Admission Requirements & Scholarships
Admission Requirements
- A completed graduate study application form (Apply online now for free!).
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and official undergraduate transcripts.
- Official transcript(s) from any institution(s) in which postbaccalaureate or graduate course work was completed.
- Two letters of recommendation written by appropriate professionals.
- A current resume.
- Writing sample of fiction that must be 10 double-spaced pages. It should be no longer, though it can be part of larger work and not complete in itself. If you do select a part of a longer work, we strongly recommend that you give the beginning of the work, the first ten pages, and not a selection from later in the manuscript. This material will be reviewed for its author's overall potential as a writer of popular fiction - specifically such criteria as story sense, character development, realistic dialogue, plot development, originality, basic grammar and mechanics, and overall interest for the reader.
- Personal statement answering the following questions. Give no more than a paragraph for each. Be aware that if you are accepted into the program you will be asked to share this document with your advisor.
- What is your writing experience?
- What is the nature of your intended novel-length project and what is its genre?
- What background do you have in your chosen genre?
- The program demands a large amount of self-discipline and productive work habits (length requirements, deadlines, much reading and writing). How do you plan to handle this load?
- Are there any other factors (past experience, specialized knowledge) that would affect your chance of being successful in genre writing?
Most items can be uploaded to the online application. You can also email them to the Graduate and Online Studies Office: gadmit@setonhill.edu.
Application Deadlines
- April 5 to begin the program with a June residency.
- Nov 23 to begin the program with a January residency.
Scholarships
Future Voices in Popular Fiction Scholarships
Only available for a limited time! Must start in January 2027.
Apply:
- Before October 5th and become eligible for up to $6,000 in scholarships.
- Between October 6th – November 1st and become eligible for up to $4,000 in scholarships.
- Between November 2nd – November 23rd and become eligible for up to $2,000 in scholarships.
Disbursement and Eligibility
- The scholarship will be dispersed evenly during the student's first two years in the program (50% in Year 1, 50% in Year 2).
- Students must apply prior to the respective deadline dates and provide all required information prior to the November 23 application deadline to receive that tier's scholarship.
- The scholarship may not be stackable with other discounts or scholarships. (Your admission advisor can advise you if you are eligible for other discounts or scholarships.
Merit Scholarships
You don't have to fill out a separate application to be considered for a Seton Hill Merit Scholarship. We award merit scholarships based on the information provided in your Seton Hill application file.
Harlequin Diverse Voices Scholarship
This scholarship, underwritten by Harlequin in cooperation with Seton Hill's Writing Popular Fiction Program, supports writers who are underrepresented in publishing. Scholarships are awarded annually to students who show exceptional talent and passion for pursuing a career in writing, particularly in the romance genre.
We're Here to Help!
Contact the Office of Graduate and Online Studies at gadmit@setonhill.edu or (724) 838-4208.