The Writing Seminars offers a Master of Fine Arts in fiction and poetry. This two-year program is designed for students committed to the study and practice of literary writing at the highest level of accomplishment. MFA students work with nationally and internationally known faculty members to complete intensive literary seminars, small workshops, a first-year portfolio, and a second-year thesis. Students learn not only from permanent faculty but also from visiting speakers. The President’s Reading Series (Literature of Social Import), The Turnbull Lectures in Poetry, and other events allow students to meet world-renowned visiting writers such as Marilynne Robinson, Salman Rushdie, and Tracy K. Smith.

All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, which will be $39,000 beginning next year (AY 2024-25). Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. The program is extremely selective. MFA candidates are chosen on the basis of a manuscript evaluation, college transcripts, a “statement of purpose,” and letters of recommendation that testify to an ability and willingness to undertake serious study in the literary arts. Many of our MFA students find their first book published within three years of graduation, and they often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Beginning with the MFA class of 2023, all graduating MFA students will have the option to apply for one-year junior lectureships, teaching three creative writing courses per semester. These positions come with full benefits.