Call for applications: Make/Sense PhD programme

Make/Sense PhD programme promotes practice-based research in art and design. Operating within three future-facing areas of concern: Planetarity, Materiality, and Response-ability, our programme focuses on the relevance and potentials of practice-based research in art and design for sociocultural, political, and ecological transformations. In a supportive environment of the Campus of the Arts at Basel Dreispitz, hosted at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design, We foster a dynamic group of PhD candidates who regularly exchange on their work. We encourage interdisciplinary work, and focus on practice as the original contribution to knowledge and scholarship. 

We welcome applications to the PhD study programme from candidates from all fields of art, design and related fields with an MA or an equivalent degree. Our next application deadline is March 31, 2022 for the study programme starting in September 2022.

We will open up to six non-funded PhD positions. We offer support in the search for funding, e.g., through placements in SNSF-funded research projects or through supporting you in writing Doc.CH grant proposals. We maintain a flexible programme structure to allow students to keep up with current work commitments.

We offer a three-year structured curriculum attuned to practice-based research skills and takes place at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel. The FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel provides media production, library facilities, and campus workshop facilities. PhD candidates will have supervisors from FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel (supervisors list) and University of Art and Design Linz (supervisors list). We encourage candidates to consider future supervisors and contact them in advance. 

Following the admission to MAKE/SENSE PhD Programme, PhD candidates will be enrolled at the University of Art and Design in Linz, according to the admission procedure and study fees regulations in Linz. There are no further fees in Basel.  

Applications may be submitted in English or German at the following link, and should include the following:
–Project outline (three to five A4 pages) including: Research question, State of the art, Relevance and topicality regarding areas of concern: Planetarity, Materiality, Response-ability, Proposed methods, Proposed outcomes, Timeline
–Portfolio of artistic and design work
–Curriculum Vitae, incl. research record
–Copies of relevant diplomas, incl. Diploma Supplement 

Applications will be evaluated jointly by the jury in Basel and Linz.

Admission procedure: 
First round: Candidates to be notified of results by April 28, 2022
Second round: Interviews are scheduled in the first two weeks of July, 2022
Final decision: July 18, 2022

For further information please contact: Dr. Selena Savic, selena.savic@fhnw.ch.