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 trans*feminist, anti-colonial approaches, MAKE/SENSE supports doctoral projects that foster practice-based reading and writing practices, reimagining what research can be, whom it serves, and how it shapes new publics and social imaginaries.

The PhD is carried out in partnership between Basel and Linz and hosted by the Institute Experimental Design and Media Culture’s Critical Media Lab in Basel. Supervision is provided jointly by faculty from both institutions. The programme combines individualized mentoring with a structured curriculum, including monthly colloquia and an annual assembly.

Public events and collaborations with external partners complement the training.

Note: The PhD is not funded.

Launch of new call

1 September 2025

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: 3 October 2025
• Notification: KW44
• Supervision feedback meetings: KW44–KW45
• Full proposal deadline: 1 December 2025
• Interviews: KW50 / KW51 / KW2 (Thursday or Friday)
• Final notification: KW3
• Research Board submission: end of January

Application Requirements

Pre-proposal (single PDF, max. 8 MB)
Deadline: 3 October 2025

• Motivation letter (1 p.)
• Project outline (2–3 p.)
• Financial info
• 2–3 preferred supervisors + rationale
• Portfolio (art/design/curatorial/writing samples)
• MA and BA diplomas (incl. transcripts)

For full details, please refer to the official call on the Make/Sense website.