Best Creative Writing Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Creative Writing

#1 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

2

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

For Creative Writing

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

3

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Creative Writing

#2 in North America #1 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

4

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#2 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

5

United Kingdom | England

University College London

For Creative Writing

#3 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

6

United States | California

Stanford University

For Creative Writing

#3 in North America #2 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

7

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

For Creative Writing

#4 in North America #2 in Canada

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

8

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Creative Writing

#5 in North America #3 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

9

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

For Creative Writing

#6 in North America #4 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

10

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Creative Writing

#7 in North America #5 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

11

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Creative Writing

#8 in North America #6 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

12

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

For Creative Writing

#4 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

13

Canada | Alberta

University of Alberta

For Creative Writing

#9 in North America #3 in Canada

53% Acceptance

31,185 Enrollment

1908 Founded

14

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of Edinburgh

For Creative Writing

#6 in Europe #6 in United Kingdom

51% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1583 Founded

15

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Creative Writing

#10 in North America #7 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

16

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Creative Writing

#11 in North America #8 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

17

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Creative Writing

#12 in North America #9 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

18

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Creative Writing

#13 in North America #10 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

19

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Creative Writing

#14 in North America #11 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

20

United States | New York State

New York University

For Creative Writing

#15 in North America #12 in United States

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

21

United States | California

University of Southern California

For Creative Writing

#16 in North America #13 in United States

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

22

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

For Creative Writing

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

23

United Kingdom | England

University of Exeter

For Creative Writing

#7 in Europe #7 in United Kingdom

73% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1955 Founded

24

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Creative Writing

#17 in North America #14 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

25

United Kingdom | England

University of York

For Creative Writing

#8 in Europe #8 in United Kingdom

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

26

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Creative Writing

#18 in North America #15 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

27

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

For Creative Writing

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

28

United Kingdom | England

University of Nottingham

For Creative Writing

#9 in Europe #9 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

29

United Kingdom | England

University of Leeds

For Creative Writing

#10 in Europe #10 in United Kingdom

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

30

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Creative Writing

#19 in North America #16 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

31

Denmark | Aarhus

Aarhus University

For Creative Writing

#11 in Europe #1 in Denmark

42% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1928 Founded

32

United Kingdom | England

University of Birmingham

For Creative Writing

#12 in Europe #11 in United Kingdom

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

33

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Creative Writing

#20 in North America #17 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

34

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

For Creative Writing

#21 in North America #18 in United States

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

35

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Creative Writing

#22 in North America #19 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

36

United Kingdom | England

University of Sheffield

For Creative Writing

#13 in Europe #12 in United Kingdom

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

37

United States | Georgia, US

Emory University

For Creative Writing

#23 in North America #20 in United States

11% Acceptance

967 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

38

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

For Creative Writing

#24 in North America #4 in Canada

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

39

United States | Virginia

University of Virginia

For Creative Writing

#25 in North America #21 in United States

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

40

Canada | Ontario

York University

For Creative Writing

#26 in North America #5 in Canada

32% Acceptance

53,000 Enrollment

1959 Founded

41

United States | North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Creative Writing

#27 in North America #22 in United States

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

42

Australia | Clayton

Monash University

For Creative Writing

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

73% Acceptance

78,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

43

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

For Creative Writing

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

44

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Creative Writing

#28 in North America #23 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

45

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Creative Writing

#29 in North America #24 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

46

United States | Massachusetts

Boston College

For Creative Writing

#30 in North America #25 in United States

16% Acceptance

9,942 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

47

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Creative Writing

#31 in North America #26 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

48

United Kingdom | England

Durham University

For Creative Writing

#14 in Europe #13 in United Kingdom

46% Acceptance

19,520 Enrollment

1832 Founded

49

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Creative Writing

#32 in North America #27 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

50

Denmark | Copenhagen

University of Copenhagen

For Creative Writing

#15 in Europe #2 in Denmark

37% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1479 Founded

51

Australia | St Lucia

University of Queensland

For Creative Writing

#5 in Oceania #5 in Australia

70% Acceptance

48,771 Enrollment

1909 Founded

52

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of Glasgow

For Creative Writing

#16 in Europe #14 in United Kingdom

48% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1451 Founded

53

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

For Creative Writing

#33 in North America #28 in United States

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

54

United Kingdom | England

University of Bristol

For Creative Writing

#17 in Europe #15 in United Kingdom

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

55

United Kingdom | England

Lancaster University

For Creative Writing

#18 in Europe #16 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1964 Founded

56

Netherlands | Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

For Creative Writing

#19 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

51% Acceptance

41,000 Enrollment

1632 Founded

57

United Kingdom | England

University of Warwick

For Creative Writing

#20 in Europe #17 in United Kingdom

23% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1965 Founded

58

New Zealand | Auckland

University of Auckland

For Creative Writing

#6 in Oceania #1 in New Zealand

73% Acceptance

21,240 Enrollment

1883 Founded

59

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Creative Writing

#34 in North America #29 in United States

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

60

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Creative Writing

#35 in North America #30 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

61

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

For Creative Writing

#36 in North America #31 in United States

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

62

United Kingdom | Wales

Cardiff University

For Creative Writing

#21 in Europe #18 in United Kingdom

39% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1997 Founded

63

United States | Florida

University of South Florida

For Creative Writing

#37 in North America #32 in United States

43% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1225 Avg SAT

1956 Founded

64

Canada | Alberta

University of Calgary

For Creative Writing

#38 in North America #6 in Canada

55% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1966 Founded

65

Brazil | Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

For Creative Writing

#1 in Latin America #1 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

66

Israel | Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv University

For Creative Writing

#1 in Asia #1 in Israel

44% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

67

United States | District of Columbia

Georgetown University

For Creative Writing

#39 in North America #33 in United States

13% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

68

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

For Creative Writing

#22 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

69

Finland | Helsinki

University of Helsinki

For Creative Writing

#23 in Europe #1 in Finland

12% Acceptance

31,312 Enrollment

1640 Founded

70

United States | Florida

Florida State University

For Creative Writing

#40 in North America #34 in United States

24% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

71

United Kingdom | England

University of Sussex

For Creative Writing

#24 in Europe #19 in United Kingdom

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

72

Israel | Jerusalem

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

For Creative Writing

#2 in Asia #2 in Israel

23% Acceptance

23,500 Enrollment

1918 Founded

73

United Kingdom | England

University of London

For Creative Writing

#25 in Europe #20 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1836 Founded

74

United States | California

University of California – Irvine

For Creative Writing

#41 in North America #35 in United States

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

75

United Kingdom | England

University of Southampton

For Creative Writing

#26 in Europe #21 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

76

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Creative Writing

#42 in North America #36 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

77

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

For Creative Writing

#43 in North America #37 in United States

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

78

Norway | Oslo

University of Oslo

For Creative Writing

#27 in Europe #1 in Norway

27% Acceptance

26,650 Enrollment

1811 Founded

79

Canada | British Columbia

University of Victoria

For Creative Writing

#44 in North America #7 in Canada

52% Acceptance

15,999 Enrollment

1963 Founded

80

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

For Creative Writing

#45 in North America #38 in United States

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

81

Israel | Haifa

University of Haifa

For Creative Writing

#3 in Asia #3 in Israel

70% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1963 Founded

82

United Kingdom | England

London School of Economics and Political Science

For Creative Writing

#28 in Europe #22 in United Kingdom

8% Acceptance

9,218 Enrollment

1895 Founded

83

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Creative Writing

#46 in North America #39 in United States

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

84

Australia | Sydney

Macquarie University

For Creative Writing

#7 in Oceania #6 in Australia

72% Acceptance

38,747 Enrollment

1964 Founded

85

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of St Andrews

For Creative Writing

#29 in Europe #23 in United Kingdom

33% Acceptance

10,425 Enrollment

1413 Founded

86

Sweden | Lund

Lund University

For Creative Writing

#30 in Europe #1 in Sweden

58% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1666 Founded

87

United Kingdom | England

Royal Holloway, University of London

For Creative Writing

#31 in Europe #24 in United Kingdom

55% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1849 Founded

88

Canada | Ontario

Western University

For Creative Writing

#47 in North America #8 in Canada

31% Acceptance

21,836 Enrollment

1878 Founded

89

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Creative Writing

#48 in North America #40 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

90

United States | Pennsylvania

Temple University

For Creative Writing

#49 in North America #41 in United States

80% Acceptance

21,457 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

91

United Kingdom | England

Queen Mary University of London

For Creative Writing

#32 in Europe #25 in United Kingdom

18% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1989 Founded

92

United Kingdom | England

University of Liverpool

For Creative Writing

#33 in Europe #26 in United Kingdom

24% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1881 Founded

93

Australia | Brisbane

Griffith University

For Creative Writing

#8 in Oceania #7 in Australia

65% Acceptance

37,426 Enrollment

1971 Founded

94

Australia | Geelong

Deakin University

For Creative Writing

#9 in Oceania #8 in Australia

69% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1974 Founded

95

United States | Iowa State

University of Iowa

For Creative Writing

#50 in North America #42 in United States

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

96

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Creative Writing

#51 in North America #43 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

97

United States | Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Creative Writing

#52 in North America #44 in United States

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

98

United States | Utah

University of Utah

For Creative Writing

#53 in North America #45 in United States

86% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

99

Ireland | Dublin

Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin

For Creative Writing

#34 in Europe #1 in Ireland

48% Acceptance

20,430 Enrollment

1592 Founded

100

United States | California

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Creative Writing

#54 in North America #46 in United States

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Creative Writing

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