We guide doctoral candidates as they explore pressing questions at the intersection of art, society and science from an artistic, design-based and cultural science perspective. Doctorates are available in the subject areas of design, film, animation, art, and fine arts and art and design education. Working on topics ranging from sustainability to postdisciplinarity, participation and new technologies, doctoral candidates develop individual perspectives that open new spaces of thinking and experiencing.
Although Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences do not have the right to award doctorates, we provide the possibility of a doctorate through cooperation with doctorate-conferring partner universities in Switzerland and abroad. At the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, doctorates are available in the framework of dedicated PhD programmes, cooperations or independently organised partnerships. Doctorates require affiliation with one of the School’s four research groups whose members provide supervision, subject-specific guidance and targeted support throughout the doctoral process.
Doctoral Models and Funding Options
We offer different doctoral models, including a PhD in the framework of a research project funded by institutions such as the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Innosuisse or other third parties. Employees can also apply for in-house funding. Another option is self-funded doctorates.
In the case of SNSF projects, doctoral candidates are typically employed as research associates at 0.8 FTE for four years. The head of project acts as the doctoral supervisor. Doctoral students are expected to dedicate between 80 and 100% of their workload to their doctoral thesis and finish it within four years and within the scope of the project’s funding. There is also an option to apply for a mobility grant or—for those with family responsibilities—an SNSF Flexibility Grant.
Many doctoral candidates pursue their PhD within the scope of their employment at the HSLU. If the relevant criteria are met, lecturers and research associates may apply for a temporary increase of 0.2 FTE for up to three years in the framework of the working-time model for dissertation projects. Under this scheme, they will dedicate 0.5 FTE to research or teaching and 0.2 FTE to their doctorate. It is expected that the remaining 0.3 FTE is spent working on the doctoral project.
Independent doctorates without employment or involvement in one of the HSLU’s projects are possible as well. In this case, the doctoral candidate is responsible for securing the necessary funding.If there is an affiliation with a research group and the doctorate is pursued in the framework of one of our cooperations, we provide advice to doctoral candidates seeking grants.
Doctoral Programmes and Cooperations
The Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art offers various paths to doctorates in collaboration with doctorate-granting universities in Switzerland and abroad. There are three options:
- Working with a partner university, doctoral programmes provide a thematic framework and an affiliation with two institutions.
- Doctoral candidates may also pursue their PhD in the framework of one of our institutional cooperations.
- Alternatively, they may independently establish contact with a partner institution.
Whether a PhD is pursued in the framework of a doctoral programme, one of our existing collaborations or an independently established partnership depends on the thematic and methodological orientation of the PhD project. Learn more under Doctoral programmes and cooperations.
Interested parties can find more information about the options for a doctorate at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art here. An overview of the various offers and support options available during a doctorate is provided here.
