Literary Arts

Graduate

Graduate students in Brown's Literary Arts MFA program may choose to focus in one of three tracks – Fiction, Poetry, or Digital/Cross Disciplinary Writing.

Graduate

Graduate students in Brown's Literary Arts MFA program may choose to focus in one of three tracks – Fiction, Poetry, or Digital/Cross Disciplinary Writing.

The two-year program is structured to allow graduate student writers maximum possible time for creative and intellectual exploration. Students attend two courses each semester: the writing workshop and an elective in the first three semesters (with an additional half-course in pedagogy in semesters two and three); and in the final semester an independent study for completing the thesis as well as an elective.

Courses

Elective courses may be selected from among the full offerings of the Brown University curriculum. In years past, students have taken courses in literature, history, philosophy, theater and performance studies, modern culture and media, religious studies, and foreign languages. Studio fine arts courses and translation workshops are often appropriate choices – as are workshops offered on special topics or in other genres. 

Thesis

The thesis may be a substantial work of fiction or poetry, or a substantial digital or cross-disciplinary project. It is intended to represent the student’s achievement during the two years in residency at Brown.

Application review update

Offers of admission have been made to ten candidates (five in poetry, four in fiction, one in digital/cross-disciplinary); 18 others have been notified that they have been placed on a waitlist (10 in poetry, six in fiction, 2 in digital/cross-disciplinary). All others who applied have been notified of the university's regrets.

Application deadline

Applications may be submitted from 30 September to 11:59 pm ET on 15 December 2026.

Learn More About the Program

Tracks

Fiction, Poetry, Digital and Cross-Disciplinary, Playwriting, and Screenwriting and Non-fiction

Graduate Program Handbook

We have designed this handbook not only to introduce you to our policies and procedures, but also to prepare you for making the decisions that will shape your two years at Brown.

Learn About Applying

Admission

Admission is highly selective, and is based primarily on the quality of the applicant’s literary writing.