Practice-Based PhD Programme

Institutions: Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW and University of Arts Linz
Location: Basel, Switzerland, and Linz, Austria
Duration: Three years
Funding: The PhD is not funded
Pre-proposal deadline: 27 September 2026
Full proposal deadline: 18 December 2026
Eligibility: Artists, curators, publishers, designers and cultural organisers with an MA degree or equivalent qualification

About the Programme

The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW, in collaboration with the University of Arts Linz, invites applications for MAKE/SENSE, a three-year practice-based PhD programme.

Rooted in infrastructural critique, situated artistic research and critical media approaches, MAKE/SENSE supports doctoral projects engaging with practice-based forms of reading and writing.

The programme encourages candidates to explore what research can be, whom it serves and how it might contribute to new publics and social imaginaries.

Programme Structure

The PhD is delivered collaboratively between Basel and Linz and hosted by the Critical Media Lab at the Institute Experimental Design and Media Cultures in Basel.

Candidates receive joint supervision from faculty members at both institutions. The programme combines:

• Individualised supervision and mentoring.
• Monthly research colloquia.
• An annual programme assembly.
• Public events.
• Collaborations with external partners.

Eligibility

Applications are open to:

• Artists.
• Curators.
• Publishers.
• Designers.
• Cultural organisers.

Applicants must hold an MA degree worth 120 ECTS credits or an equivalent qualification.

Funding

The MAKE/SENSE PhD is not funded.

Applicants must outline how they plan to finance their doctoral studies within their motivation letter. This may include identifying external funding applications, grants they intend to pursue or support they may require when seeking external funding.

Application Process

Applications take place across two rounds. The first round requires the submission of a pre-proposal by 27 September 2026.

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full research proposal by 18 December 2026, followed by interviews in January 2027.

Pre-Proposal Materials

Applicants must submit:

• A motivation letter of no more than two A4 pages, naming two preferred supervisors and explaining the reasons for these choices.
• An outline of plans for financing the PhD, including any anticipated external funding or grant applications.
• A project outline of two to three A4 pages, excluding references.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A portfolio containing relevant artistic, design, curatorial or writing samples.
• MA and BA diplomas, including transcripts.

The project outline should include:

• The central research question.
• A brief overview of the current field.
• The project’s relevance and topicality in relation to at least one of the programme’s areas of concern.
• Proposed research methods.
• Anticipated outcomes.

Timeline

27 September 2026: Pre-proposal deadline
Mid-November 2026: Applicants notified of first-round results
18 December 2026: Full proposal deadline
Mid-January 2027: Interviews
End of January 2027: Final results announced