Pursue Undergraduate Program in

Creative Writing

About Creative Writing

Learn how to transform the world through writing.

We believe good writing can be taught and that good writers can be trained to be better writers.  Our faculty are all published writers with vast experience in a variety of genres including novels, short stories, poetry, memoir, creative nonfiction, cross-genre writing and digital experimentation.

Our faculty and recent graduates have been finalists or winners of almost every major Canadian literary award. Many continue to be active in the literary community, founding and staffing several major Canadian literary journals and presses. Our graduates are known for collaborating on publishing ventures that have changed Canadian literature.

Please note this program is intended for students with a year of undergraduate studies and is not for direct entry from high school. Students may apply after completing their first 48 credits by presenting a portfolio containing work in both poetry and prose fiction as evidence of writing experience.

What you’ll learn 


  • In every course, you’ll learn the hands-on skills needed to enter the professional literary world.
  • Exposure to core creative writing skills lets you develop your own style and gain confidence in your writing.
  • You’ll develop the communication, research, organizational, management and teamwork skills prized by today’s employers

Hands-on experiences 


  • Get an intimate view of Canada’s literary scene from alumni who are professional writers, editors and publishers.
  • Attend the Creative Writing Readers Series where you’ll hear contemporary Canadian and international writers in conversation and reading or performing their work.
  • Immerse yourself in internships with the Brick Literary Journal and other publishers.

Questions?

Contact us at goyork@yorku.ca 


Program Details


Offered By

Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Degrees Offered

BA

Fall Entry

Upper year only

Winter Entry

Upper year only

Summer Entry

Upper year only

Ways to Study

Full-Time, Part-Time

Possible Career Paths

  • editor
  • novelist
  • poet
  • screenwriter
Explore what you can do with your degree
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

BA

Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    To be considered a mature student, you must:
  • be at least 20 years old by the end of the calendar year of admission to the University;
  • have been out of full-time high school studies for at least two years; and
  • have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited college or university.
  • Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.
  • Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

    BA

    Requirements for admission:
  • Minimum of one full-year of undergraduate studies
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • For more information, visit the Creative Writing program website.
  • NOTE: this program is not for direct entry.