Call for Applications

The Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW, in collaboration with the University of Arts Linz, invites applications to their three-year practice-based PhD programme MAKE/SENSE.

Rooted in infrastructural critique, situated artistic research, and critical media approaches, MAKE/SENSE supports doctoral projects that engage with practice-based forms of reading and writing and explore what research can be, whom it serves, and how it may contribute to new publics and social imaginaries.

The PhD is carried out in partnership between Basel and Linz and hosted by the Critical Media Lab at the Institute Experimental Design and Media Cultures in Basel. Supervision is provided jointly by faculty from both institutions. The programme combines individualized mentoring with monthly colloquia and an annual assembly. Public events and collaborations with external partners complement the programme.

Please note that the PhD is not funded.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from artists, curators, publishers, designers, and cultural organisers — holding an MA degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent qualification.

Timeline

• Pre-proposal deadline: September 27, 2026
• Notification of results: Mid-November 2026
• Full proposal deadline: December 18, 2026
• Interviews: Mid-January 2027 (Week 2/3)
• Notification of results: End of January 2027

Application

The application consists of two rounds. Deadline for the pre-proposal round is September 27, 2026.

For the pre-proposal submission, applications must include:

• Motivation letter listing 2 preferred supervisors and rationale, plans for financing the PhD (need for support to external funding applications or grants you plan to apply for) (2 p. A4)
• Project outline (2–3 p. A4, excl. references) including research question, short state of the art, relevance and topicality regarding areas of concern (at least one), proposed methods and proposed outcomes
• Curriculum Vitae
• ​Portfolio (art/design/curatorial/writing samples)
• ​MA and BA diplomas (incl. transcripts)

Apply here.

Find details about the programme, including possible supervisors, the application process, funding possibilites and more here:
https://www.fhnw.ch/de/gestaltung-kunst/studium/angebot/doktorat/make-sense