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.
Creative Writing in Lisbon
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or above
Location: Europe, Portugal
GPA: 2.5
Creative Writing in Lisbon
Program Overview
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.
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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
Creative Writing in Lisbon
2026 Summer
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| UO Study Abroad Fee | $500 |
| Program Tuition | $4,751 |
| Housing & Included Meals | $876 |
| Local Transportation | $28 |
| Insurance | $95 |
| 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 |
| 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 |