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    Submit a PhD proposal at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp

    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 2027.

    PhD Fellowships in the Arts 2027 
    Royal Conservatoire Antwerp 

    The Royal Conservatoire Antwerp grants two PhD fellowships in 2027 (55% research assignment for four academic years, starting on 20/09/2027). 

    - STEP 1 → register your project before 10 november 2026, 12:00 (noon)
    Use the 'expression of interest' form for this. You will receive a message no later than the week of 23 november 2026 indicating whether your proposal can be further developed into a project dossier (STEP 2). 

    - STEP 2 → submit your project dossier before 1 March 2027, 12:00 (noon).
    Use the PhD Fellow Application Form for this.

    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 20 September 2027.  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 1 March 2027, 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 1 February 2027 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 1 March 2027 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, supported by three universities (Leuven, Antwerp and Leiden), four schools of arts (the conservatoires of Leuven, Antwerp, The Hague and Amsterdam) and the Orpheus Institute in Ghent. The programme is intended for artists who wish to deepen their artistic practice (music, sound art) through artistic research. 

    Deadlines

    • Expression of interest before 10 November 2027, at 12:00 (noon)
    • Agreement of supervisors and research group: before 1 February 2027
    • Application deadline: 1 March 2027, at 12 PM (noon)
    • Evaluation of selection committee: April - May 2027 
    • Decision by the Council of the Royal conservatoire: May 2027 (results communicated shortly thereafter)
    • Start of mandates: 20 September 2027

    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: research_royalconservatoireantwerp@ap.be.

    Submit your completed and signed form (Word & PDF) to research_royalconservatoireantwerp@ap.be no later than March 1, 2027 at 12PM (noon).

    Non-fellowship PhD in the Arts 2027 
    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, preparation and formal requirements 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. 

    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: research_royalconservatoireantwerp@ap.be.

    Submit your completed and signed form (Word & PDF) to research_royalconservatoireantwerp@ap.be no later than March 1, 2027 at 12PM (noon).