nyu creative writing portfolio

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Creative Writing

Degrees and fields of study.

• M.F.A. in Creative Writing - Fiction
• M.F.A.  in Creative Writing - Poetry
• M.F.A.  in Creative Writing - Creative Nonfiction
• M.F.A.  in Low Residency Writers Workshop in Paris Program - Fiction
• M.F.A. in Low Residency Writers Workshop in Paris Program - Poetry
• M.F.A. in Low Residency Writers Workshop in Paris Program - Creative Nonfiction

Application Deadlines

Applications and all supporting materials must be  submitted online by 5PM  Eastern Time. If a listed deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or U.S. federal holiday, then the next business day will be the actual deadline.

Creative Writing Programs

• December 18 : Fall admission

Writers Workshop in Paris Programs

• September 1 : January residency (January term application)
• March 1 : July residency (summer application)

Requirements

In addition to the general application requirements, the department specifically requires:

Test Scores

• Please do not send GRE test scores — they will not be reviewed by our Admissions Committee.

TOEFL/IELTS

Applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores unless they:

Are a native English speaker; OR

Are a US citizen or permanent resident; OR

Have completed (or will complete) a baccalaureate or master's degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English.

Statement of Academic Purpose

In a concisely written statement, please describe your past and present work as it relates to your intended field of study, your educational objectives, and your career goals. In addition, please include your intellectual and professional reasons for choosing your field of study and why your studies/research can best be done at the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU. The statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages.

Writing Sample

A creative writing sample is required. It should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages for fiction and nonfiction applicants and 10 single-spaced pages for poetry applicants. The font size should be 12 point or larger.

Useful Links

• GSAS Bulletin
• Department Website
• Email [email protected]
• Application Portal
• Back to Programs, Requirements and Deadlines

The Graduate School of Arts and Science reserves the right to change this information at any time. This page supersedes all previous versions.

Last updated June 2024.

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Program in Creative Writing

as.nyu.edu/cwp Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10011-8702 • 212-998-8816

Professor Landau

The New York University Program in Creative Writing, among the most distinguished programs in the country, is a leading national center for the study of writing and literature. The undergraduate and graduate programs provide students with an opportunity to develop their craft while working closely with some of the finest poets and novelists writing today. The creative writing program occupies a lovely townhouse on West 10th Street in the same Greenwich Village neighborhood where so many writers have lived and worked. The Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House allows writers—both established and emerging—to share their work in an inspiring setting.

The program's distinguished faculty of award-winning poets and prose writers represents a wide array of contemporary aesthetics. Our instructors have been the recipients of Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur Genius, Guggenheim, and NEA fellowships, National Book and National Book Critics Circle awards, Pushcart Prizes, the Whiting Writer's Award, and more.

Undergraduates are encouraged to attend the program's reading series, which brings both established and new writers to NYU. Writing prizes, special events, and our undergraduate literary journal,  West 10th , further complement our course offerings and provide a sense of community for undergraduate writers. If you have questions about the minor in creative writing, please contact us at  [email protected] .

Portfolio Requirements for MFA in Film Production

The 2025 graduate application is now open .  

A filmmaking background is not a prerequisite for admission to the Tisch School of the Arts. We are looking for potential creative filmmaking ability as evidenced through visual and written materials. 

There are two required components that you must submit in order to successfully complete your application for admission:

• The application for admission must be  submitted online by December 1st  to the Tisch Office of Graduate Admissions along with the required academic documentation, recommendations, and supporting credentials.
 Access the online application link . 
• You must prepare a five-part creative portfolio (detailed below) and submit it via SlideRoom ( tischfilmandtv.slideroom.com ).  Please note that upon submitting your creative portfolio, SlideRoom will charge a $12.00 fee for applicants to use this service. You may pay this fee with a credit or debit card. Your creative portfolio must be uploaded via SlideRoom on or before December 1st.

If you are applying for the dual-degree program (MBA/MFA) please click HERE .

The 2025  Grad Film SlideRoom portal is now open. 

Once you have registered to start a creative portfolio via SlideRoom, you may step away and come back at any time, until the final deadline. Please make sure that you save your progress after each visit, and do not click to submit until you are 100% sure that you have properly uploaded the required components outlined below. Once you click submit, you may no longer edit your creative portfolio.

Please note that upon submitting your creative portfolio, SlideRoom will send you an e-mail to confirm receipt of your materials.

Applicants for whom the $12 portfolio fee poses a hardship can request a fee waiver by emailing [email protected]. 

THE CREATIVE PORTFOLIO

Please prepare the following items for your creative portfolio package:

1. VISUAL SUBMISSION

Sample(s) of your work presented visually. Material done in collaboration with other artists is acceptable provided you were the major creative force (i.e., director, writer, camera operator or editor) and explain in detail the exact nature of your contribution.

Choose ONE of the following formats (i.e. do not combine video and photography):

Video: The submission should contain one complete narrative or documentary film with a total running time that does not exceed 15 minutes. Video footage of staged plays or theatre performances is not acceptable. Do not submit a clip reel. Please be clear about your specific contributions to the sample. You may upload up to ten minutes of video directly to the media page within SlideRoom. If the total running time of your video sample exceeds ten minutes, a YouTube or Vimeo link to your work must be provided on the media page. Please test your video prior to submission. If you are submitting a link, please be sure no downloads or passwords are required. We also ask that you do not deactivate viewer controls on this link. Reviewers will need to be able to fastforward, rewind, and see the video runtime. Foreign language films must have English subtitles.

Photography (Stills):  No more than 10 prints/images on any subject, black and white or color, with or without commentary may be submitted. The photographs may also be a presentation of work in other media, such as painting, illustration, sculpture, set design, costume design, etc. (Still images and scans uploaded to SlideRoom should be a minimum of 72 dpi.)

Please use the guidelines provided in SlideRoom when labeling your media (i.e. film or photographs).

2. VIDEO SELF-PORTRAIT

Upload a 1-2 minute self-portrait video where you show and tell us about yourself. Your video should be in your own voice and not a reiteration of why you want to be admitted to NYU's grad film program. Be yourself; what you choose to say and how you say it is up to you. We will not be judging the production value of this film; we encourage applicants to use cameras that are readily available to them (i.e. cell phones or computers). We are not looking for polished/edited videos; it is meant to be a short video where you tell us something about yourself that we cannot get from other aspects of your application.

3. WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

You must submit ALL of the following:

Dramatic Story : The Dramatic Story is a required short narrative writing exercise. Write a two page story using one of the following themes:

• a situation where honesty is an excuse for cruelty
• a character whose jealousy can't be controlled
• the perils of modesty
• a proud character searching for forgiveness
• a story that focuses on an act of betrayal
• the condition of exile - any kind of exile: political or personal or both
• the power of money

Format for the Dramatic Story: 2 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, prose style (not screenplay). (Save as a pdf and upload to SlideRoom .)

Short Scene:  Write a 2 page cinematic scene between two people that reveals something about the characters. You can give a one sentence description of each character, but please include only essential details. Do not write backstory but please incorporate behavior.  Do not include a cover page. Write a maximum of two pages in screenplay format, 12 point font. (Save as a pdf and upload to SlideRoom .)

Concept : Describe one   concept for a feature-length script, narrative film, or documentary that you would like to develop. Feel free to follow treatment or prose format.  Write no more than one page, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font. (Save as a pdf and upload to SlideRoom .)

Resume & Statement of Purpose:  Upload copies of your Resume and Statement of Purpose to SlideRoom. These are also required elements for the application submitted to the  Tisch Office of Graduate Admissions . Your Statement of Purpose should provide information about who you are and why you're applying to the program. In what ways do you plan to contribute to the program and beyond? What are your academic and professional goals? Tell us how your experiences, successes, and failures have shaped how you see the world. We are also interested in knowing what kinds of stories you hope to tell. (3 pages maximum, double spaced, 12 point font).

Please upload the requested items only. Failure to do so will be grounds for automatic disqualification. Please do not substitute, vary, or add extraneous or additional pieces. Portfolio materials cannot be edited once uploaded to SlideRoom.

Do NOT wait until the last minute to submit your online graduate application and your portfolio in SlideRoom. We strongly recommend that you apply 2 weeks early to avoid technical issues that may arise.

All components of your creative portfolio must be submitted at tischfilmandtv.slideroom.com . Our online portal offers additional instructions for submitting work. For technical assistance, please contact: [email protected] .

Creative Writing (MFA)

Program description.

The MFA Program in Creative Writing consists of a vibrant community of writers working together in a setting that is both challenging and supportive. This stimulating environment fosters the development of talented writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The program is not defined by courses alone, but by a life built around writing.

Through innovative literary outreach programs, a distinguished public reading series, an exciting public student reading series, special literary seminars with visiting writers, and the production of a high-quality literary journal, students participate in a dynamic literary community actively engaged in all aspects of the literary arts—writing, reading, teaching, publishing and community outreach. Students also have the opportunity to enjoy America's most literary terrain; New York University is situated in the heart of Greenwich Village, a part of the city that has always been home to writers.

The MFA in Creative Writing is designed to offer students an opportunity to concentrate intensively on their writing. This program is recommended for students who may want to apply for creative writing positions at colleges and universities, which often require the MFA degree. The MFA program does not have a foreign language requirement.

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the  general application requirements , which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores  (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation , and
• A non-refundable  application fee .

See Creative Writing for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Special project, program information.

Taken in four separate semesters. Students are required to take workshops in the genre in which they were admitted to the program.

Craft courses may be repeated provided they are taught by different instructors.

With the permission of that department and of the director of the CWP. 

Additional Program Requirements

A creative special project in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction consisting of a substantial piece of writing—a novel, a collection of short stories or essays, a memoir, a work of literary nonfiction, or a group of poems—to be submitted in the student’s final semester. The project requires the approval of the student’s faculty adviser and of the director of the CWP.

The MFA degree may also be earned through the Low Residency MFA Writers Workshop in Paris. Under this model, degree requirements remain the same, although Craft courses and Workshops take the form of intensive individualized courses of study with the faculty, including three substantial packet exchanges of student work per semester. All students earning the MFA degree through the low-residency program must also participate in five ten-day residencies in Paris, which involve a diverse series of series of craft talks, lectures, readings, special events, faculty mentorship meetings, and professional development panels.

Sample Plan of Study

Please note : The following is a sample plan of study for a student enrolled in the poetry track. Fiction and creative nonfiction plans of study would parallel the below, substituting the Workshop requirements accordingly (i.e., Workshop in Fiction or Workshop in Creative Nonfiction, respectively).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

• Graduate students in the Creative Writing Program at NYU work intensively with faculty mentors in writing workshops and individual conferences to learn and master the basic elements of the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.
• Students are expected to read widely and deeply, and to acquire a broad practitioner’s knowledge of literature in their declared concentration (poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction).
• Students are taught to read carefully and critically, and in doing so learn to read as writers. By studying great novels, poems, and works of literary nonfiction by other writers, students learn how to write their own.
• The two-year program of intensive study culminates in the completion of a creative thesis— a novel, a collection of stories or essays, or a collection of poems. The thesis manuscript, ideally, is a working draft of a first book. Many program alumni go on to publish books and win awards for their writing.

Grading and GPA Policy

Nyu policies, graduate school of arts and science policies, program policies.

To qualify for the degree, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0, must complete a minimum of 24 points with a grade of B or better, and may offer no more than 8 points with a grade of C (no more than 4 points with a grade of C in creative writing workshops). A student may take no more than 36 points toward the degree.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page . 

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Published July 28, 2021

Performing & Fine Art Portfolios: How to Stand Out

Andrew LaVenia

Associate Director of Operations, University Programs

Students considering the fine and performing arts may be subject to an artistic review. This involves a performing arts portfolio or an audition process. Have you been considering a major in the fine arts? Or perhaps you’ve been a part of your school’s theatre program, and are thinking about studying acting? What about those musicians who wish to master their instruments as an undergraduate?  You will need to prepare to be ready for this, which will take time inside and outside of the classroom.

How to Get Started

One first step is to take high school classes to develop a better understanding of what you’d like to study. Artists are always mastering their crafts as lifelong learners, and everyone starts as a beginner. But to truly improve, you’ll need to find avenues to participate and to practice. And this comes from joining an ensemble in your school, private lessons, or joining an organization that allows you to learn and grow. You’ll need to spend time on yourself and your craft.

But what if your school doesn’t have the opportunities that you think will help you grow into the best version of the artist, actor, or performer that you could be? There are plenty of opportunities across the United States and beyond to take classes or be a part of programs to help further your passion and interest in the arts, for instance. You’ll want to take time to research what sort of program you’re looking for. For example, something competitive, something appreciative, and ultimately something that could help you better your craft.

And look no further than New York University’s amazing summer programs. With dozens of programs spanning every area of the arts, you’ll not only study with like-minded students, but you’ll learn from faculty that are masters of their craft. Also, you’ll get a chance to experience college life at NYU.

Hone Your Craft

So, perhaps you’d like to hone your craft as a part of the Tisch Summer High School Program ? With eight different concentrations ranging from dramatic writing to recorded music, this competitive program is for students looking to push themselves. And everything students do is a reflection of what undergraduates would study. But this is not a summer camp experience! You’ll be introduced to conservatory-style training. Also, with 12 to 16 students per section, you’ll get feedback from your fellow students and faculty.

Really dig in as you build a performing arts portfolio of your dramatic writing or photography pieces. And know that you’ll be perfecting your craft in whatever you may study. You may even find that some students helping instructors in this program are current undergraduates that got their start here.

If the summer isn’t an option, you can always check out online courses in filmmaking and screenwriting . These college-level courses will teach you the fundamentals of visual storytelling for the screen.

Sophomores and juniors local to the NYC area can also check out the Tisch Future Artists Program , which takes place during the spring semester as weekend intensives. Immerse yourself in disciplines like dance, drama, photography, recorded music, and game design, and build your portfolio with the mentorship of Tisch faculty.

And what about the Music and Performing Arts Professions (MPAP)? MPAP covers vocal performance, recorded music, woodwinds, jazz, and nearly a dozen different areas. So, a song writer might be a vocalist who could also take part in a summer music theatre workshop! Last year, students were able to have one-on-one private lessons while the program was remote.

When on-campus, students work and practice together toward a final performance. Where else will students in composition-based programs use raw film reels to arrange a piece? Or get to hear from industry leaders? Typically recorded, this is another piece to add to your performing arts portfolio.

If studio art is your passion, you can hone your skills and expand your artistic perspective through the Summer Arts Intensive , which prepares high school students to pursue fine arts degrees in disciplines like painting, printmaking, animation, and more. This month-long program allows students to explore their artistic instincts, while learning about theory and aesthetics through lectures and visits to NYC art museums and studios.

Make Connections

But perhaps even more important than that, students in these programs develop close relationships with faculty who may serve as mentors in your future. The Tisch Summer Residential High School Program and the various MPAPs have faculty that also teach in the undergraduate program. Also, students have a chance to build relationships with these faculty who can serve as mentors or future recommenders.

With applied practice, you can understand what studying with these faculty would be like. You’ll be pushed by other students to elevate your current level. You’ll get to build your confidence level and be prepared for challenges ahead. Remember, these same faculty may be reviewing creative portfolios or auditions in the future.

Your Future

Students entering into the performing arts space are all striving to perfect their craft and become a better performer. But it takes time to truly hone your skills. You’ll get a taste of what NYU is like, and what you may need in your future performing arts portfolio or audition. And you’ll learn from the best, and have a chance to get to know potential future faculty. All the while you’ll be with other students working to elevate your art. Take the opportunity to grow, and to build your performing arts portfolio or auditions pieces for the future.

Andrew LaVenia is Associate Director of Operations for University Programs. When he’s not introducing middle and high school students to summer programs at NYU, he’s writing short stories or on the field as a part of the NYC Ramblers, the country’s oldest LGBTQ soccer league. He earned his BA in Psychology from Boston College and completed an MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at NYU.

More from Andrew:

Performing Arts Spaces at Our New York City Campus

There are dozens of performing arts spaces at NYU, whether you want to take in a show, learn techniques from star faculty, or rehearse with classmates.

Dear High School Kimberly

A first-generation college student, Kimberly reassures her high school self that all of her hard work and perseverance will pay off, and that there are great things in store for her during her four years at NYU.

Letter to My High School Self

The leap from high school to college is a big one, but these NYU students assure their younger selves that everything is going to be OK.

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Intensive Workshop in Creative Writing