What is the best Ivy League school for studying a creative writing research degree?

Hi there. I’m from Scotland and I’ve applied to do a research degree at Edinburgh and Glasgow University. I was considering applying as an international student at the same time if I managed to get a good mark on my MPhil. Can I ask what the best Ivy League school is for studying creative writing? I would also be interested in the possibility of distance learning if that was possible with any of them. Also, what are the differences between Yale, Harvard and Princeton?

If anybody could help it would be much appreciated.

I’m not sure exactly what you are asking:

When you say that you have applied to do a ‘research degree’, do you mean a PhD?

And if so, are you asking which of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia or the University of Pennsylvania has the best PhD in creative writing?

For a start, Harvard, Yale and Princeton do not offer a PhD in Creative Writing- only in English, with no formal creative writing specialization. Princeton has strong creative writing courses for undergraduates, which graduate students can sit in on (space permitting).

Graduate school prestige and rankings are really different than undergrad (both in the UK and the US). The choice is more about the specific program and researchers than about the institution. I know of a recent Cambridge grad who turned down a Cambridge PhD in favor of Nottingham- b/c the world expert in her specialty is there. At grad level, that will matter in a way that it doesn’t at undergrad.

Hi Collegemom, thanks for your reply.

Yes I was talking about a PhD, they are called research degrees back here. Glasgow and Edinburgh University both have PhD’s in Creative Writing. I’m kind of disappointed they don’t have them at the Ivy League’s. I was particularly interested in Yale, Princeton or Harvard.

@jamsie101 The english graduate programs of the Ivies are ranked as follows on USnews:

Harvard

Columbia/Princeton/Penn/Yale

Cornell

Brown

I do not think that Dartmouth offers a graduate degree in english.

That is one piece of info and is not definitive. I do not think that any of the ivies offer PhDs specifically in creative writing. however i am sure in all of the programs you would have the chance to take creative writing courses.

why are you limiting it to the “Ivy” schools? Creative writing is a very niche topic at the graduate school level and there are extremely well-thought of programs that are NOT at one of those 8 schools. This is not my area of expertise, but I am aware of Iowa; I did a quick search and found this (somewhat dated) list: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/08/the-best-of-the-best/306049/

Thanks for replying donnaleigh. It’s just that I have been researching Yale and it is a university I have a lot of interest in. I’ll certainly have a look at the link you sent me.

If you’re looking for distance learning from an Ivy League school - one of the very best (and free) online courses is ModPo from Penn: https://www.coursera.org/learn/modpo A fabulous course in modern poetry.
But @donnaleighg is right - what you’re looking for is an MFA in Creative Writing, and the most prestigious programs are not necessarily at Ivy League universities. Also, on that link posted you’ll find ‘low-residency’ programs which might suit your needs. As a writer at the grad level, you should be looking at faculty foremost - not the institution.

As others have suggested, if you are looking at graduate creative writing degrees in the United States, the cast of leading characters is quite different from undergrad programs–for example, as somebody already noted, the University of Iowa is a top-notch program. It can also depend on what specifically you want to write–the top programs will be different for poetry, fiction, and dramatic writing.