professional insights into Asian Heritage Month.

How do you see Asian Heritage Month affecting the identity and self-perception of younger Asian Canadians?

I think a lot about my eight-year-old daughter and how I want her to learn about her Chinese and Asian-Canadian heritage. Cultural events like the Lunar New Year are certainly part of the equation. When there’s school programming tied to that or Asian Heritage Month, it allows her to know a little more about herself.

It’s nice to see yourself in the media one consumes—whether it’s on a screen or a page. I didn’t have that growing up. At times, I would have to find it in Asian culture from Asia—in Haruki Murakami novels or Hong Kong action movies like A Better Tomorrow . At other times, I think it gave me a more whitewashed sensibility. Nowadays, I feel as though younger Asian Canadians have more opportunities to see themselves in media.

What does Asian Heritage Month mean to you as an author and educator?

It’s a springboard for my work to be shared and discussed at events as well as online and print publications. Earlier in my career, I shied away from my heritage. I wanted to be a writer, first and foremost. In contrast, I see so many younger writers voluntarily placing their backgrounds and orientations in the first lines of their biographies. I’m sort of in awe of that pride. But I’d find Asian readers through this springboard. And more recently in my career, especially in my newest book, The Double Life of Benson Yu , I’ve leaned into what it means to be part of the Asian diaspora.

As an educator, it’s a reminder and a prompt to share Asian-Canadian content.

But there can be some emotional labour called upon to bloviate on being Asian and Asian Canadian. Not only does it take time away from my research, but it also makes me spiral into thinking about whether I’m qualified to speak about Asian-Canadian culture, what I should do to feel more qualified and whether I’m a “good” Asian Canadian. For better or worse, I’ve chosen to speak on the topic.

How do you believe Asian Heritage Month contributes to the appreciation of Asian culture?

Through the awareness it raises and the content of Asian-Canadian creators, Asian Heritage Month reveals the long history and lasting impact Asians have had as settlers in this province and country.

On my mother’s side, for instance, I have two great-grandfathers who emigrated to Canada—one in 1916, the other in 1920. To my delight, I was able to find them on the UBC Library’s Register of Chinese Immigrants to Canada, 1886-1949 .

I found their height, weight, occupation and the names of the ships they boarded to cross the Pacific. Because of the Head Tax, they raised their families in China—which is why I was born in Hong Kong and can claim to be both a fourth and first-generation Canadian. And yet, like every other Asian Canadian, I will always be considered a foreigner.

As we come to more deeply understand the histories of Asian Canadians, we learn there are so many different communities, many of whom had to overcome many racist obstacles and so many different waves of immigration.

How do Canadian academia and literature reflect Asian history and identity, and can Asian Heritage Month contribute to this?

According to Google, Chinese and South Asians, along with the Black community, form the three largest visible minorities in Canada. If we’re not properly represented in Canadian academia and literature—and I feel we aren’t—there’s something wrong with Canadian academia and literature.

Asian Heritage Month increases consciousness but can also be an excuse to ignore us for the other 11 months of the year.

Moreover, as I’ve learned of Asian-Canadian history through the novels of Wayson Choy, Paul Yee and William Ping, and the nonfiction of writers like Cheuk Kwan and Lily Cho, the more deeply I appreciate the courage and ingenuity of these earlier generations of Asian Canadians.

How can communities navigate celebration and appropriation during such heritage months?

If it’s led by an Asian group, then let them lead it. Wearing a culturally specific item of clothing can be appreciated in some contexts and then considered over-the-top or offensive in others. I could probably use the same Canadian politician as both a positive and negative example. When in doubt, you should consult with the event organizer.

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About UBC Okanagan

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning founded in partnership with local Indigenous peoples, the Syilx Okanagan Nation, in whose traditional, ancestral and unceded territory the campus resides. The most established and influential global rankings all consistently place UBC in the top five per cent of universities in the world, and among the top three Canadian universities.

The Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world in British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. For more visit ok.ubc.ca .

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Discover UBC Creative Writing

UBC’s Creative Writing graduate program offers an intensive, diverse and collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence.

Set in the stunning landscape of the Pacific Northwest, our literary cross-training approach offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting and graphic novel.

What’s distinctive about UBC Creative Writing?

Our creative writing MFA is Canada’s oldest and most respected. We offer an unprecedented 12 genres of study as well as multiple funding and enrichment opportunities. Study in beautiful Vancouver or online from anywhere.

Fiction • Poetry • Nonfiction • Screenwriting • TV Writing • Podcasting • Children & Young Adult • Playwriting • Graphic Novel • Translation • Song Lyrics • New Media

I was excited to join UBC’s School of Creative Writing because of its recognition of the broad range of genres and media in which creative writing can happen, and the amazing talent of creators who teach it here.

Why choose ubc.

Study with our faculty of internationally renowned, award-winning authors in a student-focused program that blends the best of traditional workshop and leading edge pedagogy.

• Work with award-winning faculty
• Low international tuition rates
• Entrance and continuing scholarships
• Flexible, part-time low residency  M FA awarding the same degree
• TA in undergraduate writing courses
• Teach in local high schools
• Edit and manage one of Canada’s oldest literary magazines, PRISM international
• Participate in the Brave New Play Rites theatre festival

When we have a sense of who you want to be as a writer then it’s the job of the workshop to help you get there, to explore the possibilities of your own work and take it to the next level.

A track record of success.

Graduates of our MFA program have achieved success in publishing, filmmaking, theatre, podcasting, television, and many other fields. In addition to producing and publishing original work, graduates are qualified to teach creative writing at the college and university level.  

• Jordan Abel , winner of $65,000 Griffin Poetry Prize
• Paulette Bourgeois , author of bestselling Franklin series        
• Eden Robinson , author of Son of a Trickster
• Marcus Youssef , winner of $100,000 Simonovitch prize for playwriting  

I notice lots of conversations, laughter and students connecting with each other. There’s a strong sense of community here and students take risks with their writing because they’re in a supportive environment.

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