Opportunity to network
Like many graduate degree programs, the people you meet in the classroom and network with are a return on investment. With small but influential classmates who are just as motivated as you, you can learn from others, expand your social network, and cultivate relationships that will help you advance in your career. Beyond that, getting to meet professors in the field and learning from them is a great way to develop relationships for navigating the writing industry.Develop writing skills
There is more to writing than simply writing. A creative writing degree would help you polish your writing skills. Pursuing a degree will introduce you to different writing techniques, story arcs, plot structure and language use. It is a great way to engage in workshops and learn strategies for writing.Diversify and explore career interests
If you are interested in research and other writing-related careers, an advanced degree might be a good fit for you. Earning another degree can help you explore other careers such as research, teaching, publishing, and even film production.Get into storytelling research
Stories are not created in a vacuum. The politics of writing, histories, and metaphors are both intentional and creative. Pursuing a degree can lead you down the rabbit hole of research, allowing you to become a better writer who understands the world and the psychology of characters as they interact with others. Additionally, you could potentially explore a career in research.Explore diverse genre
Last but not least, a degree is a sure way to get exposed to different genres and experiment and practice different writing forms. A creative writing degree exposes you to many genres and encourages you to push your limit.Funding Opportunities
While it sounds like a great investment, pursuing an advanced degree comes at a financial cost. And unfortunately for Ghanaians, financial cost can be a huge barrier to reaching our academic and professional goals. Fortunately, there are many institutions that provide some form of funding or even full funding for an MA/MFA or PhD in Creative Writing. Many universities in Ghana do not yet offer programs in creative writing; hence, it is worth looking into international universities. The United States in particular takes the lead in schools that provide good funding packages for graduate studies, including creative writing degrees. Other universities in the UK and Canada provide some forms of funding. If you are looking to lower costs, you might also look into other African countries like South Africa. These universities might not provide full funding but are relatively cheaper than others in North America and Europe.If you are thinking about it, you should go for it. The worst that could happen is that you would end up with an advanced degree in a year or two. If you are unsure of where to start, this list of graduate programs in creative writing is a great place to start:
Programs in the USA
- MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Washington in Seattle (Fully funded through teaching assistantship).
- MFA in Creative Writing at Boston University (Fully funded through teaching assistantships).
- MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Houston (Funding available through teaching assistantships and fellowships).
- PhD in Literature at the University of California Santa Cruz. This program allows you to take a creative writing concentration. It is fully funded through teaching assistantships. Apply here.
- MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (Full funding through Teaching assistantships. Apply here
- MFA in Creative Writing at Boise State University (Fully funded). Apply here
- MFA in Creative Writing at University of California San Diego (Various forms of financial support and teaching assistantships available). Apply here
Programs in Canada to Consider
- MA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Concordia University Montreal. Funding is available for thesis- and research-based programs. Apply here
- MFA in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. There are not many funding opportunities available; however, this school offers very low tuition. Apply here
Programs in the UK
- MA in Creative Writing at the University of Essex. Like many UK-based programs, there are limited teaching assistantships and funding available. However, this university offers relatively low tuition as well as tuition discounts and forms of financial support through bursaries. Apply here
- MA/MFA in Creative Writing at Kingston University. There is no specified funding opportunities available; however, you might be able to apply to get financial support through external scholarships and fellowships.
- MFA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. There are various forms of scholarships and bursaries specific to your country of origin and other factors you can apply to. Apply here
Programs in South Africa
- MA in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town. This is a good option if you want a competitive and good program with low tuition and close to home. Apply here
- MA in Creative Writing at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The program offers postgraduate merit scholarships and partial funding. Find out more here