Residencies
It’s the heart of the MFA experience. Students, faculty, visiting writers, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing.
The community lives both inside and outside the classroom as you and your fellow students share experiences, support each other, and form new bonds. During each 10-day residency, you’ll attend lectures and readings by faculty and visiting writers, participate in workshops, and hear from guest speakers to learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry. You’ll also meet with your faculty advisor to design a reading list and study plan for the forthcoming term.
At Home in Michigan
At Home in Michigan
Residency is about engaging with our surroundings. A sense of place, in terms of writing about place and respecting place is a hallmark of the program. We are proud to be the first and only low residency MFA in Michigan, and we take full advantage of the natural beauties the state affords.
The summer residencies are held on our lovely campus located in Alma, MI. Local retailer Ballyhoo Books serves as another location for readings as well as the place to purchase books for your term’s reading list and the work of our faculty and visiting writers.
We’ll convene for our winter residencies in a variety of locations. We’ll be able to appreciate Michigan’s abundant natural resources and sparkling winters with activities such as ice fishing, sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Guests have access to miles and miles of groomed cross-country ski trails located across the main road of the facility.
Summer Residency (August 20-27, 2025) – Deadline to apply: May 30
Winter Residency (December 27, 2024-January 4, 2025) – Deadline to apply: November 30
In Oxford, England (2025)
In Oxford, England (2025)
In July 2025 students spend a summer residency at the University of Oxford in England, the school that has for hundreds of years produced luminaries such as Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Indira Gandhi, and Stephen Hawking. The program includes tours of the iconic institution and town and lectures from university guest speakers.
In Venice, Italy
In Venice, Italy
In the spirit of powerful authors such as Lord Byron, Henry James, and Daphne du Maurier, the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing goes to Italy for a residency in the Veneto region of Italy, including the historic city of Venice and its surrounding countryside. We explore art, food, historical villas, and visit with local writers and artists. The site piques all the senses, from the scent of perfect risotto to the colors of the buildings of Burano. Students write from this well of experience for years to come. Excursions include the historic center of Venice including St. Mark’s Square; touring the Lagoon of Venice by private boat with visits to Torcello, Burano, and San Giorgio; and travel to the foothills of the Alps to the towns of Padova, Asolo, and Trieste.
Read the blog: Experience Venice, Italy, Through the Eyes of an Alma MFA Student
