Admission Procedures

Application Process

While the FAU English Department offers literature courses focusing on young adult literature, science fiction, and fantasy, our MFA program does not offer creative writing (workshop) courses in these genres.

Check out FAU's Next Wave Graduate Fellowships if you're interested in supplemtal funding for the program.

If you are applying as an international student, there are a few more steps in the application process. Click here for information on how to apply and read the information on the International Student & Scholarship Services web site.

When applying to graduate school at FAU, you're actually applying both to the department and to the Graduate College. As such, before you send in any application materials, be sure to apply online here and then pay the $30 application fee.

We recommend you fill out the FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) as soon as possible. FAU's priority deadline is 1/1. Funds are distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Deadline for Fall admission: January 15

Applications must include:

1. Writing Sample
   • Fiction: 20 to 25 double spaced pages of literary fiction (this can be one story or several)
   • Creative Non-Fiction: 20 to 25 double spaced pages of literary creative non-fiction (this can be one piece or several)
   • Poetry: 15 to 20 pages of poetry
2. A Brief Statement of Intent
   

   The Statement of Intent should discuss the following two things: First, what fuels your desire to earn an MFA degree? Second, you should place your writing within a literary tradition, describing your experiences as both a reader of literature and a writer (specific to the genre in which you are applying). For example, what writers do you see as standouts within the same tradition, and what specifically do you admire about their writing? What traditions do those writers follow (or break away from) and do you feel your writing similarly follows or breaks from expectations of the genre? Applicants should consider these questions simply as a guideline; the statement of intent should be composed creatively and in whatever way that best captures the interests and influences of the individual writer.

   Additionally, please let the Creative Writing Committee know if you would like to be considered for the Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Fellowship in your statement of intent. 

3. Two letters of recommendation
   Please include this form with your letters of recommendation if you are sending letters yourself and not using the electronic submission form.
4. Undergraduate transcripts (minimum 3.0 GPA)
   The GRE is no longer required for admission.
5. Online application
6. Application fee

The writing sample, statement of intent, and two letters of recommendation can be uploaded electronically or you can send them directly to the Department of English (see address below); all other application materials should be sent to the Graduate College. You can contact the Graduate College (graduatecollege@fau.edu or 561-297-3624) with any questions about transcripts or the online application process or fee.

Application documents (writing sample, statement of intent, and two letters of recommendation) can be sent to the following address if you're having trouble with the electronic submission process:

Attn: English Graduate Advisor
English Department, CU 306
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Admission is competitive. The department's graduate committee reviews and deliberates upon all applications for each enrollment season shortly after the deadline. Please call 561-297-2974 or email mfa@fau.edu with questions.