At a Glance
This continuing education programme consists of three SAS (Short Advanced Studies) programmes and is aimed at individuals intending to pursue a doctorate in the fields of design, film, art, or art & design education. Each SAS focuses on a different aspect: from the initial development and refinement of a viable research question to the structured drafting of a compelling proposal and the strategic preparation of doctoral applications to Swiss or international institutions, as well as for scholarships and research funding.
Participants benefit from insights into diverse doctoral formats and institutional frameworks, as well as from practical tools to develop their research and project ideas. This programme thus provides both a solid foundation for doctoral studies and valuable guidance for funding applications in the cultural and research sectors.
In addition to PhD-related projects, the programme also supports practice-based, application-oriented, or academically grounded endeavours (e.g., project proposals, funding applications to foundations). The programme supports the methodological, structural and content-related development of such projects and provides strategies for developing funding opportunities in a targeted and convincing manner.
This programme includes inputs and discussions with experts, a significant amount of self-study, peer feedback formats and the opportunity for individual counselling.
Course Content
In three modular SAS (Short Advanced Studies), you will develop your project step by step:
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 1: From the initial Idea to the Project: Paths, Conditions and Guiding Principles of an artistic-scientific PhD
- Overview of various research areas in the arts, design, film, and art & design education
- Clarification of personal research interests, motivation, and positioning within an individual career perspective
- Embedding the project within a research context and developing research questions and an initial research outline
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 2: Writing a PhD Proposal – Objectives, Content, Structure
- Introduction to various methodological approaches
- Exchange with current PhD candidates and experts
- Overview of the specific conditions of artistic doctoral programmes in Switzerland and funding opportunities at national and European levels
- Strategic selection of potential supervisors and institutions
- Structuring and drafting a proposal
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 3: Strategically Refining the PhD Proposal – Positioning, Resources, Supervision
- Collaboration with supervisors, research positioning, and dissemination strategies
- Use of reference management software
- Research ethics, strategies for reflection and resilience, and resource management
- Finalisation of the proposal and design of the future research project
Degree
Short Advanced Studies Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts/FHZ in «PhD Preparation in the Arts»
Short Advanced Studies (SAS) offer compact, practice-oriented training that conveys up-to-date subject knowledge and professional skills. SAS are high-quality continuing education programmes that can be credited towards a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS). More about SAS
Target Group
This continuing education programme is aimed at graduates with a Master’s degree who are planning to pursue a doctorate in art, design, film, or art & design education. It is also suitable for cultural practitioners seeking to strengthen their application strategies and methodological skills, and to develop research-related projects such as third-party funding proposals.
Requirements
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 1: Submission of an initial research outline (1 page)
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 2: Expanded project idea (2–3 pages)
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 3: First draft of a PhD proposal
Duration and Dates
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 1: 03 November 2025 – 12 January 2026 (10 weeks)
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 2: Mid-January 2026 – March 2026 (10 weeks)
SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 3: April – June 2026 (10 weeks)
Fees
CHF 960 per SAS (incl. 3 ECTS credits)
Application
Application deadline for SAS PhD Preparation in the Arts 1: 10 October 2025
Head
Nina Bandi, Dana Blume
Contact
Dana Blume, Project Lead Interdisciplinarity & Transformation
dana.blume@hslu.ch
