Submit a PhD proposal at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp | AP School Of Arts
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    Submit a PhD proposal at Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp

    The Council of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp launches, in collaboration with ARIA (UAntwerp), a call for proposals for PhD Fellowships starting in September 2027.

    PhD Fellowships in the Arts 2027

    The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp grants a maximum of two PhD fellowships in 2027 (a 55% contractual research assignment for four academic years, starting on 15/09/2027). 

    - STEP 1 → apply for your project before 3 November 2026 (12:00 - noon)
    - STEP 2 → if you are invited to the second round, submit your final dossier by 1 March 2027 (12:00 - noon)

    Conditions

    • The applicant for a doctoral position is an artist or designer and holds a relevant Master’s degree (or equivalent recognised qualification) in Visual Arts. The applicant conducts research with research questions and methodologies situated in or emerging from their own artistic or design practice, with the necessary sense of discursiveness.
    • The submitted PhD proposal must align with the mission/vision of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp; the applicant must endorse and further develop this vision.
    • The submitted PhD proposal must fit within the vision of ARIA / University of Antwerp.
    • If the School of Arts organises an artistic admission test, passing this test is an additional requirement.
    • The applicant must be able to take up employment at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp/AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts and commit to a contractual appointment (55% research assignment) for four academic years. For foreign PhD candidates, this means that they must have a work permit for Belgium.
    • The doctoral proposal can only be submitted in Dutch or English.
    • Please note! You must hold a Master’s degree awarded by a Belgian higher education institution (or an equivalent recognised qualification). If you hold a degree awarded by a foreign institution, you must have it recognised by NARIC, preferably before submitting your doctoral proposal. You must add the recognition to your application file or include a statement that you are willing to initiate the NARIC procedure as soon as your research starts.

    Timeline, preparation and formal requirements

    The application procedure consists of two steps:

    - STEP 1 → submit your project proposal by 3 November 2026 (12:00 - noon)

    Use the ‘expression of interest’ form for this purpose and send it to research_royalacademyantwerp@ap.be   
    You will receive a message by the end of November 2026 at the latest informing you whether your proposal can be further developed into a project dossier (STEP 2).
    If your proposal can be further developed, we will appoint a supervisor from the School of Arts to your PhD proposal.

    - STEP 2 → submit your project dossier by 1 March 2027 (12:00 - noon)

    Use the application form for PhD fellowships for this purpose.

    By 1 March 2027 (12:00 - noon) at the latest, you must submit your proposal, supported by two supervisors: one from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and one from the University of Antwerp. In addition, you must meet all formal requirements.

    You must add all required attachments:
    - Portfolio and CV
    - Copy of your Master’s degree
    - If applicable: NARIC recognition of your degree (only applicable if you hold a degree awarded by a foreign institution)
    - Your proposal must be signed by the coordinator of the research group supporting your proposal, as well as by the two supervisors. The signature may be replaced by an email in which they confirm their support.

    The completed and signed form (the application and all attachments combined into one PDF file) must be sent to research_royalacademyantwerp@ap.be 

    Deadlines

    • Submission of the ‘expression of interest’: before 3 November 2026 (12:00 - noon)
    • Submission of the application: before 1 March 2027 (12:00 - noon)
    • Evaluation by the selection committee: end of April 2027
    • Decision by the Board of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts: May 2027 (after which you can expect to receive a response regarding the outcome as soon as possible)
    • Start of the positions: 15 September 2027

    Additional information

     

     

    (image: research class by Art & Ecology research group, photo by Wannes Cré)