Which MFA?
The University of Texas at Austin offers two MFA programs in creative writing through the New Writers Project (NWP) and the Michener Center for Writers (MCW). While they share courses, faculty, events, and communities, the programs have separate admissions processes and distinct plans of study. Some applicants choose to apply to both programs, while other applicants find that only one of the two programs meets their needs. Information about the Michener Center for Writers can be found on their website.
The differences between the two programs include:
- NWP is housed within the Department of English. Our students are funded through teaching assistantships in both literature and creative writing contexts for five out of their six semesters in the program, with one semester funded through a non-working fellowship. MCW students are funded through nonworking fellowships and do not teach.
- NWP offers concentrations in fiction and poetry, while MCW offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting. Additionally, MCW students are required to work in two genres, whereas NWP students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
- NWP typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students. MCW accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students. However, given shared courses and events, the cohorts of both programs intermingle to create one community.
Please note that applicants who apply to both MFA programs 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.
UT Austin offers two MFA programs in creative writing through the New Writers Project (NWP) and the Michener Center for Writers (MCW). While they share courses, faculty, events, and communities, the programs have separate admissions and distinct plans of study. Some applicants apply to both programs, while other applicants find that only one of the programs meets their needs. Information about MCW can be found here.
Below is a comparison of the two programs:
- NWP students earn valuable experience as teaching assistants in both literature and creative writing. This experience includes a teaching practicum that provides students with hands-on instruction before they lead their own workshops.
- Students are funded through their teaching assistantships for their first five semesters. For their sixth and final semester, they receive funding through a non-working fellowship.
- NWP is housed within the Department of English.
- NWP offers concentrations in fiction and poetry.
- Students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
- NWP typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students.
- MCW students only take classes and do not gain teaching experience.
- Students receive generous funding through non-working fellowship.
- MCW is housed in the historic J. Frank Dobie House on the UT campus.
- MCW offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting.
- Students are required to work in two genres.
- MCW accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students.
- Housed in the Department of English.
- Students are funded through teaching assistantships in both literature and creative writing contexts for five out of their six semesters in the program, with one semester funded through a non-working fellowship.
- Offers concentrations in fiction and poetry.
- Students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
- Typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students.
- Housed in...
- Students are funded through nonworking fellowships and do not teach.
- Offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting.
- Students are required to work in two genres.
- Accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students.
Through shared courses and events, the cohorts of both programs intermingle to create one community.
Please note that applicants who apply to both MFA programs 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 been processed, the graduate school will automatically waive the application fee.
