Doctor of Philosophy/PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna serves to deepen candidates' understanding of history and theory, and support them in carrying out experimental research in art history and cultural studies, or of the respective social contexts of the artistic/cultural field involved.

For admission, a Master's or similar degree ( Diplomstudium ) in the fields of the humanities or cultural studies or an artistic diploma or MA degree or the completion of a teaching diploma or MA degree in a relevant teaching subject is prerequisite.

This PhD program comprises 6 semesters (which is equal to 180 ECTS credits). Within the first two Semesters after admission at the latest, a Thesis Agreement (Dissertationsvereinbarung) has to be concluded, specifying the main parameters of the supervision process. Before the conclusion of the Dissertation Agreement the doctoral project must be presented on the basis of a preliminary exposé as part of a short public presentation before an advisory board.

In the course of the doctoral program, students must complete at least 20 ECTS credits. At least four courses must be completed in the form of 2 dissertation seminars (3 ECTS credits each) and 2 privatissima (2 ECTS credits each). In the course of the first year, a seminar on research methods (2 ECTS credits) must also be completed. The remaining courses (amounting to 8 ECTS credits) must be completed as freely selectable courses from the courses offered by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna or another domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution and must be related to the dissertation in terms of content or complement the doctoral program in a meaningful way. The freely selectable courses must be laid down in the dissertation agreement.