PhD Programme | Application

The PhD programme at the University of Arts Linz is open for all departments. Research projects are possible by, between and across all artistic, design, scientific and technology-oriented disciplines represented at the University of Arts Linz. The focus lies on the individual research project, which is realized with the best possible support. The PhD programme serves to support and further develop independent artistic and/or scientific work and to promote young researchers. The PhD programme has a minimum duration of six semesters. The PhD candidates are considered as early stage researchers.

Application Process to the PhD Programme

1. Information
Please visit our homepage www.kunstuni-linz.at/phd for detailed information about the PhD programme. Study advisory meetings are offered on a regular basis to clarify possible questions about the application process. Attendance is recommended. Current dates can be found at www.kunstuni-linz.at/phd/aktuelles.

2. Exposé
The PhD project is presented in the exposé. It is a comprehensible presentation of the PhD project including selected literature and/or artistic references (e.g. 5-10 pages in total are usual). Apart from that, supplementary documents relevant to the project, such as portfolios, etc. can be handed in. What is exactly required, is decided by your supervisor; please discuss it with her*him.

3. Determination of the PhD Supervisors
It is important that the supervisor has professional expertise in your project.
The University of Arts Linz encourages and supports the supervision by a team, i.e. by two or three supervisors. The first supervisor must be an authorised PhD supervisor of the University of Arts Linz. Secondary and third supervisors can be from other universities, but must be authorised to supervise doctoral students/PhD students. They should be appointed at the latest when the supervision agreement is concluded.
You can contact the suitable supervisor for your project and ask for supervision (please include the abstract or exposé of your work). 
If there is interest in a cooperation and the exposé is found worthy of supporting, a confirmation of supervision can be given. The application for the PhD programme requires the signature of at least the first supervisor of the University of Arts Linz on the Application of Admission(forms www.kunstuni-linz.at/phd/links). The supervisor can also suggest further elaboration and improvement of the exposé.

4. Submission of the Application
The deadlines for applying to the PhD programme can be found at www.kunstuni-linz.at/phd/aktuelles. There are two deadlines per year (begin of September and end of January).

To apply, please submit the following documents in German or English in digital form via https://calls.kunstuni-linz.at/calls/index.php?lang=EN

Please name the files as follows: "Surname_Exposé" or "Surname_Diploma Supplement" etc.:

• Abstract
• Exposé or a description of your PhD project incl. selected literature or artistic references.
• Scan of your Bachelor’s degree (optional)
• Scan of your Master's or Diploma degree (Please note, that only certificates in English or German will be accepted. In case of non-Austrian studies, please hand in a Diploma Supplement, providing information on the duration and scope of your studies. If you are unable to obtain this from your university, we require at least a Transcript of Records. Both can be requested from the university where you completed your studies.
• Completed admission form including confirmation of supervision by at least one supervisor of the University of Arts Linz (forms www.kunstuni-linz.at/phd/links)
• CV in table form
• Scan of your passport
• If you want to have a second or third supervisor who is not associated with the University of Arts Linz, documents are needed that state the suitability of this person (CV, List of publications, habilitation certificate or a list of achievements equivalent to a habilitation)
• Portfolio (optional)

You will receive a confirmation email about the receipt of your application. 

Important notes:

1. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2. The examination of foreign degrees can take several months!
3. Foreign certificates have to be certified in some cases – depending on the country of origin. You do not have to submit this certification by the application deadline. However, you must present the certification at the time of enrolment. Obtaining the certification can take several months. Please prepare accordingly. You can find more information in this PDF (only in German).

After the application has been submitted, two steps are carried out within the university:

• Verification of Eligibility for Admission through Previous Degrees
  The eligibility for admission to the PhD programme is given by the completion of a subject-related diploma or master's degree programme, diploma or master's degree programme of a university of applied sciences or another equivalent programme at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution. The transcripts and the diploma supplement are required in order to check whether you are eligible for enrolment in the PhD programme on the basis of your academic qualifications.
• Review of the Exposés by the Research Board
  The Research Board reviews and approves or disapproves the exposés of the PhD projects. The meetings of the Research Board take place around mid-March (and the beginning of April) for the summer semester and around mid-October (and the beginning of November) for the winter semester. You will be informed promptly about the results of the review.

5. Enrolment
If your application has been approved, you can enrol at the Department of Legal Affairs / Admission / Examination / International Office until the end of the grace period (end of April in the summer semester, end of November in the winter semester). Please inform yourself in advance about the enrolment process here.

Please complete the online pre-registration before you go to the Admission and Examination Department (if PhD cannot be selected as a study programme for technical reasons, please simply select another study programme and complete the pre-registration; this can then be corrected on site).

Enrolment takes place in person at the Department of Legal Affairs / Admission / Examination. Please bring your original documents (especially certificates and passport) with you to the enrolment. Please read the additional information about any further documents you may need.

You will receive a payment slip for the transfer of the outstanding fees at the Admission and Examination Department. In the case of first-time enrolment, the outstanding fees must be credited to the University's account by the end of the grace period (end of April or end of November) at the latest.

Three to four days after you have made the transfer/payment, you will receive an automatic e-mail to activate your student account. We kindly ask you to also check your spam account, as this is an automated email that sometimes arrives there.

Please be sure to observe the applicable deadlines!
By the end of the respective grace period (end of April in the summer semester, end of November in the winter semester), not only the personal enrolment must have taken place in the Admission and Examination Department, but also the fees due must have arrived in the University's account!
Please complete the enrolment process by mid-April or mid-November at the latest to avoid any problems.

6. Continuation

After the first enrolment you should immediately start the process of setting up your Supervision Agreement (you find a template and furthere information on the Supervision Agreement here.

Please note: To continue your studies after the first semester, you need to have your Supervision Agreement approved by the Research Board. You have 20 months after your first enrolment to have your Supervision Agreement approved by the Research Board. If this is not the case, your admission to the PhD programme expires automatically.

Please hand in your engrossed Supervision Agreement at: phd.office@kunstuni-linz.at

For subsequent semesters, please transfer the fees due by the end of March or the end of October.

Contact

For all questions regarding the PhD programme
PhD Office
Kunst.Forschung | PhD
Hauptplatz 6, 4020 Linz
phd.office@kunstuni-linz.at

For enrolment
Department of Legal Affairs / Admission / Examination / International Office
Hauptplatz 6, 4020 Linz
studien.office@kunstuni-linz.at