How to Apply

The New Writers Project only admits students for the fall semester.

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements established by the Graduate School of the University of Texas at Austin. For U.S. citizens, these include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States institution or proof of equivalent training at an institution outside the United States and a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all upper-division (and, if relevant, all graduate) course work. Additional information regarding eligibility requirements can be found on the Graduate School website.

The Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) processes all U.S. and International applications for admission into the Graduate School at the University of Texas at Austin. The application process for graduate admissions into UT Austin is now completely online. Mailed, faxed, emailed, or hand-delivered applications and materials sent to OGA or to the English Department will not be accepted nor considered. We are unable to return original documents sent to the department.

Please read the UT Graduate School admissions page in full before applying. Important information about the application process, including transcripts, test scores, and the application fee, is detailed here.  

If, after beginning the application process, you have specific questions about the following topics, please email one of the addresses below (OGA asks that you not send the same email to multiple addresses):
       Transcripts: gradtranscript@austin.utexas.edu (Please do not send transcripts to this address)
       Uploading Documents: gradupload@austin.utexas.edu
       TOEFL/IELTS Scores: giatest@austin.utexas.edu
       Letters of Recommendation: gradref@austin.utexas.edu
       Residency: residency@austin.utexas.edu
       General Inquiry for International Applicants: intladm@austin.utexas.edu
       General Inquiry for U.S. Applicants: gradus@austin.utexas.edu

For questions about admissions, as well as general questions and queries about the program, please contact our email address at newwritersproject@utexas.edu. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The deadline to apply for Fall 2024 admissions is Friday, December 1, 2023.

Please note: Your ApplyTexas application and supporting documents must be submitted by December 1st. Because it can take up to 3 days after submitting the ApplyTexas application to receive access to MyStatus, where you will be able to upload supporting documents, we recommend submitting your ApplyTexas application at least three days in advance of the deadline (Tuesday, November 28th, 2023).

If necessary, we will allow a short grace period for transcripts and letters.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

1. APPLYTEXAS APPLICATION

The online application can be found at goapplytexas.org. You will be asked to select your major. The New Writers Project M.F.A. can be found under Liberal Arts.

Please submit your ApplyTexas application at least three days in advance of the deadline to ensure that you receive access to MyStatus in time to upload the rest of your materials.

2. WRITING SAMPLE

Our decision to accept an applicant begins with their writing sample. Our admissions committees are looking for nothing in particular--except writing that is particular. We favor no style or school or tradition; we read with open minds to find work and writers who excite us. Submit the work you most believe in and that you consider finished. We're interested in a diversity of perspectives and approaches. 

For poetry, we accept a maximum of 15 pages of poetry, of any style or form.

For fiction, we accept up to 9,000 words of prose (12-point font and double-spaced), which may be a short-story, short-story excerpt(s), or a novel excerpt.

Include your first and last name and "NWP" in the header and file name of your writing sample.

3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

In this short single-spaced essay (1-2 pages), discuss your specific areas of interest and professional goals. You may also want to explain your personal history of becoming a writer and why you want to teach.

Include your first and last name and "NWP" in the header and file name of your statement of purpose.

4. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

The Department of English requires three letters of recommendation. We suggest that at least two of your three letters of recommendation describe your writing ability and potential for teaching. Recommendations from your supervisors or colleagues can help us determine how well you would fit into the program. 

After you submit your application and it loads on our system, the reference request email is sent to your recommenders. To allow your recommenders adequate time to submit their recommendation, you can submit your application and then submit your online Statement of Purpose later.

The department will not accept letters from Interfolio. Recommenders must upload their letters to the applicant’s online application. 

5. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

You will need to upload PDF copies of your official transcripts from each senior college that you have attended via your MyStatus profile. Transcripts must have been produced within the last calendar year. Please carefully read and follow the Instructions for Uploading Transcripts.
International Applicants: Transcripts written in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation. Each transcript (mark sheet) should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued (i.e., the subjects taken and grades [marks] earned in each subject.)

Please address transcript questions to gradtranscript@austin.utexas.edu. Do not send transcripts to this address.

6. TEST SCORES

The New Writer's Project does not require GRE scores.

For international students, we accept both official TOEFL or IELTS score(s). 

 

More information about specific requirements for international applicants can be found here.

STEPS TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

1. Complete the ApplyTexas application. Detailed instructions for submitting your application can be found here. (Please note: it can take up to 3 days after submitting the ApplyTexas application to receive access to MyStatus, where you will be able to upload supporting documents. For this reason, we recommend submitting your ApplyTexas application at least three days in advance of the deadline. If you do not receive the email with your EID and temporary password after 3 business days, please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions.)
    
2. Pay the application fee. Application fee waivers for eligible applicants may be available here. Applicants who apply to both the New Writers Project and the Michener Center for Writers do not need to pay the application fee twice. When submitting their second application, applicants should select the option that says “I will pay The University of Texas at Austin directly, outside of ApplyTexas.” Once the second application has processed, the graduate school will automatically waive the application fee. 
    
3. Upload your supplemental materials. After you submit your application and pay the fee, you will receive an email that includes instructions on how to access MyStatus, including your UT EID and temporary password. During peak periods, it can take up to 3 days to receive your EID. Using your EID and temporary password, log into MyStatus and upload the required supporting materials (i.e. writing sample, personal statement, transcripts). Your application is not complete until you have uploaded your supporting materials. You will track your application progress, and accept and decline admissions, through MyStatus.

Due to the high number of applications, the English Office cannot confirm the receipt of individual items. Applicants should check MyStatus to see admissions decisions and to confirm that all application materials are successfully uploaded.

APPLYING TO MORE THAN ONE M.F.A. PROGRAM AT UT?

Please note the New Writers Project and the Michener Center for Writers have separate admissions processes and separate applications. Some applicants choose to apply to both programs, while others apply to one or the other. Information about the difference between the two MFA programs can be found on our "Which MFA?" page.

The New Writers Project and the Department of English cannot answer questions about the Michener Center for Writers. Students interested in applying to the Michener Center for Writers can learn about the program on their website.