MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN THE FIELD OF CREATIVE WRITING IN ENGLISH (MFA)

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing in English at HKU is an advanced degree in creative writing: the art and craft of telling your own story. The first of its kind in Hong Kong and Asia, the MFA at HKU features the contemporary creative voice in multilingual contexts. A customised combination of coursework, workshops, studios, and individual advising offers each student opportunities in the artistic environment of the Black Box to explore creative writing, design practices, and the wider vision of a writer’s “built environment” on global audiences. Each writer joins in a community of shared fellowship and passion for creative writing. The unique design of the programme, exploring history and contemporary practices, allows writers in Hong Kong to discover the flexibility of both voice and achievement through the intense study of literary fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction. The MFA at HKU will guide the art of creative writing across genres as well as individual progress toward the creative thesis. It will look both to history and contemporary work internationally in the field. No programme can guarantee publication. At the same time, the MFA in creative writing will introduce approaches and plans for preparation of publishing in a writer’s chosen genre.

Through classes, workshops, individual advising, and participation in the Creative Writing Forum in the School of English, the programme aims to offer:

• intense focus on an individual writer’s growing body of achievement, along with expertise in editing drafts with greater independence, accuracy, and historical awareness in the craft and discipline of creative writing
• the discovery of common concerns, problems, and practices of creative writing in a community of fellow writers and scholars on campus
• encouragement and continuity of creative writing in Hong Kong and internationally.

Opens from September 25, 2025.

For latest admission information, please visit the Admissions Office, Registry’s website at:

https://portal.hku.hk/tpg-admissions/programme-listing

For links to application documents, please visit:
https://portal.hku.hk/tpg-admissions/programme-details?programme=master-of-fine-arts-in-the-field-of-creative-writing-in-english-arts&mode=0

DEADLINEs FOR APPLICATION

Round 1: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), November 28, 2025

Round 2: 12:00 noon (GMT +8), March 20, 2026

2026-27: HKD$307,800 per annum (Composition fee)

Candidates who have accepted a conditional offer will be asked to pay the 1st instalment of tuition fees.

***Once you have paid the initial deposit to secure your place on the programme, please note that it is NOT transferable to other MA Programmes at HKU or refundable in any way.***

The Master of Fine Arts in the field of Creative Writing in English is offered full-time over one year, designed to foster creativity that transcends boundaries between genres, cultures, and languages.

The programme consists of 60 credits, including two compulsory 6-credit courses, two compulsory 9-credit courses, three elective 6-credit courses, and a 12-credit Capstone Experience. Courses in the programme feature foundation courses, workshops, seminar discussions, experiential learning activities in the Black Box Studio, as well as sustained Individual Advising for each writer. Each of these courses will contribute to the writer’s own vision and culminating Creative Dissertation, while emphasising the rigorous coursework, readings and studies needed to realise it.

On successful completion of the Master of Fine Arts in the field of Creative Writing in English programme, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of history and contemporary practices in the field of creative writing and point of view, with a focus in the field of the multilingual and global creative writer.
2. Analyze with critical and creative skills in the practices of creative perspective and communications internationally, across contemporary and fluid developments of genre and multimedia platforms.
3. Analyze the problems and productive junctures of period and craft in the field of creative writing and design, along with the identifying major and pivotal moments in language practices and communications for the creative writer.
4. Identify and practice critical and creative strategies of revision through collaborative workshops and studios, developing expertise in creative approaches for public circulation and dissemination.
5. Prepare under supervision an original creative work in multilingual contexts eligible for submission to international and professional standards of publication in the field.
6. Prepare for professional participation in the field of creative writing through guided work in the ‘built environments’ of contemporary creative practices and writing: including professional literary journals, creative agencies, and online presence.

Click here for the pdf version.

MFA Students Receive Major Prizes in National Creative Writing Contest

Three fresh graduates from our MFA in Creative Writing in English programme have received First, Second, and Third Prizes in the 12th National Creative Writing Contest in English (第12届全国英语创意写作大赛). This highly competitive national competition attracts submissions from universities and student writers across China and is judged by panels of experts from leading institutions.

Our awardees are:
• First Prize — Vivian Liu
• Second Prize — Lily Tang
• Third Prize — Ruby Gao

Their outstanding achievements reflect the creativity and dedication of our growing MFA community.
We are looking forward to featuring some of their creative work in the forthcoming issue of Black Box Magazine, the School’s MFA‑centred publication.

Full results: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/k4ZXbq98b8NUzrLq6qSfBw

Dr. Brandon Chua
Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies
School of English
The University of Hong Kong

Dr. Antony Huen
Programme Director
School of English
The University of Hong Kong

E-mail for enquiries: mfahku@hku.hk