Portfolio & letter of intent
Admissions requirements specific to submitting your portfolio and letter of intent for programs or courses in Creative Writing (CW).
Applying to the Creative Writing program:
Students applying for a program in Creative Writing (Major, Minor) must upload the following:
- An English-language portfolio of your best writing.
The portfolio must not exceed 15 pages in length and must include at least two genres (chosen from fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction), although the portfolio does not have to be divided equally between the genres.
- A brief letter of intent addressed to “Coordinator of Creative Writing.”
In the letter, state the program for which you are applying, outline your background as a reader and a writer, and discuss your goals for study in creative writing, as well as one or more literary works that have influenced you. The letter must include complete contact information (name, email, mailing address, phone number, and your Concordia University Student I.D. Number, if you have one). If you are applying for a Major, state whether creative writing is your first, second, or third choice program. (Please note that the Honours program is open only to Concordia students who have completed 24-30 credits at Concordia with a GPA of 3.30 or higher, including some courses in Creative Writing and/or English literature.) Only one portfolio is required for submission, whether you are applying for the Major or the Minor. Do not upload transcripts or letters of recommendation with your Creative Writing Portfolio and Letter of Intent. (Transcripts and letters of recommendation are not to be submitted with the portfolio/LOI.)
N.B.: Your letter of intent and portfolio must be uploaded together as ONE PDF document. If you have a Concordia University Student I.D. Number, please include it on your letter of intent. Be sure to read your documents carefully before submission as NO subsequent uploads will be considered.
Applying to a single course in creative writing:
Students who are not in a Creative Writing program but who wish to apply for admission to a single Creative Writing course must upload the following:
- An English-language portfolio of your best writing in the genre of the course for which you are applying, (i.e. fiction for a fiction class). The portfolio must not exceed 10 pages.
- A brief letter of intent addressed to “Coordinator of Creative Writing.” The letter should state the course for which you are applying, your reasons for the request, along with any writing experience relevant to the course. The letter must also include complete contact information (name, email, mailing address, phone number, and your Concordia University Student I.D. Number). Do not upload transcripts or letters of recommendation with your Creative Writing Portfolio and Letter of Intent. (Transcripts and letters of recommendation are not to be submitted with the portfolio/LOI.) Please advise the creative writing program at angela.alleyne@concordia.ca when you have uploaded your documents, and include your Concordia University I.D. number. You will receive an email decision from the CW program within 4-6 weeks.
- Your letter of intent and portfolio must be uploaded together as ONE PDF document. Be sure to read your documents carefully before submission as NO subsequent uploads will be considered.
- You must upload your portfolio and letter of intent to your Student Centre by June 1 for courses starting in September and by November 7 for courses starting in January.
Formats & templates
This is the format for all portfolios:
- Twelve-point font, numbered. Fiction should be double-spaced. Drama spacing may vary but should be internally consistent. The format of a poem is at the writer’s discretion; the only rule is to consider your choices.
- All contact information (name, email, mailing address, phone number, and, if you have one, your Concordia University Student I.D. Number) should appear on the first page. Subsequent pages should include your name and the page number.
Important information for all applicants:
- Please read carefully and adhere to the information and guidelines.
- Admission into creative writing programs and courses is competitive. Not all portfolios are approved.
- Portfolios and letters of intent must pay close attention to spelling and grammar.
- Due to the high volume of portfolios, it is NOT possible for us to provide comments.
- Academic essays, journal entries, and newspaper articles will NOT be considered.
NOTE: Only one portfolio per academic session will be considered. If your portfolio is not approved, you may submit for any subsequent academic session (fall or winter) with a new portfolio and letter of intent.
All Students: Please note that student demand regularly outpaces our enrolment capacity. Early application is advisable in all cases. Auditing is NOT permitted under any circumstances.
Additional Information:
Please contact Ms. Angela Alleyne at
514-848-2424, ext. 2343 or angela.alleyne@concordia.ca
Both your portfolio and letter of intent must be uploaded as ONE PDF document to your Student Centre.
- Please see how to upload documents if you are unsure of the process.
- NEW students must also complete a university application.
- Ask a question about uploading documents.
Undergraduate dates & deadlines
Undergraduate University Application deadline for September: March 1
Both your portfolio and letter of intent must be uploaded to your Student Centre as ONE PDF document. NEW students must also complete a university application.
Undergraduate University Application deadline for January: November 1
Both your portfolio and letter of intent must be uploaded to your Student Centre as ONE PDF document. NEW students must also complete a university application.
If you are already a Concordia student in a BA program and wish to change your concentration to creative writing or to add a Minor in CW:
- You must upload your portfolio and letter of intent to your Student Centre by June 1 for courses starting in September and by November 7 for courses starting in January.
- Please advise the creative writing program at angela.alleyne@concordia.ca when you have uploaded your documents and include your Concordia University I.D. number in your email.
- You will receive an email decision from the CW program within 4-6 weeks
If you are already a Concordia student but in another Faculty (e.g. Fine Arts) or Degree (e.g. BSc) program, and wish to change your concentration to a BA in creative writing:
- You must complete a Degree Transfer form, available online at: www.concordia.ca/admissions/undergraduate/apply-now.html and please adhere to the deadlines for NEW students.
- There is a fee for Degree or Faculty Transfer.
- Both your portfolio and letter of intent must be uploaded to your Student Centre by March 1 for September admission; or by November 1 for January admission.
- You will receive a decision from the Admissions Office.
If you are in another Faculty or Degree program, and wish to only add a Minor in CW:
- You must upload your portfolio and letter of intent to your Student Centre by June 1 for courses starting in September and by November 7 for courses starting in January.
- Please advise the creative writing program at angela.alleyne@concordia.ca when you have uploaded your documents and include your Concordia University I.D. number in your email.
- You will receive an email decision from the CW program within 4-6 weeks.
If you are an undergraduate student from another university interested in taking creative writing courses at Concordia, you must first have written permission from your home university and be officially registered as a Visiting Student at Concordia.
Refer to this link for Visiting Students: www.concordia.ca/admissions/visiting-students.html#can
Once you have been officially registered as a Visiting Student at Concordia:
- You must upload your portfolio and letter of intent to your Student Centre by June 1 for courses starting in September and by November 7 for courses starting in January.
- Please advise the creative writing program at angela.alleyne@concordia.ca when you have uploaded your documents and include your Concordia University I.D. number in your email.
- You will receive an email decision from the CW program within 4-6 weeks.
If you are an Incoming Student Exchange student and are interested in taking creative writing courses, you must upload your creative writing portfolio and letter of intent with your Exchange application. The Creative Writing program will advise the Exchange Office of the decision.
Refer to this link for Exchange Students: www.concordia.ca/international/students-from-abroad/inbound-exchange/apply.html
If you are interested in being an Undergraduate Independent Student, please refer to this link for Independent Students: www.concordia.ca/admissions/independent-students.html
Once you have been officially registered as an Undergraduate Independent Student at Concordia, and are interested in taking creative writing courses at Concordia:
- You must upload your portfolio and letter of intent to your Student Centre by June 1 for courses starting in September and by November 7 for courses starting in January.
- Please advise the creative writing program at angela.alleyne@concordia.ca when you have uploaded your documents and include your Concordia University I.D. number in your email.
- You will receive an email decision from the CW program within 4-6 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit a portfolio of more than 15-pages?
No. The creative writing program receives over two hundred portfolios each year and so the page limit is necessary.
Does the letter of intent count as part of the 15-page portfolio?
No, but the letter of intent and the portfolio must be must be uploaded together as ONE PDF document. Be sure to read your documents carefully before submission as NO subsequent uploads will be considered.
Can I submit an excerpt from a screenplay or a story in my portfolio?
Yes. Please ensure the excerpt is long enough for us to evaluate the writing properly. A paragraph or two is not sufficient. An excerpt chosen from the beginning of the work is best, as there is no need to provide a synopsis for context.
What makes a good portfolio? Any tips?
A good portfolio is one that represents the best writing of which you are capable.
What are you looking for in the letter of intent?
Be yourself. Concentrate on a literary work that has influenced you – focussing not on its content but on how it is written – and on the reasons why you wish to enter our program.
May I submit a letter or recommendation?
No. Trust your portfolio and your letter of intent to speak for themselves. Any letters of recommendation submitted with the portfolio/LOI will render the application ineligible.
How many students get accepted to the program each year?
We accept approximately 30% of the applications we receive.
What does creative writing teach?
How to communicate. How to read analytically, think cogently, and write elegantly.
What kind of jobs/careers are there in creative writing?
All good writing is creative. Therefore, any job/career that demands writing skills may be open to you.
Can I upload my portfolio/letter of intent?
Yes, to your Student Centre, as one PDF document. If you are a Visiting, Exchange, or Independent Student, please follow the instructions on the Department of English website.
How do I know if I am accepted?
If you have applied on a university application, you will hear from Admissions. If not, you will be contacted by the Creative Writing program.
Will you accept the portfolio/letter of intent after the deadline?
On occasion, depending on the circumstances. However, if materials arrive significantly past the deadline, your application will be considered for the next admissions period.
If my portfolio is denied, can I meet with someone to get feedback for my next application?
Unfortunately, no. Due to the high volume of applications, it is not possible to offer feedback.