PhD in Arts and art sciences – Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) – the doctorate in Arts and Art Sciences is also governed by agreements between the University and the Higher Schools of Arts (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels, Arts2–Arts au carré, Royal Conservatory of Brussels, School of Graphic Research, Higher School of Visual Arts – La Cambre, Higher Institute of Performing Arts and Broadcasting Techniques).
Brussels | Belgium
PhD in Arts and art sciences
- Fine Arts – Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Drawing, Decorative Art, Scenographic Art
- Performing Arts – Drama and Theatre Studies, Dance and Ballet, Performative Practices (Theory and/or Practice)
- Multimedia Arts, Audio-visual Techniques and Media Production
- Film Studies
- Design – Graphic Design; Industrial Design; Fashion Design; Textile Design…
- Musical and Vocal Performance
- Theory, Analysis and Musical Composition
- Music and Media
- Other fields
4 years
Public University
- PhD fully funded and with a stipend by the university
- PhD Fully or partially externally funded, with a stipend, through private or public foundations, scholarships, grants, one or more companies, or public institutions that you have to find on your own
- PhD Fully funded with a stipend by the University but you have both to work on the PHD and complete a number of teaching hours
It is important to know that many universities offer different funding options and public and private grants available to students who match the application criteria. Before applying, it is a good idea to check the institutions’ websites and inquire about the options available to you.
Many universities require applicants to pay fees such as matriculation or dissertation fees, even if they offer a fully funded programme with or without a stipend.
Fees:
https://www.ulb.be/en/enrolment/tuition-fees
Funding resources:
https://www.ulb.be/fr/doctorat/financer-sa-these-de-doctorat
https://arba-esa.be/en/research/projects/art-research-fund-frart
A PhD diploma attests to the successful writing and public defence of an original thesis.
- 180 credits are required to complete your thesis, 60 of which are earned upon completion of
the doctoral research training programme, which consists in gaining research experience and in the
acquisition of scientific and cross-functional skills. - A thesis is an individual piece of work that may take the form of:
– a dissertation based on a project or piece of work of which the doctoral candidate is the author or co-author
– an original dissertation, or an essay showing the connections between a body of scientific publications of which the doctoral candidate is either the author or co-author
In addition to the theorical part of the dissertation, the PhD in Art and Art Sciences requires a practical output as well. You can find more info in the handbook of the course at the following link:
https://phisoc.ulb.be/fr/doctorat/formation-doctorale-et-doctorat-en-art-et-sciences-de-l-art?utm_
The thesis must be written and defended in French or English, or in another language approved by the Faculty Jury
The “European Doctorate” label may be awarded if the following four conditions are met:
a) At least one member of the thesis jury must belong to a higher education institution in a
European country other than that in which the thesis is defended
b) The public defence is authorised by the thesis jury in the light of reports drafted by at least
two professors – members of the thesis jury or otherwise – from higher education institutions
in two different European countries other than that in which the thesis is defended
c) Part of the defence must take place in an official European language other than that (or those)
of the country in which the thesis is defended
d) At least one term of research for the PhD must have been carried out in another European
country.
All the information regarding the application process (dates, vacancies, necessary documents and form of submission of the application) can be consulted on the website: https://www.ulb.be/en/your-phd/starting-a-phd-programme
In accordance with the Decree in force, the PhD programme is open to any candidate who has been
awarded one of the following degrees:
a) a Master degree worth at least 120 credits, awarded by a university in the French Community of
Belgium
b) an equivalent academic degree awarded by a Higher Educational Institution, in Belgium or
abroad, including a “licence” obtained in a University in the French Community of Belgium before
the implementation of the Bologna Reform
c) a foreign academic degree recognized as equivalent to the previously cited Master degrees by
the French Community of Belgium
d) any other second cycle degree obtained in Belgium or abroad, which the Faculty Doctoral
Commission has assessed to be worth at least 300 credits
e) a degree awarded outside the French Community of Belgium which, in the system of origin,
gives direct access to doctoral training or to a PhD programme. In this case, applicants are required
to submit an official proof to the ULB Registration Department that their degree qualifies them to
study for a PhD in their home country.
You can find more info at the following links:
https://www.ulb.be/fr/doctorat/s-informer-sur-le-doctorat
| Doctoral Studies Office | doctorat@ulb.be Higher School of Visual Arts – La Cambre – Éric Van Essche – coordinator of advanced studies and postgraduate studies | recherche@lacambre.be General enquiries – Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels | info@arba-esa.be General enquiries – School of Graphic Research | info@erg.be General enquiries – Arts2–Arts au carré | info@artsaucarre.be General enquiries – INSAS – Higher Institute of Performing Arts and Broadcasting Techniques | info@insas.be Royal Conservatory of Brussels | If you wish to submit a project, please do so before 31 October to the management of the Royal Conservatoire of Brussels (direction@conservatoire.be). |
| – https://www.ulb.be/en/phd/phd-programmes?utm_ – https://phisoc.ulb.be/fr/doctorat/formation-doctorale-et-doctorat-en-art-et-sciences-de-l-art?utm – Higher School of Visual Arts – La Cambre – https://www.lacambre.be/en/cursus/research/doctorat-en-art-et-sciences-de-lart – Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels – https://arba-esa.be/en/research/presentation – School of Graphic Research – https://wiki.erg.be/m/#Doctorat_et_recherche – Arts2–Arts au carré – https://www.artsaucarre.be/recherche/doctorat/ – INSAS – Higher Institute of Performing Arts and Broadcasting Techniques | https://insas.be/ – Royal Conservatory of Brussels | https://www.conservatoire.be/en/study/harma-1/ |
To undertake a doctorate, please consult the Doctoral Regulations and the Doctoral Charter of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). As specified in these regulations (Art. 18), the doctorate in Arts and Art Sciences is also governed by agreements between the University and the Higher Schools of Arts (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels, Arts2–Arts au carré, Royal Conservatory of Brussels, School of Graphic Research, Higher School of Visual Arts–La Cambre, Higher Institute of Performing Arts and Broadcasting Techniques). These agreements require that the doctoral candidate be supervised by two directors: one for the artistic dimension, affiliated with a Higher School of Arts, and the other for the reflective dimension, affiliated with the Université libre de Bruxelles. For registration to be accepted at the ULB, the director of the relevant Higher School of Arts must have given their prior approval.
Info for international students:
- Are you interested in completing your doctoral thesis under a joint supervision agreement ?
Learn more - Conducting a research stay at ULB without enrolling in a doctoral program at ULB?
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Languages: French is the main language at Free University Brussels