The Alma College MFA in Creative Writing is pleased to announce its next exciting international residency location:
Oxford, England
August 19-28, 2025
The University of Oxford will host students and alumni of the program August 19-28, 2025 at St. Hugh’s College, known for its beautiful gardens and tradition of hospitality. Our writers will walk the same storied streets traveled by J.R.R. Tolkien, Susan Sontag, Seamus Heaney, Emma Thompson, Dorothy L. Sayers, C.S. Lewis, and Oscar Wilde.
For students of writing and lovers of literature, there’s nothing quite like treading in the footsteps of Oxford’s literary giants. From fantasy legends like Tolkien and detective writing geniuses like Sayers, this city holds in its heartbeat the words of some of the world’s great authors."
- Sophfronia Scott, MFA in Creative Writing Program Director
Outside the classroom
- Enjoy excursions such as a tour of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, the Ashmolean Museum, and drinks and supper at Tolkien’s favorite pub, The Eagle and Child.
- Venture out to Highclere Castle (the location of Downton Abbey) for tea in the stables.
- Walk through Christ Church Meadows (inspiration to Lewis Carroll) down to the River Thames to see the popular boat houses and make a nighttime visit to Tolkien’s grave.
Our MFA program emphasizes ‘place’ and understanding what it means to write from the ground on which you stand,” says director Scott. “Every time our students travel, they learn something not only about the destination, but about themselves and their own writing. It challenges them to think more deeply about where their own work is coming from. It’s profoundly inspiring and I can’t wait to see what magic Oxford has in store for them."
- Sophfronia Scott, MFA in Creative Writing Program Director
Our Oxford Partner
Janet Simmonds of Grand Tourist UK is an Oxford University Graduate (St Hugh’s 1980-1983) with Master’s Degrees in Geography (Oxford, 1983) and History of Art (Manchester, 1999). She will lead the group and offer perspective on life as a student at Oxford, and the joys of being an Oxford alumna.
For more than 800 years Oxford has been a center of learning. Originally there were just a handful of colleges or halls run on monastic principles. Today Oxford is one of the most respected universities in the world. I’m delighted to be sharing this residency experience with our friends from Alma College. Let’s see if Oxford is indeed, in the words of the poet Matthew Arnold, ‘the city of dreaming spires.’ It certainly was for me.”
- Janet Simmonds, Grand Tourist UK
The Oxford residency marks the start of the MFA’s Fall 2025 term.
The deadline to apply is May 30, 2025.
All applications will receive a response within two weeks.
Since spots are expected to fill quickly, early submissions are encouraged.