screenwriting mfa programs fully funded

I learned to write poetry in between hours spent near the sizzling of patties, overcooked hot dogs, and Diet Coke. Not literally, as no manager at the Sonic Drive-In asked me to bring in poetry when applying for the job, the job I’d spend the next four years at. They never asked for a single line to workshop in between happy hour spurts, where slushies and soft drinks were always half price…Working in fast food was the first place I experienced a variety of people whose lives varied greatly from my own, whose struggles looked much different than mine, and was the catalyst for an interest in writing all different types of people into my poetry. They taught me to write sympathy, joy, disappointment, and a range of other emotions in a way I never could before, instilling in me the importance of listening.

Overall, the personal statement will not get you rejected from a program if the program loves what it sees from your creative writing sample, but it could give you an edge if you and another candidate are close.

The creative writing sample

The creative writing sample is the most important part of your application. I didn’t have a single person tell me otherwise during my application process. Since you’re applying to be a creative writer, this makes sense. If you’re fighting for two spots in the poetry program, the program wants the best poets it can get. If you’re a fiction writer, a program wants to accept the next New York Times bestseller. It’s just the way MFA programs are, especially when funding is so competitive. Programs want devoted writers that they can invest in.

At the end of the day, having a good creative writing sample can only be accomplished through constant dedication to your craft and revision. This is why I mentioned starting the process early. If possible, do an independent study or workshop directly before the application cycle so you have your freshest, and hopefully best, work. I was lucky enough to have an independent study where I wrote, workshopped, and revised fourteen poems with my professor. I purposely scheduled my semester to make this possible, as I knew those poems would reflect me as a poet best. Although I didn’t use every single poem that came out of that workshop, I’d say at least 80% of each creative writing sample contained these poems.

If you’re unable to do a workshop or independent study directly before your app cycle, I’d definitely encourage you to have a few people go through your sample. Not only did this help me narrow down which poems people liked least (as I had multiple people look at my finished sample), but it also was encouraging to see a lot of my “favorites” were also theirs. Also, think about your order carefully. It may seem like a small thing in a sample, but treat your sample like a chapbook. Make each poem speak to each other if you’re writing poetry, or be intentional if you’re ordering short stories. This advice is more a suggestion for poets, as some fiction or nonfiction writers might only have one piece in their sample.

Also, don’t be afraid to show off your skill set. I included a mix of free verse and formal verse. I had a sestina, a sonnet, and a ghazal. I played around with indents. The creative writing sample is the only thing the reader of the app has to see what kind of writer you are. Don’t cut yourself short by only showing part of what you do as a writer.

I ended up only applying to one school that needed the GRE: the University of Washington- Seattle. If it wasn’t my second-choice school, I might have just decided to scratch applying there and relieve the stress of studying and taking the GRE.

As far as the GRE, I was told the results do not matter that much. In fact, many schools don’t require it at all (which you’ll find when researching schools). The information I was given by professors and mentors was that it really only tells schools something if you do exceptionally well or exceptionally bad, and that the scores might come into play if you’re really close with another candidate. I’m not sure exactly how every school treats the GRE, but the overall consensus I was given was, don’t stress too much.

I barely studied for math (as I was told they don’t even look at that for creative writing programs), but I did buy a set of 500 GRE vocab flashcards. I studied these on-and-off from June to November, which is when I took the GRE. I also took some free practice tests online, which I think were very helpful in showing me what to expect from the GRE. There are also an ample amount of free Youtube videos that provide reviews of GRE words, which I’d also watch or listen to while working out or walking.

I’d definitely recommend prepping, as the vocab on the GRE is tough. At the bare minimum, take one practice test and buy a set of flashcards. I took a couple practice tests before I began studying, and I usually did around 150 for verbal. On test day, I received a 161. This means studying helped me get from the 50th percentile to around the 87th percentile.

In short: studying even flashcards helps a lot!

Teaching experience

Most fully funded programs offer their funding through a TAship, where you teach a class each semester (or sometimes more than one depending on the program) in exchange for your funding. The definition of fully funding varies slightly, but I was looking for a program that would include health insurance in addition to the tuition waiver and stipend. Some programs that call themselves “fully funded” just include a tuition waiver and a stipend, so that is something to keep in mind when looking at programs.

As I mentioned in my intro, I completed an MAW that gave me teaching experience. I also worked at a tutoring center, and had the opportunity to adjunct at a community college (I taught a couple P/F “writing labs”). Some schools’ apps may give you the opportunity to spotlight any teaching experience you have in a section of their app, or may ask for a resume where teaching experience would be included. If not, you can always tie it into your personal statement.

I was told repeatedly that the teaching experience that I had would make me more competitive for funding. Your creative writing sample is still the most important factor on your app, but teaching experience certainly gives you an edge for funding. I’d suggest playing up any tutoring or opportunities where you’ve been in a teaching role, even if you don’t have the direct experience I had. Think hard about any times in your life you’ve had to be a teacher/tutor, and make sure to spotlight those as you find able to.

As I’ve mentioned, I ended up applying to four programs. Most of my mentors advised applying to 10–14 in order to give myself the best chance of getting into a funded program I was excited about. I think this number is a good goal for those who know they want to go to a program, and don’t have any specific location they want to be at. I decided to only do four because I realized I was fine with taking a gap year if I didn’t get into one of my top choices. Truthfully, my boyfriend and I had been doing long-distance for five years, and I wanted to be in a program that was at least within a driving distance of him.

I narrowed my list down to Western Washington University, University of Washington-Seattle, Eastern Washington, and University of Montana. At first, I was offered full funding at University of Montana, waitlisted at University of Washington-Seattle, waitlisted at Western Washington University, and accepted to Eastern Washington (was offered a partial scholarship, but not full funding). Eastern Washington had originally thought there would be full funding available to me, but their TAships got cut down from four to two spots. It happens, and it ending up all working out without that option. I do think the coronavirus lead to the cutting of two spots.

At University of Montana, I heard through the grapevine that there were two fully funded positions, although I did not ask them directly. There were two fully funded positions at both Western Washington and Eastern Washington. There were five fully funded positions available at University of Washington-Seattle. These numbers were per-genre, meaning these were only the fully funded positions for poetry. This does not mean that more than that weren’t accepted into the programs, but just that full funding wasn’t available to more than the numbers listed. It’s also possible additional funding ended up being available for another student, but this was just the original info I was given.

Western Washington was my top school, and I did end up getting off the waitlist there, and was offered full funding. This lead my final stats to be two funded offers, one acceptance with a partial scholarship, and one waitlist (which I took myself off of after getting into Western). It was stressful from beginning to end, and the coronavirus only complicated that, but it was a worthwhile process.

An important thing to remember is there is a lot of shuffling right up until the end, and this was especially true because of COVID-19 this year. Don’t fret if you get waitlisted, or even if you’re farther down on the waitlist. I didn’t end up accepting/denying until April, because I was waiting for Western Washington, and I know COVID-19 caused shuffling far into the summer. The usual universal deadline for responding to offers from residential MFA programs is sometime in April.

Closing thoughts

The most important part of getting your application process started is staying organized. If you don’t begin with mapping out schools and timelines, you’re bound to end up rushed and stressed. If you leave yourself six months to a year to prepare your apps, you can pace out studying, writing, and editing. With so many moving pieces in your application, it’s crucial to take the time to double check you have everything you need in your personal statements, have saved necessary application funds, and are turning in your best creative work. At the end of the day, you might give it your best shot and still fall short, but there are so many stories out there of people not quite getting the offer they want the first year, and then turning around and getting into their dream school the second year. Don’t settle for less than what you deserve.

If you do your research, prepare properly, and stay positive, you’re bound to be confident in your work, which will shine through in your application. I know you can do this, and you should know this too.

This is just my personal experience, so I’d love to offer you a couple resources I found helpful:

https://www.thegradcafe.com/ https://www.pw.org/mfa

The first is a forum site where people discuss applications both before and after submitting, and the second is an MFA search tool that contains basic info and links to the MFA sites. There is also an “MFA Draft” group on Facebook that you can ask to join that is full of people discussing all things related to MFA applications. Good luck, and happy writing!

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Western Washington ‘22 MFA in Poetry // vegan poet who loves coffee and thrifting 🌿ig + etsy: thriftedpoet

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MFA and PhD Programs

Everybody Black by MFA Playwright Dave Harris (2019). Photo: Manuel Rotenberg.

The UCSD Playwriting MFA trains writers with bold, distinctive voices who tell compelling stories. Only one or two writers are admitted each year; our cohort never exceeds five. This allows for individualized and intensive mentorship as well as multiple productions through which MFA writers develop their craft, their voice, and their vision. Through our unique and extensive production opportunities, our writers collaborate closely with their colleagues in the MFA acting, directing, design, dance, and stage management programs to fully realize theatrical, compelling, and meaningful works of theatre as part of our nationally-renowned Wagner New Play Festival, which occurs every spring.

Financial Support

For a more detailed description of the financial support package for MFA students, download the M FA Program's Graduate Student Funding Policy .

The core of the playwriting curriculum is the Playwriting Seminar, a course that all MFA playwrights take together. Seminar topics vary each quarter, from readings of contemporary plays to focus on particular styles and artistic movements. The work of the seminar is a combination of reading and discussion of plays, writing exercises, and discussion of various aspects of professional life. The other central course in the playwriting curriculum is the Playwriting Workshop, in which writers have an opportunity to hear a full draft read out loud by MFA actors. The focus of the Workshop is on the Playwright’s evolving work, which is read and discussed at all stages, from inceptive idea through a post-production draft.

Other courses include Screenwriting, Writing for Television, and Adaptation, which are offered in rotation within a three-year cycle.

In addition, first year students collaborate with students in all MFA areas in researching and creating a devised piece for informal presentation. Students are also able to take a variety of electives in theatre and dramatic literature, as well as courses in other departments. Recent students have taken classes in topics as diverse as Neuroscience and Human Sexuality.

Productions

The centerpiece of the UCSD Playwriting MFA is the Wagner New Play Festival, which occurs every spring and in which all MFA playwrights have a play produced. First year students have a workshop production. Second and third year students receive fully-staged productions. Productions are directed by MFA directing students, faculty directors, or guest directors. MFA playwrights have the opportunity to collaborate with MFA actors, designers, and stage managers during the festival.

The Wagner New Play Festival has grown to be a nationally recognized showcase and incubator of important new voices. The Festival is attended by artistic directors, literary managers, and producers from across the country as well as agents. Plays that were first produced in the Wagner New Play Festival have gone on to be produced at the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival of New Plays, the Roundabout Underground, the Huntington Theatre, and Second Stage.

For information on our current full-time faculty please visit our faculty page . Recent guest artists who have taught the MFA playwrights include Les Waters, Darko Tresjnak, Sheila Callaghan, Jason Grote, Karl Gajdusek, Mike Finch, and Bobby Bowman, among others.

M.F.A. playwriting alumni are represented in the top tiers of theatre, film, television, and academia. Our alumni ranks are populated by playwrights being produced Off Broadway and regionally, executive producers and show runners for network and cable TV, working screenwriters, and tenure-track professors. Each playwright who enters our program has different goals, and those goals evolve. A striking feature of our program is the mentorship playwrights receive in creating a professional life that is uniquely suited to their individual goals. We strive to train writers not only in the craft of writing, but also in strategies for sustaining themselves as writers, artists, and thinkers over a lifetime.

Find out more on the Playwriting MFA Admissions page >>

If you have questions or would like more information about our Graduate programs, call the Graduate Coordinator at 858-534-1046 or email at tdgradcoord @ucsd.edu .

Questions and Answers

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MFA Film Production Fully Funded

Asked by Arman1990 , August 25, 2017

Does anyone know a fully funded MFA programs in film production? I am a recently graduated student and looking for a MFA program in film production and I've found lots of fully funded programs in creative writing but not film production. is there anyone with the experience of applying to MFA film production that could help me ?

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cautious_optimism

I haven't found a lot, but here is one that is fully funded (tuition, fee reduction, stipend, health insurance). 3 years and you teach.

https://clas.uiowa.edu/cinematic-arts/graduate-program/mfa-film-and-video-production

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A Regent student holds a script: Explore the MFA screenwriting degree program.

MFA in Screenwriting

Script your success with regent’s screenwriting degree program.

Are you ready to master the art of storytelling? The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Screenwriting is a terminal degree program for professional writers. You will develop the scriptwriter in you as you hone your craft for film, television and stage. You’ll also learn to create important and effective narratives in multiple genres and styles through a range of media productions.

Advance Your Career

Establish your reputation as a trusted professional with a terminal fine arts degree.

Deepen Your Knowledge Through the MFA in screenwriting degree program

Enhance your screenwriting skills by exploring applied theories and aesthetics.

Gain Hands-On Experience

Graduate with a minimum of three full-length scripts that you can add to your portfolio.

Align Yourself With Excellence

Regent is ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report, 2022. Presented from a Christian worldview, the in-demand television and video production degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach. Enhance your professional credentials with an MFA degree, gained online or on campus.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Regent University ranked #10 of the Best Master's Degree Colleges in Virginia | UniversityHQ, 2022

On completing the online MFA in Screenwriting degree, you will be able to:

Career Opportunities

2022-23 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Admissions Process:

Step 1: Application Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application .

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts*

We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcript from a U.S.-based school, which indicates successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program, in order to review you for an admissions decision. Email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SCA MFA Application Pieces .

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.

International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution, which indicate successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.

Step 3: Professional CV or Resume

Submit a current resume, which should include experience in writing-focused positions. Email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SCA MFA Application Pieces .

Step 4: Creative Writing Sample

For this narrative writing sample, please submit 3-4 pages of your own completed future screenplay, short story, novel or memoir. No reference style or citation is required. Email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SCA MFA Application Pieces .

Step 5: Complete Your Academic Background Questionnaire

In lieu of the previously required personal goal statement, please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objective with our programs. The admissions questionnaire can be found here . Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 6: Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID .

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Full-time students, student fees per semester, part-time students.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance: View the estimated cost of attendance to see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

1. What is the GPA requirement for entrance into the school?

We require a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited university. The School of Communication & the Arts will make acceptance decisions based on the totality of the student’s application file. We look at GPA, standardized test scores, the writing sample, references and the personal goals statement when considering someone for admission. If any one of these items is not strong the other pieces may help strengthen that applicant’s file.

2. Are there scholarships available to help me finance my education?

Yes, the School of Communication & the Arts has merit scholarships which are competitive and based on a student’s undergraduate GPA. See the Financial Aid section of our website for full details. We award financial aid monies on a first come, first served basis, so apply as early as possible for best chances at aid money.

3. If I am accepted into the school, do I have the option of delaying my enrollment if my plans have to change?

Yes, upon acceptance you have up to one academic year to enroll. If you do not matriculate within one academic year, a new application will be required.

4. I sent my transcripts to the school, yet I’m receiving notice that Regent is still waiting on my “degree posted transcript.” What is this?

Oftentimes applicants will send us transcripts while in their senior year of school. The transcript is missing a final class or two, and thus the actual earned degree (B.A., B.S., etc.) is not posted on the transcript. Regent needs the final transcript where the degree earned has been clearly posted. Until we receive that final transcript your admissions file is still incomplete.

5. What is the difference between an M.A. and an MFA? Which degree should I pursue?

An MFA is a talent-based terminal degree. This represents the highest academic degree one could earn in the performing arts field (there is no Ph.D. in Acting, Directing, etc.). An MFA not only thoroughly credentials you in your field, but it is also a requirement to teach performing arts at the university level. An M.A., on the other hand, is a graduate degree which will still fully immerse you in your field and prepare you for your career, but since it requires less hours, it is not considered a terminal degree. Your future career aspirations should determine whether you pursue an M.A. or an MFA. If you have any doubt as to the best option for you, we would be glad to discuss this with you.

6. How long will it take to receive an admissions decision from the time I submit all of my application materials?

Our admissions office aims to have a decision made on your file within five business days from the time it is completed. All MFA and Ph.D. files are reviewed at one time annually by degree.

7. Am I required to go full time or may I study at my own pace?

Students are encouraged to go at the pace they are comfortable with. Many students hold full-time jobs and have families and are able to only take one or two classes per semester.

“My Regent learning experience helped inform my perspective on clients, products, the work environment and competitors, which heavily influences the work that I do.”

“It is more of an amazing example of what God has for us when we allow Him to take the reins and trust that what He has in store is far better than what we can imagine for ourselves.”

“I received my M.A. in Communication from Regent University. Juggling full-time work, freelancing, family time, as well as 2-3 courses at a time was challenging, but it was worth all the hard work.”

“I’m so excited to officially be an alumna of Regent University with my Master of Arts in Journalism.”

“I chose Regent because of its Christian principles, as I wanted to learn how to integrate my faith with telling stories; also because of its amazing film program and facilities. Yes, my expectations were definitely met.”

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Fully Funded MFA Programs

Art is Expensive

Education is expensive, and a degree in art is no exception. Between the tough choices of paying back massive student loans from an undergrad degree and the financial doom of more loans from graduate school, it’s easy to say no to more schools. An MFA can be an expensive degree, and it’s almost never a good idea to go into a lot of debt for this degree.

But what if there were another way? What if you could go to school without having to pay tuition? What if you could get paid to go to school for an MFA? Though it may sound a bit like a pipe dream, it’s a reality.

The thing is, there are fully funded programs available out there for a wide variety of subjects—even those that fall under the “arts.” Some of the best schools in the country offer full funding as a recruitment tactic to make it easier to attract top talent and students. Many MFA programs fully fund their students, while others will fund based solely on merit.

Related Programs That Might Interest You

Of course, it’s not like they’re just handing out free money. For the school to pay for education, students have to meet stringent admission requirements. But hey, if you’re willing to work hard and go the extra step to prove that you’re hungry, there are big prizes out there.

What is Full Funding?

The school's side of the deal.

Getting into a fully funded MFA program is an awesome way to get an education, but it's also a deal where both the school and the student have an obligation to fulfill. On the school's side, that usually means waiving the cost of tuition for the student. The definition of full funding varies from school to school when it comes to MFA programs. Generally, though, schools define it as covering the cost of tuition in addition to any combination of the following:

The amount a school can award depends mainly on how much “budget” it has for the program. The number of qualified applicants and the needs of individual students also play a big factor in how much is available to go around.

The reality is that some students aren't accepted because they aren't qualified but because there is no money to fund them. The other reality is that some students are accepted into programs because of the student's own deep pockets - the school wouldn't have to pay for the student. Because of all this, program sizes are sometimes kept quite small - 10-12 students in total.

The phrase that schools like to use when it comes to full funding is “enough to live on.” This is the amount that they think is enough to live on as a student per year and is what determines the amount they award students as a stipend. An academic stipend is designed to replace the potential income you could be earning as an employee instead of being a student.

Let's take a look at what this means:

If an MFA program pays out $12,000 as its stipend for the year in addition to covering tuition costs, that means a student doesn't have to worry about the costs of going to school (minus the cost of textbooks and other materials) but has to worry about housing, food, and other expenses. Stipend money is supposed to be used to cover housing, food, and other expenses.

Put another way, you’re not going to be rich off of a fully funded program, and you won’t be able to live like royalty. You’ll still have to be smart with your money, find affordable housing, and maybe eat instant ramen when the funds get low, but at least you won’t be going into MASSIVE debt.

The Student Side of the Deal

If we look at the relationship here as Cost of tuition + Stipend = Employee salary , then it makes sense that a student in a fully funded MFA program is essentially being "paid" to go to school. So what does a graduate student have to do to fulfill their end of the bargain?

And while juggling all this work, most important of all, a student has to have strong grades and be a good student.

Think of it this way: The school is essentially giving you a scholarship (the part that covers the tuition) and then PAYING YOU to go to school (the stipend for living expenses). So yes, while the amount of money some of the stipends offer is kind of low to live on, it still adds up to be at least $30,000+ in value.

There are a lot of different MFA programs in the country, but there really are only a small number that is fully funded. For your convenience, we've set out to put together a list of some of the best programs in the country.

John Hopkins University

Stipend amount offered: $30,500 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance

John Hopkins University tops off our list as the school with the most generous teaching fellowship. At $30,500, the program is one of the most well-funded programs in the country across any discipline, let alone the arts. The two-year Master of Fine Arts in fiction and poetry offers intensive seminars focused on diverse readings, small workshops, one-on-one advising, and frequent interaction with published writers. As you'd expect from one of the top schools in the country, the program is extremely competitive to get into. Each year only four poets and four fiction writers are admitted. These lucky students are fully funded and they teach one class a semester for three semesters - giving them lots of time to refine their craft.

University of Texas - Michener Center for Writers

The MFA in writing program at the University of Texas Michener is a three-year full-time program. Students are admitted based on their main field of concentration - fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting. Each admitted student receives a fellowship of $27,500 from the Michener fellowship. The late author James Michener and his wife Mari Subasawa Michener put together this fellowship to support students as they progress in their studies. Students may also apply for professional development funds to attend writing conferences, residencies fund research or travel, or to use as a summer stipend while writing a project. The money comes with a story: with each year's incoming student class, Michener would admonish, "Don't waste your time or my money." Great advice even 21 years after his death.

Cornell University

Stipend amount offered: $26,426 Benefits Offered: Tuition, health insurance

The Creative Writing Program at Cornell University offers concentrations in poetry or fiction. As a competitive program, only eight students are admitted each year, four in each concentration. This small size allows the school to offer generous financial support packages that fully funds each student. One of the benefits of this program is that each student chooses a special committee of two faculty members who work alongside the student to design a course of study that best suits the student's interests. All students are guaranteed two years of funding while in the program. During the first year, students are assigned a graduate assistantship with EPOCH magazine, Cornell's publication of fiction, poetry, and more. In the second year, students are then assigned a teaching assistantship.

Rutgers University - Newark

Stipend amount offered: $26,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, health insurance

The Rutgers University - Newark MFA program is a studio/research program that allows writers to study literature as they work to create it. This program differs from other MFA programs in that it gives students a chance to fulfill the credit requirements by choosing unique Electives Concentrations, enabling students to work in a wide range of genres. For example, those that choose Literature/Book Arts will work with photographer Nick Kline to create and design a chapbook of their own work. Performance/Media Studies gives students the chance to study writing for the stage or television with playwright Michele Rittenhouse, and urban and narrative journalism with Rob Snyder, or jazz influences with Lewis Porter. This unique approach ensures that students will have an educational experience unlike anything else in the country. Students are typically offered a Teaching Assistantship and will be required to teach composition classes.

Vanderbilt University

"Creative Writing has been a vital part of the Vanderbilt English Department for nearly a century," reads the first sentence on Vanderbilt's website. Indeed, as one of the top-ranked and most generous programs in the country, Vanderbilt's MFA in creative writing is designed to foster the talents of talented writers and poets. Located in Nashville, Tenessee, Vanderbilt is a melting pot of progressive Southern culture and creative energy. This program offers full funding to incoming students, but during the second year, students are given the opportunity to teach a beginner's creative writing workshop for one semester.

Washington University in St. Louis

Stipen d amount offered: $22,830 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

This school is located where St. Louis City meets St. Louis County, right across one of the largest urban parks in the country. Washington University in St. Louis is known throughout the region as an academic powerhouse. One thing that makes this program stand out is that it is one of the few MFA programs that does not require a GRE for admissions. As a two-year program of 20 to 25 students, students are encouraged to focus their studies on fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Each year, the school invites a diverse group of poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers to the department so that students can have a broad experience of different writers. The school is able to offer all new students full and equal financial aid in the form of a University Fellowship, which allows students to live somewhat comfortably in a relatively inexpensive city. Additionally, there are two university-wide fellowships available that graduate students can apply for that carry a stipend of $31,296.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Stipen d amount offered: $22,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The University of Michigan has a well-proven reputation in academics and in the college sports world. The creative writing MFA is no different. The Helen Zell Writer's program is a two-year, fully funded MFA in creative writing where students focus on fiction or poetry. This program's faculty is what makes it stand out from other programs. They have collectively written, translated, and edited more than fifty books and won numerous awards. But beyond accomplishments and accolades, the program really seeks to get at the heart of why writing is important - "to push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice, to give voice to perspectives that might otherwise be silenced." At the end of two years of courses, students must submit an MFA thesis. Following a successful defense of it, students are granted a third-year residency in Ann Arbor, writing and engaging in community service work of their choice ($25,000 per fellow).

University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign

Stipen d amount offered: $21,493 (scaled) Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance, Partial fee waiver

The University of Illinois is a world-class research and teaching institution and is home to the third largest library in the country (over eight million volumes - that's a lot of books!). The MFA program here provides students an opportunity to take classes and study with distinguished faculty. The ultimate purpose of the program is to give writers time and space to work on perfecting their art. All students accepted into the program are provided financial aid throughout the three-year program. Most of this aid comes in the form of teaching assistantships, though there are some fellowships available. However, the funding is scaled. The first year of support is set at 33%, where students earn $10,586 and teach one class a semester. In the second and third years, students receive 67% appointments that take them to around $21,493. There are supplemental fellowship funds that are awarded to beef up the stipend.

University of California Irvine

Stipen d amount offered: $20,050 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

University of California Irvine is one of the most popular schools to attend for residents of the southern California area. The MFA program here is designed for students that are committed to perfecting their craft. The ultimate goal of the program is for its students to write a piece of fiction or poetry that will last. Each year more than 500 applicants apply to the program, and only twelve are selected. The small size of the program ensures that students will have quality time with faculty members and receive the necessary, personalized assistance in their work. Students of this three-year program are given financial support in the form of teaching assistantships (tuition fellowships for out-of-state students). These students are required to teach one undergraduate composition or creative writing class per quarter for a total of three courses per academic year.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati is home to a thriving creative writing program that features the talents of distinguished award-winning writers. The school was originally founded in 1819, and the English graduate program at the University of Cincinnati has been an important part of it for more than 100 years, being one of the first to offer a sophisticated graduate curriculum. Students are able to focus their studies on four main areas: creative writing, literary and cultural studies, professional writing, and rhetoric and composition. Funding is based on academic credit, and the school offers a University Graduate Scholarship that awards financial aid based on academic merit. The graduate assistantship award provides a stipend in addition to a UGS award. Students will be required to teach one section of English Composition per term, with three office hours each week (in total, working for approximately 20 hours per week).

University of Virginia

Stipen d amount offered: $20,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Enrollment fees, Health insurance

Beyond being a well-recognized, distinguished program, the University of Virginia recognizes that students have a lot on their plate in their first year of a new program. Between adjusting to life as a graduate student, making new friends, staying up to date with coursework, and being creative, the life of a first-year student can be demanding. To that end, the University of Virginia is one of the few programs that gives first-year students no teaching responsibilities so that students can focus on their writing. During the second year, the fellowship income drops to $10,000 from $20,000, but students earn $10,000 as teaching income for teaching one class per term (usually an introductory level creative writing workshops like Introduction to Poetry Writing or Fiction Writing). All students are funded at the same time, which means that students don't have to re-compete for funding during their years at UVA. After the second year, students may apply for one more year of teaching support. This third year of funding will depend on performance in the MFA program, teaching evaluations, and a successfully defended thesis at the end of the second year.

University of Maryland

Stipen d amount offered: $19,700 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The MFA program at the University of Maryland is a nationally ranked program with alumni that are the recipients of many awards and fellowships. It is part of a rich literary community and shares fiction and poetry readings at nearby schools like Georgetown, Howard, John Hopkins, George Mason, George Washington, American University, the PEN/Faulkner, and a variety of local bookstores. As a program designed to help aspiring writers perfect their ability to compose poems, stories, and novels, this program gives students a chance to study in intensive studios while doing practical work within their chosen genres. The MFA also requires students to study literature in order to broaden their perspectives. This is a highly competitive program. Each year only four fiction writers and four poets are admitted and fully funded by Teaching Assistantships. Typically the funding package is based on two-year completion of the program and pays a stipend of $18,100 in year one and $19,700 in year two. First-year students teach only one class, while second-year students teach three classes during their second year.

Iowa State University

Stipen d amount offered: $19,200 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The three-year MFA program in Creative Writing and Environment is unique in the academic world because it goes beyond study in creative writing - poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. Instead, it emphasizes the idea that writers can identify and explore their stories in the natural world and environmental imagination. Indeed, the program is a study of how our environments shape our worldview and, in turn, shape the way we interpret stories and images. This program is a combination of creative writing workshops, literature coursework, environmental fieldwork experience, interdisciplinary studies in courses outside of English, and one-on-one work with mentors. Ames is an affordable city, so the stipend offered by the program goes a long way to having a comfortable life as a student.

University of Iowa Writer's Workshop

Stipen d amount offered: $19,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health insurance

The Iowa Writer's workshop is an MFA program that results in the submission of a creative thesis (a book of poetry, novel, or a collection of stories). This program generally accepts up to fifty students each year - 25 in fiction and 25 in poetry. Financial assistance is available to students enrolled in the program in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. These fellowships and assistantships usually provide tuition scholarships or full tuition remission. Stipend amounts can vary based on the amount of time that students will spend in the program (for instance, a one-quarter-time student will earn less than a full-time student).

University of Florida, Gainesville

Stipen d amount offered: $18,067 Benefits Offered: Tuition

The webpage for the MFA program in creative writing at the University of Florida, Gainesville greets you with a promise that if the program were half as warm and welcoming as the text on the website, you'd be happy here. As one of the oldest writing programs in the country, it is somehow one of the best-kept secrets of the academic writing world. They are ranked highly by Poets & Writers and have a very high job placement rate. This program believes that good writing comes not just from talent and practice but also from the counseling that comes from other writers. Because of this, this program seeks out students who are best suited to the strengths and interests of the faculty. Students may not be the most accomplished writers, but they are accomplished in ways that the faculty can work with. Still, it's a competitive program as more than 500 people apply each year, and only six students are selected in each genre.

University of Oregon

Stipen d amount offered: $18,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Student fee reduction, Health insurance

The creative writing program at the University of Oregon is a two-year residency with concentrations in poetry or fiction. Like many writing programs, this program emphasizes the importance of workshopping, integrating concentrated time for craft seminars and individualized reading tutorials. This is a rigorous program that is meant to challenge aspiring writers and is a program taught by faculty that went through similar rigorous apprenticeships. All incoming students are funded with a teaching appointment, meaning that they are not merely assistants to a class taught by a faculty member but instead are the ones solely responsible for the course. First-year students teach one course per 11-week term for a total of three courses in the year (usually an introduction to fiction, or poetry class). Second-year students usually teach a composition class on a similar schedule for a total of three courses in the year. 10 Graduate students are accepted by the program annually.

Purdue University

Stipen d amount offered: $18,000 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Student free reduction, Merit Raises

Purdue University's Creative Writing Program is a place where budding artists can work on their craft and seek the mentorship of internationally renowned faculty. Ultimately it is a program that is a destination for those that are interested in careers as writers, editors, teachers, non-profit administrators, arts administrators, and more. As a three-year program that is fully funded for all of its students, it features a 3.5 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio - one of the best ratios in the country. Coursework is completed in the first two years, and the third year is dedicated to working on the thesis. Students are required to teach one course per semester, and after the first year of the program, students have the opportunity to teach additional courses to receive payments beyond the normal base stipend (base stipend is $13,000 for ten months).

Louisiana State University

Stipen d amount offered: $16,500 (with a B.A) $17,000 (with an M.A.) Benefits Offered: Tuition

Located near the vibrant city of New Orleans, the MFA program at Louisiana State University is a three-year, generously funded program that is home to writers seeking to push their writing abilities. In a program designed for students to work closely with faculty, students are encouraged to find their unique voice as they work to write in traditional, hybrid, and new media genres. This MFA program encourages students to also seek learning outside of just English and literature. It emphasizes critical discussions about arts and culture, politics and history, and a wide variety of topics. MFA students are awarded a teaching assistantship and are only required to each class per semester. One of the true benefits of attending this program is its location. Because New Orleans and Baton Rouge are considered unique American cultural and artistic hubs, students are able to participate in many celebrations of art throughout the year.

Syracuse University

Stipen d amount offered: $17,220 Benefits Offered: Tuition

Syracuse University is home to a three-year MFA program that gives up-and-coming writers an opportunity to learn and hone their craft as well as practice their art with other artists. This program is known for having a close-knit community that is genuinely concerned with helping each other grow in their artistic endeavors. It is a competitive program to get into, however. Only six poets and six fiction writers are admitted each year. But these twelve students get to work closely with eight full-time faculties and at least one renowned visiting writer each year. Each student is awarded a full tuition scholarship and a stipend - though some of these scholarships are configured to include teaching classes in the Writing Program. Ultimately, the belief of Syracuse University is that students should not be laden down with massive student loan payments when they graduate. "Talen, not wealth, is the sole prerequisite for admission."

University of Arizona

Stipend amount offered: $16,120 (with master's degree) $14,808 (no master's degree) Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance Does not cover: Books, Course Fees

The University of Arizona prides itself on being a future-thinking university with a focus on the world of tomorrow. They're a school that's fully aware of the role that creative writing and the humanities play in the fabric of society. To that end, the MFA program in Creative Writing is a fully funded three-year program that offers students the opportunity for research and travel. Students can focus their studies on three different genres - poetry, fiction, and nonfiction - and are encouraged to work across genres. Generally, students are offered a graduate teaching assistantship position teaching one or two sections of first-year writing (or creative writing) to undergraduates and are eligible to receive additional awards, funding, and research grants.

University of Miami

Stipen d amount offered: $15,965 Benefits Offered: Tuition

University of Miami's MFA program is a two-year program with a third-year option. As a program that prides itself in being located in a metropolis of polyglot communities, this program places special emphasis on multilingual craft and gives writers a unique opportunity to hone their abilities in a vibrant multicultural city. This multicultural, multilingual approach allows students to write from different linguistic modalities such as regional dialects, slang, and technical jargon. Students are encouraged to go beyond superficial language patterns and to really delve into the unique culture and history of different linguistic backgrounds. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all graduate students in the program. MFA students are required to teach one section of Introduction to Creative Writing per semester during their second year of the program. During the optional third year, students are required to teach two sections of composition per semester and will receive faculty mentorship towards professional development.

Arizona State University

Stipend amount offered: $15,000 (per year) Benefits offered: Tuition waiver, health insurance

Arizona State University is well known for its MFA program and has the acclaimed faculty and award-winning alumni to show for it. Through small classes, intimate workshops, and one on one mentoring, students are encouraged to push their writing abilities in a number of different genres. When students are admitted to the program and submit a teacher assistantship application, they are awarded a teaching assistantship and stipend. Each teaching assistantship carries a three-course per year load. Students in Arizona State University's MFA program must enroll in a minimum of six credit hours each semester. Students of the program also have additional opportunities to receive creative research fellowships, attend conferences like the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference, moderate panels at conferences, and more.

University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Stipend amount offered: $13,500 Benefits Offered: Tuition, Health Insurance Does not cover: Books, Course Fees

The creative writing MFA program located at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a mix of workshops, forms courses, and literature classes that open students' minds to experimenting with different styles of writing. Beyond the MFA program, students come to the University of Alabama because they know that UA is one of the most respected schools in the state. Founded in 1820, UA is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama. This program guarantees up to four years of full financial support. Students that are accepted into the program automatically qualify for graduate assistantships which also include a stipend of $13,140 paid over nine months. All incoming students are also automatically considered for additional financial awards, including "Graduate Council Fellowships, McNair Fellowships, and Truman Capote Scholarships.

University of Arkansas

Stipend amount offered: $12,000 (per year for students with BA) $12,600 (with MA or equivalent) Benefits offered: Tuition waiver

This university overlooking the Ozark mountains has been home to academics for more than 140 years. Students that are accepted into the University of Arkansas MFA program are required to teach two courses each semester, though students only teach one course in the fourth year of their program. As a well-funded program, nearly all students of the program are awarded teacher assistantships. Students also have the opportunity to compete each year for several Walton Fellowships of $14,000 and several James T. Whitehead and Lily Peter Fellowships of $1,000 or greater. On top of this, fellowships worth $4,000 per year for up to four years may be awarded to academically qualified candidates. In other words, do well in your classes and earn money. Translation students that are working on Middle-Eastern languages are also eligible for non-teaching fellowships of $12,000 per year.

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Screenwriting MFA Fully Funded
Fully funded MFA in creative writing scholarships are those where students get a full tuition waiver, health care insurance and a stipend for the duration of the program. The stipend offered to students is usually in exchange for a graduate teaching position or a research assistant. Fully funded MFA programs are very competitive.
MFA in Screenwriting
Degree Details. The Masters of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Screenwriting is an accelerated, two-year, five-semester, full-time graduate program. NYFA makes the accelerated schedule possible by creating an extended academic year, allowing students to complete three full-length semesters each calendar year. Projects. History and Theory Courses.
Screenwriting
The Screenwriting program, a two-year master of fine arts degree in film and television, seeks to identify and nurture the most exciting, innovative, diverse and distinct screenwriting voices in a supportive, safe environment that enables students to explore and experiment with form and subject matter.
Fully funded Screenwriting MFAs? : r/Screenwriting
Fully funded Screenwriting MFAs? It seems that every other genre has like 50 fully funded MFA programs. Does anyone know of any for Screenwriting? 7 6 6 comments Best Add a Comment atleastitsnotgoofy • 4 yr. ago Michener Center for Writers. $27,500/year. 3 years. 2 Reply [deleted] • 4 yr. ago
Top 41 Fully Funded MFA Programs in 2023
Fully funded MFA programs are highly competitive, especially those that offer stipends. You'll have to apply for the program and beat out other students for the assistantship or fellowship. At some schools, all MFA students are fully funded, but there are only a few slots available each year.
Screenwriting & Directing Course of Study
Screenwriting & Directing Course of Study The shared first-year courses include workshops in directing, screenwriting, directing the actor, and creative producing, reflecting the faculty's belief that the best training for screenwriter-directors must include experience of and knowledge in these essential disciplines.
Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing
Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master's degrees is usually 1-2 years.
Fully Funded MFA Programs in Film
Fully-funded M.F.A. programs can be difficult to find. Because most universities focus their funding on Ph.D. students, M.F.A. candidates can have a harder time securing scholarships and funding. However, there are a number of universities that do offer funded master's programs.
Funded MFA's in Screenwriting? : r/Screenwriting
From my understanding, funded programs give students scholarships, assistantships (Teacher's Assistant jobs), and stipends for living. For example, I have a friend in grad school in Archeology in Wyoming who is fully funded. He has a job with the university, scholarships, and a stipend to live there. Basically, he get's paid to go to school there.
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MFA Programs Database: 262 Programs for Creative Writers
MFA Programs Database Our MFA database includes essential information about low- and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply. Degree State Sort by Order Items/page Adelphi University MFA Program Garden City and New York, NY Core Faculty Includes:
Screenwriting Scholarships 2023
If you are looking for Postgraduate Screenwriting scholarships or undergraduate Screenwriting scholarships on fully funded basis or partial funded basis. PhD, Masters and Undergraduate program in Screenwriting on scholarships with and without IELTS requirement are listed here. OPEN Hungary Government (Stipendium Hungaricum) Scholarships 2024
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I Received a Fully Funded MFA Offer: Here's How You Can Too
Most fully funded programs offer their funding through a TAship, where you teach a class each semester (or sometimes more than one depending on the program) in exchange for your funding. The definition of fully funding varies slightly, but I was looking for a program that would include health insurance in addition to the tuition waiver and ...
Playwriting MFA
The UCSD Playwriting MFA trains writers with bold, distinctive voices who tell compelling stories. Only one or two writers are admitted each year; our cohort never exceeds five. This allows for individualized and intensive mentorship as well as multiple productions through which MFA writers develop their craft, their voice, and their vision.
MFA Film Production Fully Funded
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (fully funded) -- screenwriting UC Riverside (fully funded) -- screenwriting UT-Austin (low tuition + partial funding) -- screenwriting University of North Carolina-School of the Arts (low tuition for residents) -- screenwriting, producing, film music composition Stanford (generous funding) -- documentary
MFA Screenwriting Degree
Deepen Your Knowledge Through the MFA in screenwriting degree program Enhance your screenwriting skills by exploring applied theories and aesthetics. Gain Hands-On Experience Graduate with a minimum of three full-length scripts that you can add to your portfolio. Align Yourself With Excellence
Fully Funded MFA Programs
The MFA in writing program at the University of Texas Michener is a three-year full-time program. Students are admitted based on their main field of concentration - fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting. Each admitted student receives a fellowship of $27,500 from the Michener fellowship.
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For example, I have a friend in grad school in Archeology in Wyoming who is fully funded. Pace University offers an MFA in Playwriting through the Actors Studio Drama School. The