Apply to the Playwriting Program at Boston University

Our MFA in Playwriting Program is a branch of the English Department in the College of Arts & Sciences at Boston University. Admission is competitive, so we urge you to follow the four-step guidelines below.

  1. You must complete a Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions Application. Click here to go the main Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions page, which links to an online application. When you fill out this application, indicate that your intended course of study is the graduate MFA Playwriting Program.
  2. You must read the pertinent sections of Graduate School of Arts & Sciences bulletin here. This is a compilation of necessary information on the admission procedures, application process, deadlines, financial aid, and the programs. (*Note we’re the MFA in Playwriting.)
  3. We ask for three letters of recommendation, including at least one letter assessing your ability for advanced academic study.
  4. In addition to the main Graduate School of Arts & Sciences application, the Playwriting Program requires that you submit a minimum of one original full-length play or two one-act plays. We are looking for writers who demonstrate an adept use of language, a strong sense of theatricality, and a flair for character-driven dramatic action.
  5. The ability to read or speak a foreign language is required for this degree. There are various ways to meet this obligation. You may contact the director of the Playwriting Program for further details.

Learning Objectives

Students graduating with an MFA in Playwriting are expected to:

  1. Write original dramatic works.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with and to assist directors, actors, and other theatre artists in the production of these works.
  3. Read the literature of others and develop an appreciation of the great works of the past and how their own work relates to and can benefit from them.

Financial Aid and Teaching Fellowships

We offer all of our students exceptional financial aid packages and at least one Teaching Fellowship during your course of study.

Application Deadline

All application materials, including submitted work, letters of recommendation, and a completed application form, must be received by January 15, 2024. (Please note: The application window is currently closed and will re-open in September of 2023.)

Our graduate students receive exceptional financial aid, and teaching fellowships are awarded. Accepted playwrights will enjoy a full tuition remission and a living stipend for their three years of study.

If you have questions about the application process, please email Program Director Nathan Alan Davis (davisn [at] bu.edu), or call the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Admissions Office at 617-353-2696.