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 through participating and organising exhibitions, symposia, conferences, workshops and other events. The recent events organised by the present and graduated candidates of the Doctoral School include “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 19th to 21st of March 2025 in one 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) until May 20th and later to participate in onsite or online interviews between June 18-20th 2025. Usually there are 3 funded places in Fine Arts, 2 in Design and 2 in Architecture. Each of them has separate entrance procedures. More details about each separate study direction and their dates read in the Admission section.
Online consultation for potential candidates is going to happen on Thursday February 27th at 16:00 Vilnius time (UTC+02). More about event and its connection link.
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 recorded professional practice outside 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 is 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 post-disciplinary research and study environment, where artists, designers, architects, curators, 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 international VDA peer reviewed journal Acta Academiae Artium Vilnensis (AAAV).
Vilnius Academy of Arts hosts on of the biggest doctoral candidates’ community in the Northern-Eastern Europe and is involved in many international networks like SAR, 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 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 with Doctorate in the Arts (DA) degree which equivalency to PhD is dependent on each country's system. In Lithuanian 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 is 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. Onsite 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 grant for the duration of the 4 years of the programme (for 2025/2026 year from 15 960 EUR (1st year) to 18 480 EUR (all further years) per year).
Documents for admission are accepted by e-mail between March 19-21th 2025, and shortlisted candidates are invited for onsite or online interviews between June 18-20. Studies begin 1st of October 2025 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 and one supervisor must be from 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 a collaboration exercise on a boat in Curonian Lagoon during 9th Nida Doctoral School 9th Of Collaboration and Contention, 2024. Photo from VDA Nida Art Colony archive.
