Doctoral programme »Art and Design« PhD

The aim of this doctoral programme is to provide an academic degree (Ph.D.) for artists and designers who have already completed a master's or diploma degree at an art or design university. Per exam regulations, the four-year study programme is completed with a Ph.D. thesis, which consists of a scientific and an artistic or design component, evaluated in equal measure. The Faculty of Art and Design thus offers a dual qualification with a practical and academic degree, which is unique in Germany. Both qualifications can be used in teaching and research as well as in curatorial practice, cultural and scientific management, institutional education and culture, and similar fields. In addition, the doctoral program offers the opportunity to pursue a doctorate in collaboration with the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar.

Per study regulations a, each student is personally supervised by at least two university professors (or senior lecturers) for the entire duration of their studies, with one mentor representing the academic methods and the other the artistic or design methods. One of the two mentors must be from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the second mentor may come from another university. No renumeration is available for external mentors. In certain cases, particularly interdisciplinary ones, where external expertise is required, additional mentor(s) may be brought in. The four-year study programme (curriculum) primarily serves to accompany and support the research at highest academic standards, and, ultimately, to develop foundational research competences and skills in the field of artistic research or design research. The curriculum primarily consists of graduate seminars, graduate colloquia, and key qualifications, including workshops, conferences, and continuing education.

Admission to the study programme is stipulated in the Entrance Examination Regulations and requires close artistic or creative and academic involvement with the teaching and research activities of the Faculty of Art and Design in general and the teaching and research focuses of the respective mentors in particular. The application deadline is usually 31 March of the year. The doctoral programme begins in the winter semester.

You can reach out to the PhD programme contact partners by e-mail at: phd.kunst-und-gestaltung[at]uni-weimar.de. 

Over the course of eight semesters, you will develop and work on your doctoral project independently. Your dissertation combines academic research with artistic or creative practice – both areas are given equal weight. At least two supervisors will guide you throughout your studies, contributing different disciplinary perspectives. 

Graduate seminars provide specialisation in theoretical and methodological issues. In colloquia, you will regularly present your progress, discuss findings and refine your research project through academic exchange. 

At the same time, you will acquire key skills such as academic and creative writing, presentation techniques, University didactics training and the principles of good academic and artistic practice. As part of a tutorial, you will also plan and lead your own or a collaborative course. 

To complete the programme, you will submit your dissertation, which brings together your academic and artistic or creative findings. Following the assessment, you will present and defend your work at a public defence open to the university community. Upon successful completion, the faculty will award the academic title of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

The application process for the practice-based doctoral programme in Art and Design with the degree Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) can only be submitted online via the Bauhaus.CampusPortal.

Admission to the doctoral programme generally requires a successful artistic diploma, State Exam, Magister or Master's degree (with at least a final grade of »good«) from a German university or an equivalent degree from a foreign university that corresponds to the profile of the Faculty of Art and Design.

Applicants from other disciplines who are aspiring to a doctoral degree at the interface between the respective discipline and art or design can be accepted into the doctoral programme, provided that supervision and assessment is ensured in the relevant specialist discipline. The Ph.D. graduate admissions committee decides on a case-by-case basis regarding possible additional requirements in the artistic field.

The Ph.D. programme at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar does not automatically assign professors as mentors. Applicants are requested to directly contact professors at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar based on their research profile and specialist expertise along with a short letter of motivation and a summary of the research project. For inquiries to artistic/creative mentors, please also include your portfolio.

Please apply up to and including 31 March of the year via our Bauhaus.CampusPortal with the following details and documents:

• A convincing exposé describing an innovative doctoral project with a specific research question and a corresponding methodological positioning at the intersection between an artistic or creative and academic discourse;
  An exposé is considered convincing if it is recognisable that there is an intensive artistic or creative and scientific examination of the teaching and research focus of the respective mentor.
• Work plan and timetable that shows that the project can be expected to be completed within four years;
• Documentation of a selection (portfolio) of previous artistic or creative work and, if applicable, exhibition catalogues, a list of exhibitions and public presentations, press and project reports;
• publication list of own publications;
• Proof of successful completion of a appropriate university degree by uploading the relevant certificates. Certificates and documents that are not issued in German or English must be submitted together with an official translation;
• complete curriculum vitae in tabular form with list of educational and professional achievements;
• proof of language proficiency (see above);
• stating your specialisation in art or design;
• nomination of at least two mentors, one of whom must be a professor of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and their written confirmation (declaration of mentorship) 
• optional: A short cover letter explaining the motivation to apply to the Ph.D. programme of the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar can optionally be attached.

Admission to the Doctoral Programme in Art and Design is decided by the Ph.D. graduate admissions committee based on a set of quality criteria. After the first round, a selection of applicants will be invited to a fifteen-minute interview with the Ph.D. graduate admissions committee. Generally, 12 to 15 applicants are accepted each year. Criteria for selection include excellent professional qualifications, high visibility, willingness and ability to work on a long-term research project, innovative methods, a clear depiction of the relationship between theory and practice in own work, and a high degree of critical reflection especially regarding overarching research interests of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

We kindly ask for your patience during the admissions process. 

For further information concerning the application, please contact:
phd.kunst-und-gestaltung[at]uni-weimar.de 
or Katarina Steinbiß: katarina.steinbiss[at]uni-weimar.de 

Application deadline: 
The digital application can be uploaded from 2 February until 31 March of the respective year.

Teaching in the doctoral programme is conducted in German and English. With the  publication of the new study and examination regulations , the following language requirements apply:

Either

• very good knowledge of the German language (at least level C1 GER)
  • Proof of native language proficiency (acquisition of the higher education entrance qualification or a higher education degree in a German-speaking country) or
  • Proof by means of one of the following certificates:
    • DSH-2 or TestDaF, at least 4 x TDN 4
    • or equivalent proof
• and good knowledge of the English language (at least level B2 GER)
  • Proof of native language proficiency (acquisition of higher education entrance qualification or a 1st professional qualification in an English-speaking country) or
  • Proof by means of one of the following certificates:
    • IELTS Band 6,5
    • TOEFL Internet-based Score 85 or better
    • Cambridge Certificate B2 First (FCE)
    • or equivalent proof

or

• very good knowledge of the English language (at least level C1 GER)
  • Proof of native language proficiency (acquisition of a university entrance qualification or a university degree in an English-speaking country) or
  • Proof by means of one of the following certificates:
    • IELTS Band 7,0
    • TOEFL Internet-based Score 108 or better
    • Cambridge Certificate C1 Advanced English (CAE)
    • or equivalent proof
• and good knowledge of the German language (at least level B2 GER)
  • Proof of native language proficiency (acquisition of a university entrance qualification or a university degree in a German-speaking country) or
     
  • Proof by means of one of the following certificates:
    • DSH-1 or TestDAF, at least 4 x TDN 3
    • or equivalent proof

Important: Please submit a current language certificate with your application documents which shows that you will reach the required language level by the time of your matriculation at the latest.