US · Master's
University of Iowa
MFA in Creative Writing (Iowa Writers' Workshop)
University of Iowa
Course Overview
The Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa is the oldest and most distinguished MFA programme in the world — founded 1936, host to 17 Pulitzer Prize-winning alumni (Marilynne Robinson, Michael Cunningham, Jane Smiley, Paul Harding) and roughly half of all major American novelists and poets of the last 70 years. The 2-year MFA is offered in two tracks (Fiction or Poetry), capped at ~25 admitted students per year — making it one of the most selective graduate writing programmes anywhere (acceptance rate typically 2-3%). Workshop-based teaching pairs students with faculty including Lan Samantha Chang, Charles D'Ambrosio, and Elizabeth Willis; the thesis is a publishable manuscript (novel-in-progress or full poetry collection).
Sri Lankan applicants from English, Comparative Literature, Aesthetic Studies (Kelaniya, VPA), or any rigorous humanities background apply when they have a substantial portfolio — Iowa admits almost exclusively on the strength of the writing sample (25-30 pages prose / 10-12 poems). The University of Iowa is also a UNESCO City of Literature (one of only 53 worldwide) and the workshop's network of literary agents, editors at FSG / Knopf / Graywolf, and the bi-annual Iowa Review feed directly into post-MFA publishing careers. Many Iowa MFAs go on to teach at Ivy and R1 institutions; Sri Lankan literary alumni include Shyam Selvadurai and Romesh Gunesekera who passed through Iowa's International Writing Program.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree in any discipline — Iowa Writers' Workshop admits primarily on writing sample, not major.
- check_circle Sri Lankan A/L applicants typically arrive after a UK / US Bachelor's, or a strong local Bachelor's from Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Colombo (Faculty of Arts).
- check_circle Writing Sample (25-30 pages prose for Fiction, 10-12 poems for Poetry) — by far the most important admissions factor.
- check_circle Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) on writing trajectory and engagement with literary tradition.
- check_circle Three academic / professional references — ideally from writers, professors, or editors familiar with your work.
- check_circle GRE is NOT required.
- check_circle No publication record required — many admitted candidates have minimal prior publication.
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (no minimum per section).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if you have completed a previous degree taught and assessed entirely in English at a recognised institution.
- check_circle Note: For a creative writing MFA, demonstrated mastery of English prose / poetry in the writing sample matters far more than test scores.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (USD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-resident — often waived by TA appointment) | USD 35,000 | Rs. 11,200,000 |
| Teaching Assistantship Stipend (most students receive a TA — covers tuition + ~USD 21,000/yr stipend) | USD 21,000+ | Rs. 6,720,000+ |
| Living Expenses in Iowa City (per year) | USD 14,000 | Rs. 4,480,000 |
| Health Insurance & Mandatory Fees | USD 3,500 | Rs. 1,120,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS & Application Fees | USD 850 | Rs. 272,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (2 years, self-funded baseline) | USD 106,700 | Rs. 34,144,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for 12 months F-1 OPT (no STEM extension — MFA is non-STEM). Iowa MFA graduates publish through major US trade houses (Knopf, FSG, Norton, Graywolf, Riverhead) and route into roles at literary magazines (The New Yorker, Paris Review, n+1), academic press (Iowa, FSG, Coffee House), and into tenure-track creative writing professorships at Ivy League, R1, and small liberal-arts colleges. Median post-MFA income mixes book advances, teaching, and editorial work; full-time creative writing professor salaries USD 60,000-110,000. Sri Lankan returnees route into English department posts at the Colombo Faculty of Arts, Kelaniya, Peradeniya, J'pura, VPA; creative direction at Bookworm / Sarasavi publishers; literary journalism at the Daily FT culture pages, The Sunday Times, Roar Media, Groundviews; and into the rapidly-growing Sinhala/Tamil/English short-fiction scene (Gratiaen Prize, State Literary Award, Fairway National Literary Awards).
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