Playwriting Programs
Below is a comprehensive list of playwriting programs from around the world. Beyond standard playwriting courses, you’ll also find programs that integrate writing with secondary skillsets such as dramaturgy and composition. Designed to launch your career, these programs will equip you with the essential skills needed to thrive in this creative industry.
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Undergraduate Playwriting Programs
Australia
Canada
England
Ireland
Scotland
USA
Doctoral/PhD Programs in Playwriting
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Undergraduate Playwriting Programs
Canada
Manitoba
The University of Winnipeg – Theatre and Film: Directing and Playwriting, BA
England
East of England
University of East Anglia – Drama and Creative Writing, BA (Hons)
University of Essex – Drama and Creative Writing, BA
London
Birkbeck University of London – Writing and Performance, BA (Hons)
Brunel University – Theatre and Creative Writing, BA (Hons)
Royal Central School of Speech & Drama – Writing for Performance, BA (Hons)
University of West London – Composition: Film/Theatre, BMus
North West England
University of Chester – Creative Writing and Drama, BA (Hons)
South East England
Royal Holloway University of London – Drama and Creative Writing, BA
South West England
Bath Spa University – Creative Writing and Drama, BA (Hons)
Yorkshire and the Humber
University of York – Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance, BA (Hons)
USA
California
Santa Clara University – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
Georgia
Savannah College of Art and Design – Dramatic Writing, BFA
Illinois
Columbia College Chicago – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
DePaul University – Playwriting, BFA
Northwestern University – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Playwriting, Directing, & Dramaturgy, BFA
Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University – Playwriting, BFA
Massachusetts
Salem State University – Theatre: Playwriting, BFA
Missouri
University of Missouri – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
New York
Fordham University – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
Marymount Manhattan College – Theatre: Writing for the Stage, BA
North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Theatre: Directing, Dramaturgy & Dramatic Writing, BA
Oregon
Eastern Oregon University – Theatre Arts: Playwriting and Dramaturgy, BA
Pennsylvania
Point Park University – Theatre Arts: Playwriting, BFA
Texas
University of Houston – Playwriting & Dramaturgy, BFA
Wisconsin
Carthage College – Theatre: Playwriting, BA
Graduate Playwriting Programs
Australia
New South Wales
The National Institute of Dramatic Art – Dramatic Writing, MFA
Canada
British Columbia
University of British Columbia – Creative Writing and Theatre, MFA
University of Victoria – Creative Writing: Playwriting, MFA
England
East of England
University of Essex – Playwriting, MA
London
Goldsmiths University of London – Dramaturgy and Writing for Performance, MA
Royal Central School of Speech & Drama – Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media, MA/MFA
University of the Arts London – Performance: Writing, MA
South East England
Royal Holloway University of London – Playwriting, MA
Bath Spa University – Scriptwriting, MA
South West England
Falmouth University – Writing for Script & Screen (Online), MA
Yorkshire and the Humber
University of Leeds – Writing for Performance and Digital Media, MA
Ireland
The LIR National Academy of Dramatic Art – Playwriting, MFA
University College Dublin – Writing for Stage and Screen, MA
University of Galway – Drama and Theatre: Playwriting and Dramaturgy, MA
Scotland
University of Glasgow – Playwriting & Dramaturgy, MLitt
University of Edinburgh – Playwriting, MSc
USA
Arizona
Arizona State University – Dramatic Writing, MFA
California
University of California, Los Angeles – Playwriting, MFA
University of California, San Diego – Playwriting, MFA
USC School of Dramatic Arts – Dramatic Writing, MFA
Connecticut
David Geffen School of Drama at Yale – Playwriting, MFA
Georgia
Savannah College of Art and Design – Dramatic Writing, MFA
Illinois
Northwestern University – Writing for the Screen and Stage, MFA
Southern Illinois University – Playwriting, MFA
Indiana
Indiana University Bloomington – Playwriting, MFA
Iowa
The University of Iowa – Playwriting, MFA
Louisiana
The University of New Orleans – Playwriting, MFA
Massachusetts
Boston University – Playwriting, MFA
Smith College – Playwriting, MFA
New Jersey
Rutgers University-New Brunswick – Theatre: Playwriting, MFA
New Mexico
University of New Mexico – Dramatic Writing, MFA
New York
Columbia University – Theatre: Playwriting, MFA
Hunter College – Playwriting, MFA
NYU: Tisch School of the Arts – Musical Theatre Writing, MFA
Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University – Dramatic Writing, MFA
Temple University – Theater: Playwriting, MFA
Rhode Island
Brown University – Playwriting, MFA
Texas
Texas Tech University – Theatre Arts: Playwriting, MFA
University of Texas at Austin – Theatre: Playwriting, MFA
Washington, D.C.
The Catholic University of America – Playwriting, MFA
Doctoral/PhD Programs in Playwriting
England
University of Essex – Playwriting, PhD
USA
Texas
Texas Tech University – Fine Arts: Theatre Arts (Playwriting), PhD
Other Playwriting Programs
Canada
Quebec
National Theatre School of Canada – Playwriting, Artist Diploma
USA
New York
The Juilliard School – Playwriting, Artist Diploma
* Is your program or university not on the list? Let us know!