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General questions about doctoral/PhD studies

Here you will find more general information about the doctoral/PhD programs offered at the Academy, potential supervisors, the general conditions of the programs, and information on ongoing dissertation/PhD projects.

    Information about the doctoral/PhD programs at the Academy of Fine Arts

      I would like to enroll into a doctoral program at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Where can I find information on the programs?

        The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offers four doctoral programs:

          I am thinking of enrolling in doctoral studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, but I don't know how to, and I have several questions. What should I do?

            We are happy to help you and strive to answer any questions about our doctoral studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Therefore, we are continually extending our online information.  Before you personally contact any of our staff with an individual query, please consult the website. In the FAQs section, we have tried to anticipate your questions as far as possible. Furthermore, you can find specific information on all our doctoral programs (along with the respective study plans).
            Under study information, you can find a variety of questions that might arise in the course of studying at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

              What actually is the PhD in Practice program?

                In 2010, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna launched a doctoral program for research in artistic practice. The PhD in Practice program allows participants to pursue their individual research projects in a collective learning environment with a decidedly transdisciplinary and international bent. The program is coordinated by Renate Lorenz (Professor for Art and Research) and Anette Baldauf (Professor for Methodology and Epistemology).

                For more information about the PhD in Practice program, see also here.

                  How do I choose between the doctoral programs PhD in Practice and Dr. phil.?

                    The PhD in Practice program concentrates on arts-based research, while the Dr. phil. program investigates art-related topics from a purely scholarly, scientific perspective (and not from that of arts-based research). These different approaches, therefore, represent one of the main criteria for choosing one of the doctoral programs. No admission examination is required for the philosophical doctorate. However, you will need to find a supervisor among the Academy's supervisors in the Dr.phil. program; the PhD in Practice program has a yearly call for submissions. You will need to fulfill the above listed and linked admission requirements for either doctoral program. To give you a deeper insight into our doctoral programs, we recommend reading the information and the curricula to be found here for the respective study program.

                      I am not sure whether doctoral studies are the right thing for me. Is there any personal counseling?

                        This will depend on your questions, but we expect you to have read these FAQs carefully before consulting the respective institute or potential supervisor(s) for personal counseling.

                        If you are not sure whether a doctoral program is right for you, the following thoughts might help you decide:

                        • Doctoral theses are scientific papers that provide evidence of the ability to handle scientific issues independently. Did you acquire sufficient knowledge of scientific work during your diploma or master's studies to build upon during your doctoral studies?
                        • Have you ever written a thesis or final paper? How did you cope?
                        • You have access to doctoral theses at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna library or other university libraries. Can you imagine writing such a thesis yourself?
                        • Think about the rough working steps and techniques (research, reading, scientific work, writing) as well as a rough schedule or time frame for your thesis. Can you imagine yourself taking these steps?
                        • Several guidebooks for (potential) doctoral candidates are also available at e.g. libraries.
                        • Do you know any doctoral candidates or someone who holds a doctor's degree? Even if they did not study the same field as you are planning to, they might be able to help you by telling you about the challenges of doctoral studies in general and of writing a doctoral thesis in particular.
                        • How much time and money do you have at your disposal for your doctoral studies? How many hours per week can you devote to them?
                        • Is there a research topic and question for a dissertation project that you want to work on for several years?

                        The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offers counseling in the following fields:

                        If you need information on the content of a doctoral thesis:
                        Before you decide to enroll in a doctoral program, you should have chosen one or two potential supervisors at the Academy of Fine Arts and discussed the content of your doctoral project and thesis with them. Please also consult the FAQ "How do I find a supervisor?"

                        For all official questions regarding our doctoral programs:
                        Please consult our Registrar's Office regarding enrolling, admission, the conclusion of your studies, required documents, accreditations, etc.

                        Can arts-based research theses also be submitted for the Dr. phil. program?

                        No, doctoral candidates enrolled in the Dr. phil. program can only submit purely scientific dissertations. At the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, theses based on research using artistic methods have been assigned to the PhD in Practice program, which, in contrast to the Dr.phil. program relies on arts-based research.

                        In what languages can I write my doctoral thesis?

                        The language possibilities of your thesis will depend on your supervisor. German may be required but most of the time, English is an option, too. The PhD in Practice program is in English only.

                        Supervision

                        How do I find a supervisor?

                              Before you start looking for a supervisor, you must choose which doctoral program you would like to enroll in. The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offers four doctoral programs (the Doctor of Philosophy, the Doctor of Technical Sciences (Architecture), the Doctor of Natural Sciences, and the PhD in Practice). Furthermore, before consulting our supervisors, you should have a concrete idea of the research topic and question you would like to work on. You should then choose a supervisor that is available and qualified to best support you in developing and writing your doctoral thesis. Contact potential supervisors with an academic CV and project proposal. You can find all supervisors at the Academy of fine Arts Vienna here. Please note that the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is a small university and your specific field or topic may not be covered by our supervisors.

                              For the Doctor of Technical Sciences (Architecture), a statement from a supervisor is required before enrollment can be completed.

                              For the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Natural Sciences, candidates must develop and submit a Dissertation Agreement, including a supervision agreement, within the first academic year. To successfully meet this requirement, it is generally necessary to begin working with a supervisor from the outset. Please note that enrollment does not guarantee supervision.

                              The PhD in Practice program is co-supervised by Professors Renate Lorenz and Anette Baldauf. Applicants who successfully pass the admission examination (offered through the annual open call) will be supervised jointly by these professors.

                                My supervisor is not at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Can I still enroll in a doctoral program here?

                                  The first supervisor of a doctoral thesis must be at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Please read the FAQ "How do I find a supervisor?"

                                    I would like to write my doctoral thesis on the topic XY at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, but there is no supervisor qualified for this job content-wise. Can I still do my doctoral studies here?

                                      No, this is impossible. The main supervisor of your doctoral thesis must be at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Please read the FAQ "How do I find a supervisor?".

                                      Presence at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

                                        How much time do I have to spend at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna when I am doing my doctoral studies here? Do I have to attend regularly?

                                          This question has to be answered differently for each doctoral program. In the Dr. phil., the PhD in Practice, and the Dr.techn. programs, you will have to attend certain events, lectures and courses on site. Furthermore, you will have to meet with your supervisors and handle administrative matters, which may require attendance at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. You will, however, not need to be present at all times. How much actual time you are expected to spend at the Academy is a matter you will have to discuss with your supervisor(s). In most cases, doctoral candidates find it possible to work at least part-time alongside their doctoral studies.
                                          This is, however, different for the doctoral Dr.rer.nat.: doctoral candidates here are required to be present since, among other things, they will have to help carry out investigations, analyses, and experiments at the laboratories. Doctoral candidates enrolled in the Dr.rer.nat. program are either employed with the aid of third-party funds, or expected to ensure that they have sufficient financial means at their disposal as they will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to work alongside their studies.

                                          Framework

                                            Do students at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna have to pay tuition fees? Are there any grants?

                                              Since the summer term of 2013, all Austrian universities have been charging tuition fees, owing to an amendment of the Austrian Universities Act 2002. Therefore, please check your study fee status in your Academy Online Account, or - before admission - ask our Registrar's Office about your prospective status (studienabteilung@akbild.ac.at). Please note: The students' union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is not part of the tuition fee and must be paid by all students each term without exception. Please find more detailed information on the tuition fees required at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in the section Tuition fees.

                                              All regular students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna who paid tuition fees in the previous term but have not received a refund from other institutions (e.g. by the study grant office (Studienbeihilfenbehörde)) have the opportunity to apply for a Social Stipend. Please find more detailed information in the section on social stipend.
                                              Please note: If you did not submit your Dissertation Agreement or PhD-Project-Agreement in time, you are not eligible for the Social Stipends. This also applies to other grants and stipends.


                                              Does enrolling in a doctoral program at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna mean that I have a (paid) job/gainful employment?

                                                  No, not normally. In Austria, doctoral candidates do not – in difference to several other states – automatically have gainful employment. Some doctoral candidates have – usually provided by their supervisors – some kind of job, especially as co-workers on third-party funds projects.
                                                  In the previous years there have been three paid PhD positions open each year in the PhD in Practice and in the Dr.phil. programs. Further open positions may be available occasionally. You can find current open positions at the Academy here.

                                                    Does the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offer any financial support for doctoral candidates?

                                                      The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna offers a variety of grants to students - such as Mobility Scholarships for stays abroad, a Student Assistance Fund for students from so-called third countries (non-EU members), and different research grants for doctoral or PhD candidates. In the section Academy scholarships, you will find an overview of the scholarships and grants awarded by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, along with other useful links, e.g., information on federal grants, grants given by the City Council of Vienna, or Student Allowance.

                                                      Especially studies and/or research abroad represent an essential asset in the résumé of Post-Doc-candidates. Hence, you can look up the possibilities of student mobility at the sites of the International Relations Office.

                                                      The Center for Doctoral Studies also offers several mobility grants for doctoral students at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna: Short term grants abroad, Travel Allowances for PhD Candidates, as well as Conference fees refund for PhD Candidates. Likewise, a Dissertation Completion Fellowship was initiated for doctoral students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and the University of Art Linz, which is intended to support doctoral students in the final phase of their dissertation. With the Learning-on-the-Job-Scholarship, the Center for Doctoral Studies supports doctoral students who are involved in organizational, coordinating or administrative processes in the context of a scientific or artistic-scientific project (conference organization, publication, etc.) at the Academy. Detailed information on the grants offered by the Center for Doctoral Studies can be found under Grants for Doctoral Candidates.

                                                      Please note: If you did not submit your Dissertation Agreement or PhD-Project-Agreement yet or in time, you may not be eligible for the above-mentioned grants.

                                                      Furthermore, the students' representation of doctoral studies (ÖH) offers project funding for doctoral candidates for various projects. Please inform yourself about the ÖH's current funding opportunities for doctoral/PhD students.

                                                      Ongoing dissertation and PhD projects

                                                        What doctoral and PhD projects are located at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna?

                                                          You can find a number of current and completed dissertation and PhD projects here.

                                                            I am interested in the already finished diploma and doctoral theses of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Where can I access them and do my research?

                                                              The Theses Data Base of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna contains a catalogue of all the diploma theses, dissertations, and PhD theses submitted. These papers and excerpts can be viewed and used for research purposes. You can also access theses and dissertations physically in the library of the Academy of Fine Arts.