How to apply for a PhD position

PhD Fellowships in the Arts 2027

The Council of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp launches, in collaboration with ARIA (University of Antwerp), a call for proposals for PhD Fellowships starting in September 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 20/09/2027). 

• 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.
• 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) or a statement that you are willing to complete the procedure.
• 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: 20 September 2027

Additional information

• Mission and vision of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
• Research groups at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
• For practical information about how PhD programmes are organised at ARIA, please consult the roadmap 
• Flemish research discipline list
• Deontological code Research Schools of Arts 
• For more information, please contact research_royalacademyantwerp@ap.be 

PhD Fellowships in the Arts 2027 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.

• ​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 

• Mission and vision of the Conservatoire
• Research groups at the Conservatoire
• Flemish research discipline list

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, 2027 at 12PM (noon).

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: kevin.voets@ap.be. 

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