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Submit a PhD proposal at the Conservatoire

The Council of the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp (School of Arts AP University College) is launching, in collaboration with ARIA (UAntwerp), a call for proposals for PhD Fellowships starting in September 2026.

PhD Fellowships in the Arts 2026 
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp 

The Royal Conservatoire Antwerp grants three PhD fellowships in 2026 (55% research assignment for four academic years, starting on 14/09/2026). 

Preconditions 

  • The PhD candidate is an artist and holds a relevant Master's degree (or equivalent) in Music and Performance Arts or another relevant Master's degree.  Applicants are expected to conduct research that explores issues or methodologies situated in or proceeding from their own artistic or design practice, with due sense of discursivity.
  • The research must reflect the mission and vision of the Conservatoire, subscribe to it, develop it further, and connect to one of the four research groups at the Conservatoire. 
  • The PhD proposal should correspond to the vision of ARIA. If the Schools of Arts organizes an artistic admission test, passing that test is an additional condition. 
  • The applicant is in a position to be contractually employed by the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp (AP Hogeschool) and committed to a 55% contractual employment for four academic years with effect from 14 September 2026.  For foreign doctoral candidates, this means that they have a work permit for Belgium. 
  • The PhD proposal can only be submitted in Dutch or in English (see application form).   

Please note: if you obtained a foreign degree, it must be officially recognised by NARIC. This recognition must be completed before you can start your doctoral studies. More information: NARIC-Vlaanderen I Flanders.be

Timeline, preparation, and formal requirements 

Applications submitted by March 1, 2026, at 12PM (noon) are expected to be embedded in one (or more) research group(s), to be supervised by two supervisors (University of Antwerp and Conservatoire) and to formally meet all requirements. 

To ensure the correct procedure, follow the steps and timeline below:

  • By February 1, 2026 at the latest, you should have found one supervisor from the University of Antwerp and one from the School of Arts willing to support your application and research proposal.
  • Submit your application no later than March 1, 2026 at 12PM (noon). Upon submission, a signature of your supervisor(s) (University of Antwerp and Conservatoire) is required for your application to be formally in order.  Notify the coordinator of the relevant research group in advance to obtain their support and signature.

For practical information about how PhD programmes are organised at ARIA, please consult the roadmap. 

Specifically for doctorates in Music, there is the international doctoral programme docARTES (a collaboration between the Universities of Leuven, Antwerp and Leiden, the conservatories of Leuven, Antwerp, The Hague and Amsterdam and the Orpheus Institute in Ghent). 

Deadlines

  • Agreement of supervisors and research group: before February 1, 2026
  • Application deadline: March 1, 2026, at 12 PM (noon).
  • Evaluation of selection committee: April 27 & 30, 2026 
  • Decision by the Council of the Royal conservatoire: May 2026 (results communicated shortly thereafter)
  • Start of mandates: September 14, 2026 

Additional information 

Application Submission 

Applications should be made by using the PhD fellowship Application Form. For questions regarding the form or the procedure, please contact the head of research Kevin Voets: kevin.voets@ap.be. 

Submit your completed and signed form (Word & PDF) to kevin.voets@ap.be no later than March 1, 2026 at 12PM (noon).

Non-fellowship PhD in the Arts 2026 
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp 

Besides the remunerated PhD fellowships, at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp there is also the option of doing a PhD relying on external funding. In that case, your application is not in response to the call above but you do apply with the same form and follow the same timeline before the same deadline. The Schools of Arts may decide to limit the number of externally funded PhD places available. Find out what the options are before you begin. 

Timeline, preparation, and formal requirements 

Applications submitted by March 1, 2026, at 12PM (noon) are expected to be embedded in one (or more) research group(s), to be supervised by two supervisors (University of Antwerp and Conservatoire) and to formally meet all requirements. 

To ensure the correct procedure, follow the steps and timeline below:

  • By February 1, 2026 at the latest, you should have found one supervisor from the University of Antwerp and one from the School of Arts willing to support your application and research proposal.
  • Submit your application no later than March 1, 2026 at 12PM (noon). Upon submission, a signature of your supervisor(s) (University of Antwerp and Conservatoire) is required for your application to be formally in order.  Notify the coordinator of the relevant research group in advance to obtain their support and signature.

For practical information about how PhD programmes are organised at ARIA, please consult the roadmap. 

Application Submission 

Applications should be made by using the Phd fellowship Application Form. For questions regarding the form or the procedure, please contact the head of research Kevin Voets: kevin.voets@ap.be. 

Submit your completed and signed form (Word & PDF) to kevin.voets@ap.be no later than March 1, 2026 at 12PM (noon).

Interested in applying for a PhD at the Academy? 


The Academy organises the call for doctoral positions on a biennial basis. The next call will be published at the end of 2026. Follow us here to stay updated.