Doctoral studies

Admission to FINE ARTS doctoral studies (position with research subject) 2026 academic year

Vilnius Academy of Arts invites applications for a state-funded doctoral position in fine arts on the topic “The Unbearable Image Problem”.

The project explores images that come to be perceived as overly sensitive, politically uncomfortable, aesthetically disturbing, or difficult to accept. Here, the unbearable image is understood not as an inherent property of an image or merely as an individual emotional response, but as a situational condition emerging at the intersection of form, content, and public visibility, and shaped by regimes of visibility, sensitivity, and representation.

The project asks not only what an image shows, but also when, why, and under what conditions it becomes unshowable, unacceptable, or even impossible to create.

The research component will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Natalija Arlauskaitė, and the artistic component by Prof. Dr. Eglė Grėbliauskaitė.

We are looking for a candidate capable of independent and rigorous thought, an original artistic interpretation of the topic, and the integration of artistic practice with research in visuality, political aesthetics, image ethics, affect, and media studies.

This doctorate is intended for someone who approaches the image not only as representation, but also as a question, a conflict, a situation, and a mode of inquiry.

Dates and Deadlines

Required documents (have to be submitted in one pdf. by e-mail doktorantura@vda.lt)

• Application to the VAA rector;
• A copy of Master diploma and diploma supplement in the original language, with the certified translation to English or Lithuanian (Documents issued in English or Lithuanian do not require a translation). 
  Please be advised that applicants with foreign qualifications, acquired outside Lithuania, will undergo mandatory academic recognition of these qualifications. Detailed procedure and requirements can be found in Academic recognition section.
  Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA) has been granted the right by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania to recognize foreign qualifications of its international applicants for the purposes of further studies at VAA. Recognition of foreign qualifications at VAA is accomplished by the International Relations Office. 
• Letters of recommendation of two recognized artists (2026);
• Portfolio (Creative works) and CV (Professional development);
• Art project proposal and an outline of the study plan (3000 - 5000 words). GUIDELINES. 
  Please use as a reference Regulations and check Previously defended art projects.
• A copy of ID or passport;
• A copy of a document certifying the change of name and/or surname if not all the documents submitted are under the same name and/or surname;
• Receipt of the admission fee;
• Consent regarding processing of personal data.

Admission fee payment, account requisites

Admission fee is 50 EUR
Vilniaus dailės akademija
Legal entity (VAA) code 111950439
Swedbank AB
Account no. LT44 7300 0100 0245 5498
Bank code 73000
SWIFT: HABALT22
The title of the entrance fee should be: stojamoji imoka i doktorantura+applicant’s name.

 In case admission fee is paid not to VAA account the application is not considered. If an applicant withdraws the documents, the admission fee is not refunded.

Competition grade formula

Competition grade consists of the portfolio (Prt), description of the art research project (Mtpa), interview (Pk).

Ʃ - competition grade
Ʃ = 0,25Prt + 0,5Mtpa + 0,25Pk

Structure of the competition grade

The admissions competition takes place in two phases. The first stage is an assessment of creative work and professional training - a review. The admissions commission reviews the documents of the candidates, reference letters from recognized artists, their portfolios, CVs and the descriptions of their art projects. If the admissions commission decides that the artistic level of the candidate’s creative work and his/her professional training are insufficient or that his/her competences are inadequate for the doctoral programme offered by the VAA, he/she no longer participates in the competition. The second stage is presentation of the description of the art project to be developed and an interview. During the interview, the applicants make an oral presentation to the Admissions Committee of their intended artistic project, both the creative and the research parts of it. The applicants formulate the problem of the future art project, outline the expected directions of their activities, present their previous creative activities and their most significant creative achievements. The portfolio, the description of the art project and the interview are evaluated using a ten-point system. The sum of the scores constitutes the competition score. In the event of a tie, the recommendations of recognised artists are taken into account. Only applicants with a competition score of at least 7 may apply for the PhD programme.

Admission meeting procedure

The meeting takes place in person or, if the applicant is unable to attend in person, remotely. The applicant arrives at the meeting at the appointed time or joins the meeting remotely using the remote meeting link sent in advance. The meeting is held in Lithuanian; if the applicant is a foreigner, the meeting is held in English.

The applicant presents their main research problem and a preliminary 4-year work plan (how the creative and research parts will be implemented on a semester basis and how they will be integrated). The presentation lasts 5 to 10 minutes.

The members of the admissions committee ask the applicant questions related to their research project and their readiness to carry out artistic research, to which the applicant responds. The interview lasts up to 10 minutes.

Procedure for submitting and hearing appeals

The applicant has the right to appeal against violations of the admission procedures. The appeal must be substantiated with reasons why the established admission meeting procedure has been violated. Appeals without substantiated reasons will not be considered by the Appeals Committee. It is not possible to appeal against the scores awarded by the Admissions Committee or to resubmit appeals that have already been examined.  

Appeals shall be submitted in writing to the Admission Committee of the Doctoral Study Program in Fine Arts/Design/Architecture at doktorantura@vda.lt no later than the date specified in admission rules. The Appeals Committee shall examine the appeal no later than within 2 working days of its receipt. The applicant shall be informed of the decision of the Appeals Committee no later than within 2 working days after the meeting of the Appeals Committee. The decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be taken at a meeting, which, depending on the availability of the committee members, shall be held in person or remotely, or by the committee members submitting their opinions on the appeal received to other committee members in writing (by e-mail). The method of appeal examination (in a meeting or in writing) is determined by the chair of the Appeals Committee, taking into account the availability of the committee members. The decision taken by the committee is recorded in the minutes, which are prepared by the Doctoral Studies Department and signed by the chair of the Appeals Committee. If violations of the admission procedure are found, a repeat meeting of the admissions committee shall be organized within two days, to which the person who submitted the appeal shall be invited.

The Appeals Committee consists of at least 5 members. Members of the Appeals Committee for Fine Arts/Design/Architecture: VDA Vice-Rector for Art and Science, VDA Vice-Rector for Studies, Chair of the relevant Doctoral Studies Program Committee, and two members of the relevant Doctoral Program Committee. The decisions of the Appeals Committee are made by a simple majority of votes. If the votes of the committee members are evenly divided, the chair of the committee has the casting vote.

If it is necessary to summon the applicant during the appeal proceedings, the time and place of the appeal proceedings shall be announced to the applicant in advance. The applicant may not be represented by another person.

The decision of the Appeals Commission is final and not subject to appeal.

Scholarships

Students admitted to state-funded places of doctoral studies receive a scholarship of the amount established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania during the period of studies from 16 872 EUR to 19 536 EUR per year.

Tuition fee

Students admitted to state-funded positions are exempted of the tuition fee.

Start of studies

1st October 2026.

Documents are submitted and information is provided

doktorantura@vda.lt