Admissions Info for MFA in Screenwriting
Below are graduate admissions instructions for the MFA in Screenwriting. If you have additional questions, please contact the RTF graduate office.
Deadlines
| Fall Admission Only (Note: The Deadline has passed for Fall 2025 Admission) | |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | September 1, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | December 1, 2025 |
Recommended Timeline
| Fall Admission Only | |
|---|---|
| Attend Virtual Info Session | October |
| Complete Application (Submit and Pay Fee) | November 20 |
| Send test scores to UT Austin (#6882 - Allow 2 to 4 weeks for scores to arrive) | November 20 |
| Update all supplemental materials using the “MyStatus” page | November 25 |
| Check status of your application from the “MyStatus” page | November 29 |
Qualifying Degrees
In order to be admitted to the MFA in Screenwriting in RTF, students must hold a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution. Undergraduate preparation, internships and professional experience should demonstrate sufficient preparation in film and video production to predict successful performance at the graduate level.
Instructions
Choose: Radio-Television-Film -- MFA in Screenwriting (major/degree)
Pay the application fee. You won't have access to the MyStatus page until you complete the online application and pay the application fee. This is where you will upload all supplemental materials.
Write an essay that explains your education and experience so far, your future goals, and how you think our program will help you achieve those goals. Rule of thumb is to keep this concise, no more than two printed pages, double-spaced. No other essay required.
Upload this as a PDF on the MyStatus page.
You should provide names and email addresses for three recommenders. Please contact us if your recommender is not able to use this online method. It is acceptable to submit a professional reference if you've been out of school for a long time.
The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) require a copy of your official transcript from each college and/or university that you have attended. U.S. applicants who have taken coursework through an Exchange Program, Semester Abroad or Study Abroad, please contact an Admissions Counselor at GIAC (512-475-7391) to determine if you need an original transcript from the foreign institution. Once you are admitted, you will need to send a hard copy of the official transcript.
Include education; work experience and internships; honors and awards; and publications or creative works.
Please submit one PRIMARY writing sample (completed feature screenplay OR 30- or 60-minute TV pilot) that best demonstrates your potential as a screenwriter. You may also submit a SECONDARY writing sample (feature screenplay, feature-in-progress, 30 or 60 minute TV pilot, spec TV script, short script, short story, or stage play). A secondary sample is NOT required. Please do not send adaptations unless it is your own work that you have adapted.
Michener Center For Writers
The University of Texas also offers MFAs through the Michener Center for Writers. The MFA in Writing is a three-year, full-time residency program, unique in its interdisciplinary focus. While writers apply and are admitted in a primary field of concentration—chosen from fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting—they have the opportunity to develop work in a second field during their program of study. Apply here.