How to Apply?

General Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with minimum of 3.0 GPA
• TOEFL/ IELTS  (For all non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents). Learn more about testing requirements.

Because the M.F.A. program does holistic admissions, we look at your writing sample first and foremost, in addition to your personal statement, recommendation letters, CV or resume, and everything else that’s sent to us. If your cumulative GPA is below a 3.0 in your most recent degree program, please contact the M.F.A. program director for additional information.

Transcripts

Scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required for Creative Writing (M.F.A.). You can include references/recommedations email addresses in your online application, or have them send paper copies directly to department. M.F.A. applicants should include recommendations from professors, published writers, or others who can credibly assess their potential as creative writers. Applicants have also used letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, and colleagues. Please note that our system accepts recommendation letters via Interfolio. See the detailed instructions provided by Interfolio for this purpose.

Writing Sample

Attach your writing sample directly to the Graduate School application.

Please select the genre in which you plan to specialize, and upload either:

• A 25-page portfolio of original fiction (stories or novel excerpts), double-spaced
• A 15-page portfolio of original poems, single-spaced, with no more than one poem per page.

Writing samples under 15 pages for poetry, and 25 pages for fiction are acceptable; please do not exceed the specified page maximums

Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae

A personal statement (250-500 words) is required by the M.F.A. Program along with your latest Curriculum Vitae.

Please address the following questions in the personal statement:

• Why do you want to undertake graduate work?
• Why do you qualify to pursue a graduate degree at Virginia Tech?
• What do you expect to derive from your program of study?
• If you have a concentration or area of interest in mind, briefly outline your interests in this area.
• What do you expect to contribute as a student and subsequently as a member of the profession?
• If you have not previously indicated in your application the names of faculty members you are interested in working with, please include that information in this statement

Evidence of English Proficiency 

The Graduate School requires that all non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents demonstrate English proficiency to ensure they enter the university with sufficient English skills necessary to function in a graduate program. A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test score is the most common way international applicants demonstrate English proficiency. We require a minimum TOEFL score of 90 (IBT) or IELTS score of 8 for admission. Test scores should be sent to us using ETS institution code 5859. See this page if you qualify for a English language proficiency test waiver. 

Applying as an International Student

• Blacksburg Campus: Prospective residential on-campus international students might be required to submit immigration documents, and other additional materials with their application. Please consult with Graduate Student Immigration Services.

Additional Information/Supporting Material

Applicants are welcome to submit any additional information with application material that would be useful in evaluation of your application.

Application Fees

Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though veterans and some other applicants are eligible for waivers of the application fee. All application fees are non-refundable.

To apply to the graduate program, students must submit the Virginia Tech Graduate School online application. 

Include a scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

The official transcripts showing degree conferral should be sent directly from your institution(s) to Graduate Admissions:
_{Virginia Tech Graduate Admissions
120 Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown (Mail Code 0325)
155 Otey Street NW
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061}

 Send official scores to Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859.

The Department of English has a limited number of graduate assistantships and fellowships available for students applying for full time study on the Blacksburg Campus. Entering students can apply for such funding as part of their admissions application. No separate application required.

• All students equally and fully funded through Graduate Teaching Assistantships
  
• GTA-ships include tuition remission, health insurance, and stipends of more than $20,000 per year for all three years of the program

Find out what loans are available as a graduate student and other opportunities.

Our faculty try to phone or Skype interview all of our finalists for admissions to the program, but, the program has also made offers to applicants who have not been interviewed by our poetry and fiction committees. The program director is in regular touch with all wait-list applicants during the admissions process about their admissions status.

The Graduate School sends an official offer of admission to applicants upon the recommendation of the department faculty. Admitted applicants who are offered graduate assistantships at Virginia Tech are not required to make a decision to commit to the assistantship offer until April 15. See the assistantships page for more details.