Call for the MAKE/SENSE PhD Programme 2026

Flexibility, self-determination, creativity, interdisciplinarity - our mission

Academy of Art and Design Basel FHNW, hgk_institutexperimentelledesignmedienkulturen

Your tasks

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 Culture in Basel. Supervision is provided jointly by faculty from both institutions. The programme combines individualized mentoring with monthly colloquia and an annual assembly.  

• Situated Artistic Research: Supports practices that challenge dominant epistemologies through embodied, affective, and experimental modes of inquiry. 
• Infrastructural Critique:Engages with institutional, technological and research infrastructures as sites of critique, abolitionist intervention, collective reimagining, and world-making.
• Critical Media:Explores how knowledges are read, written, mediated, and circulated through practice-based approaches to reading and writing, publishing, and expanded formats.

The current list of PhD supervisor can be found in this link:

https://www.fhnw.ch/en/art-design/degree-programmes/offerings/phd-programmes/make-sense-phd-programme 

Public events and collaborations with external partners complement the programme. 

Please note that doctoral positions in the programme are not funded. 

Your profile

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

This call is for the pre-proposal submission, which 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)

Selection process and key dates:

1st Round (Pre-Proposals)

Deadline September 27, 2026 

Notification of results: Mid-November2026 

2nd Round (Full Proposal) 

Deadline: December 18, 2026 

Interviews: Mid-January 2027 (Week 2/3) 

Notification of Results: End of January 2027

The FHNW encourages its staff to undertake continuous professional development in their field and beyond. Whether focused on teaching or research, lecturers are offered a variety of CPD approaches that are on equal terms and tailored to their personal circumstances: the support offered by the FHNW provides the requisite methodical tools. After all, the curiosity and professional development of the staff helps drive the development of our university - and vice versa. Will you soon belong to our team? We look forward to your application until 27.09.2026.
www.fhnw.ch/en/about-fhnw/schools/academy-of-art-and-design

Benefits

• Wide range of university sports
• Cultural programme of lectures, concerts, theatre and films
• Established implementation of equal pay
• Targeted promotion of doctoral projects
• Sabbatical for professors for research and practical projects
• Annual working hours and time allowance for further education, administration and university development