Creative Writing in Lisbon

Program Overview

Attend the Creative Writing in Lisbon Info Session on 11/05/26 3:30p.m. in 627 Prince Lucien Campbell Hall.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and vibrant literary traditions of Portugal in the Creative Writing in Lisbon program! Through a combination of workshops, seminar discussions, writing assignments, and field trips, this program will offer writers the kind of special inspiration and insight that only travel can provide. You will become better acquainted with the internal workings of storytelling and the vast array of tools available to you as a writer of fiction. You will look closely at language, sentences, narrative voice, point of view, character, detail and structure in the workshop course, and will pay particular attention to the role of setting, through a series of place-based writing exercises, inspired by the coastal and historical sites of Lisbon. This program fosters creativity and growth in a supportive, dynamic environment. This program fulfills two of the six courses needed for the UO Creative Writing Minor.

Dates and Deadlines

Term	Year	Deadline	Arrival Date	Departure Date
Summer	2027	03/15/2027	07/10/2027	08/07/2027

This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early .Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement.

Hear from Our Students

Growing as a Writer Abroad

A group of UO students standing in a plaza

This was my third GEO program, and it easily set itself apart. Beyond the beautiful excursions, our Professors Karen and Casey Walker stand out for their dedication, carefully structured curriculum,… read more

Unlocking one's creativity

My time in Oviedo is something I will never forget. Before I even got there, I missed my second flight and had to spend a night in Amsterdam, a city I quickly fell in love with and intend to return… read more

Three Cities, One Global Journey: Exploring Spain with the UO Staff Grant Program

UO students holding UO flag in front of a castle in Spain

Image This summer, I had the privilege of representing the University of Oregon as a GEO Staff Grant Ambassador, visiting three spectacular… read more

Faculty-Led Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants to this program are eligible for program-specific scholarship funds. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$1,500. To be considered, apply to the GEO General Scholarship by the advertised deadline for the term you will be abroad. Students who apply will automatically be considered for all available funding within the General Scholarship, including this program's scholarship funds.

Academic Details

Students who enroll on this program will take the following courses:

Study abroad seminar: Literature for Creative Writers (4 credits)
Study abroad creative writing workshop: Intermediate/Advanced Fiction Writing (4 credits)

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

Prerequisites: Students must have completed one CRWR course at the 200 level such as CRWR 240, CRWR 244, or CRWR 245 with a grade of B– or better prior to the program start. Exceptions to the pre-requisites will be considered, particularly for students from other universities.

Faculty and Staff

This program is taught by Associate Professor, Karen Thompson Walker, and Faculty Co-Director, Casey Walker.

Karen Thompson Walker is a New York Times bestselling author of two novels, The Dreamers, which was a New York Times Editor’s Choice pick and a finalist for the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction, and The Age of Miracles, which was a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, an Indies Choice Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award and named one of the best books of the year by Financial Times, Publishers Weekly, People, O., The Oprah Magazine, and Amazon. Her work has been translated into 27 languages, and both of her books are in development for television. Her TED Talk about fear and the imagination has been viewed more than 2 million times. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Oregon. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Casey Walker holds a PhD in English Literature from Princeton University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He is the author of the novel Last Days in Shanghai and has widely published short fiction, essays, and criticism in The New York Times, El País, The Believer, Boston Review, The Common, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others. He was born and raised in a small town on the California-Mexico border, and is currently at work on a novel set in those borderlands. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Housing Description

Students will reside in single student housing units within walking distance of the academic center.

Budget and Price

2026 Summer

**GEO Program Fees**
Description	Amount
UO Study Abroad Fee	$500
Program Tuition	$4,751
Housing & Included Meals	$876
Local Transportation	$28
Insurance	$95

**Estimated Additional Expenses**
Description	Amount
Estimated Airfare from Eugene	$1,600
Estimated Additional Meals	$450
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses	$50
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical	$50
Estimated Cost of Acquiring Passport	$150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses	$200

**Total**
Description	Amount
Sub-Total: GEO Program Fees (Billed to UO Student Account)	$6,250
Sub-Total: Estimated Additional Expenses	$2,500
Total Estimated Cost of Participation	$8,750

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date	Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program	Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date	Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins	Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

To view the program specific cancellation policy dates and penalties, click the term budget dropdown menu.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

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