Call for applications to funded practice-based doctoral programmes at Vilnius Academy of Arts

The Doctoral School of the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VDA) hosts a vibrant community of ~35 practice-based researchers in the arts (fine art, design, and architecture) and ~35 researchers in art history & theory. Established in 2010, the doctoral program in the arts aims to facilitate artistic research for artists, designers, architects, curators, art writers, and other practitioners. All of the doctoral candidates have a strong artistic focus in their respective fields and actively [re]shape their individual investigations by participating in and organising exhibitions, symposia, conferences, workshops, and other events. The recent events organised by the present and graduated candidates of the Doctoral School include research exhibition “Compo(s)t and Detritus”, forum “Why are artist-researchers better story-tellers? From textbook to artis'st book to performative publishing”, symposium  “Walking is still honest*: about being and moving together” and Research Symposium “Not Quite King, Not Quite Fish” as well as a new candidates initiated journal for artistic research “Landing”.

Admission Deadlines

Application documents must be submitted between the 18th and 20th of March 2026 in a single PDF file by e-mail (doktorantura@vda.lt). Shortlisted candidates are invited to submit an extended art project proposal and an outline of the study plan (3000 - 5000 words) by May 20th and later to participate in onsite or online interviews between June 17-19, 2026. Usually, there are 3 funded places in Fine Arts, 2 in Design, and 2 in Architecture. Each has its own entrance procedures. More details about each separate study direction and their dates can be found in the Admission section.

Online consultation “Vitamins PhD and DA: why should I (not yet) do a PhD in Art?” for potential candidates is going to happen on Tuesday February 24th at 17:00 Vilnius time (UTC+02). More about the event and its connection link. Dr. Vytautas Michelkevičius and one of the tutors dr. Julijonas Urbonas, together with artist-researchers Miki Ambrozy & Sophie Durand, will answer your questions about the programme.

Profile and benefits of the programme

Among candidates, we have both mid-career artists and curators (participating in international shows like Venice Biennale or publishing their final projects as books in international publishing houses like Mousse Publishing) and emerging artists interested in epistemic endeavors and having a solid portfolio of professional practice both outside and inside academia. Selected candidates develop their own art project, which includes both creative and written work. Epistemic curiosity, experimental writing, and the search for individual methodologies are encouraged. You can find present candidates' profiles as well as defended art projects on our website.

The head of the doctoral programme prof. dr. Vytautas Michelkevičius, together with internationally renowned artists and researchers, facilitates a post-disciplinary research and study environment, where artists, designers, architects, curators, and art writers exchange their methodologies and practices. Next to the obligatory programme, there are opportunities to participate in Nida Doctoral School in the summer and Nida Art Writing School in the spring, as well as take part in many events organised by partners from KUNO, CIRRUS, ERASMUS+, and other funding structures. Doctoral School also has its own publication series as well as opportunities to publish in the international VDA peer-reviewed journal Acta Academiae Artium Vilnensis (AAAV).

Vilnius Academy of Arts hosts one of the biggest doctoral programs in visual arts in the Northern-Eastern Europe and is involved in many international networks like SAR, JAR, EARN, able journal, etc. So, the selected candidates would be able to use both local infrastructure (library, various interdisciplinary art and design workshops) and international networks to successfully complete their research projects. In the later years, there are also opportunities for teaching and supervising BA and MA students.

Key facts about the studies in the Doctoral programme in the arts

The requirement for the written component is 30.000-40.000 words. This can be written in English or Lithuanian, and other languages are accepted upon agreement with the committee of the Doctoral Programme. The presentation format of the creative component is determined by the candidate in relation to the form and content of the research. At the end of the studies, the candidate is awarded a Doctorate in the Arts (DA) degree, which is equivalent to a PhD, depending on each country's system. In Lithuania and in some other countries, you are eligible to continue your research as a post-doc fellow (Lithuanian Research Council funding).

Studies and classes are held in Lithuanian and English. Curricula are not yet mirrored in each language; however, learning objectives can be met in both languages and credit requirements fulfilled. 

The program is based in Vilnius; however, a few students are based in other cities. Residency in Vilnius is not mandatory but highly recommended at least in the first year. On-site obligatory seminars and courses are confirmed annually and scheduled 4-5 weeks a year (minimum 70% of attendance is requested).

The tuition is for free for selected candidates regardless of nationality. Candidates receive a non-taxed grant for the duration of the 4 years of the programme (for 2026 year from 16 872 EUR (1st year) to 19 536 EUR (all further years) per year). 

Documents for admission are accepted by e-mail between March 18th and 20th, 2026, and shortlisted candidates are invited for onsite or online interviews between June 18th and 20th. Studies begin 1st of October 2026 with a kick-off autumn intro seminar-camp in mid-October. 

After the admission, the student selects two supervisors to support them in their creative and research work. One supervisor is responsible for creative work and another for the research. As an exception, one supervisor could be outside VDA.

More information about present candidates and their supervisors, as well as defended theses (art projects) and admission dates, can be found on the Doctoral School website.

Image credits: Doctoral candidates in an open-air seminar during Nida Doctoral School, 2022. Photo from VDA Nida Art Colony archive.