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During the doctorate/PhD

    On the following page, you will find answers to questions concerning scholarships, networking, change of supervision, or change of topic.

      Scholarships, grants, research projects

        I am interested in possible funding for the course of the dissertation. Is there an overview?

          In the section Grants for PhD Candidates and Early Postdocs, you will find a list of possible funding opportunities for doctoral/PhD students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (available in German currently only). The overview is intended to help you find your way in the jungle of grants and scholarships. However, this overview does not claim to be complete. This is not possible due to a large number of funding. Only a few awards for already finished dissertations/PhD studies are included in this list as there are too many of them and with sometimes very specific foci. We also ask for your understanding that the criteria of the individual grants are constantly changing. Please follow the links and find out more about the promotions.

          For further research on possible funding for you, we recommend you do your own research. The following databases and links can help you:

            As a doctoral candidate, I would like to collaborate on a research project. How does this work, and where can I apply? Do I have to be enrolled for this purpose?

              Usually, the supervisors offer their candidates the chance to work on research projects. Therefore, doctoral candidates are often already involved in the project during its application phase. Please ask your supervisors whether they are thinking of leading or submitting a project themselves or whether they know of other projects planned in their respective fields. Jobs advertised for research project work can be found on the Academy website at the following link.
              Whether you need to be enrolled or not will also depend on how the respective research project is being financed. Depending on the type of grant, you will either have to enroll during the application or with the start of the project at the latest or not at all. If you wish to do a doctoral program at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, you must be enrolled here. If you are not, you will only be regarded as one of the research project teams and paid according to the qualification level of a doctoral candidate.

                As a doctoral candidate, I might have the chance to work on a research project, but would like to write my doctoral thesis on a different topic. Is that possible?

                  Yes, this is basically possible as, whimsically said, working on a research project is just a job like any other. However, you will first need to check if and how this would be possible for you with regard to time and content and whether both your project leader and your supervisor agree.

                  What funding does the Academy offer for PhD students?

                  The academy supports doctoral/PhD in the final phase of the dissertation for six months. Furthermore, the Doctorate Center awards travel allowances for active participation in conferences/workshops or the realization of art projects. Further information on the grants for doctoral students can be found here.

                  In addition to the grants, which are explicitly addressed to doctoral/PhD students, the Academy has several other grants for students; an overview can be found here.

                  Networking/Scientific Communities

                    How can I keep up-to-date with regard to current activities and offers of the Center for Doctoral Studies or be informed about interesting events and conferences, calls, grants, etc.?

                      At the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, we have a mailing list for doctoral candidates to inform them of any offers, activities, and news of the Center for Doctoral Studies, as well as about current events, calls, grants, etc., that might be interesting. For this mailing list, we use the Academy email addresses of doctoral students (e.g., r9999999@student.akbild.ac.at). To keep up-to-date, please check your Academy email account or have your mails forwarded to a different account!

                        I am a doctoral candidate at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and would like to get in touch with other doctoral candidates. How can I do so?

                          If you would like to initiate cooperation with your doctoral or PhD colleagues - such as a reading circle, a writing group, a research group, regular meetings, or the like - you can make use of the PhD Mailing List of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (doc_studierende@lists.akbild.ac.at). Thus, you can contact your colleagues directly. Please send an email to doktoratszentrum@akbild.ac.at.

                            I am a doctoral candidate at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and would like to have my dissertation or PhD project entered into the database of the Center for Doctoral Studies. How can I achieve this?

                              To have your dissertation or PhD project entered into the database of the Center for Doctoral Studies on the Academy's website, please submit the required material here.

                                Is there a student representative for doctoral candidates at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna?

                                  The following homepage will provide you with all the information on student representation for doctoral candidates at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Doctoral candidates of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna are also cordially invited to the biweekly Come together [PhDok-Pinups], organized by the student representation for doctoral studies!

                                    I want to integrate into my field's international scientific/artistic community. How does that work?

                                      Supervisors have a key role in the integration process of their doctoral candidates into the relevant scientific/artistic community. Generally, conferences or artistic events are important meeting points. Please do talk with your supervisor about which events are relevant in your field and agree on which events you should visit in the course of your doctorate and in the following year. It is recommended to write down this agreement and continually update it in the dissertation agreement.

                                      For active participation in conferences, congresses, symposia, exhibitions, and art projects, which are directly linked to your dissertation project, there are travel allowances for doctoral candidates by the Center for Doctoral Studies. Find more information on this issue here.

                                        I would like to study abroad. How can I do that?

                                          Studies abroad are an essential asset of a résumé and a valuable life experience. There are grants and possibilities of funding for studies abroad. You can find information on your possibilities to study abroad on the sites of the International Relations Office.

                                          Change of supervision or topic

                                            I would like to change my thesis/PhD supervisor. Can I?

                                              Until you actually submit your doctoral thesis or Ph.D. project, respectively, at the very end of your doctoral studies, you have the possibility of changing your supervisor. Such changes must, however, be authorized by the respective competent body responsible for study matters. In case of a change of supervisor, a new dissertation agreement must be concluded. Please contact our Registrar's Office.

                                                I would like to change the topic of my doctoral thesis or Ph.D. Can I?

                                                  Until you actually submit your doctoral thesis or Ph.D. project, respectively, you have the possibility of changing your topic. Such changes must, however, be authorized by the respective competent body responsible for study matters. A change of topic must be added to the existing dissertation agreement or Ph.D. project agreement, respectively, as an amendment. Please contact our Registrar's Office.

                                                  PLEASE NOTE: Any changes of the working title of your thesis are also regarded as a change of topic!