Becoming a researcher
At RITCS School of Arts, you can conduct artistic research to pursue a PhD in the Arts
The subject of the research is not specific but shaped by the unique nature of RITCS as a research environment, which encompasses the fields of Audiovisual Arts and Dramatic Arts. All research projects are embedded within one of the programmes at RITCS School of Arts, fostering a fruitful interaction between research and education.
By the end of their research trajectory, PhD candidates are expected to deliver two key outcomes: an artistic result—such as a work of art, film, performance, installation, or portfolio—and a discursive result. The discursive result entails a report and reflection on the research process, which may or may not take the form of a written text, to be shared with peers and other interested (professional) audiences.
The selection process is based on a dossier containing the following elements, in addition to the usual personal information and CV:
Research questions
- ‘State of the art’ in the research field
- Research method and methodology
- Research planning: detailed plans for the first year, projections for the later years
- Intended results: a preliminary estimate
- A motivation for choosing RITCS as a research environment
- A provisional commitment from a supervisor (this can be a RITCS-VUB dual appointment—RITCS lecturer + 10% ZAP at VUB—but other VUB professors are also possible).
A PhD research mandate lasts four years, with a thorough interim evaluation after two years, and is non-renewable. The researcher is employed 50% as an artistic assistant, starting each year on 1 October.
Apply
Are you looking to start your research in the arts next year? You can already sign up on the application platform of the Erasmushogeschool Brussels: https://ses.ehb.be/. PhD research vacancies are published every year in mid-July, with the submission deadline set for early September.
Questions
If you have any questions about the position's content, you can contact Ellen Gillard (Research Coordinator) via email: ellen.gillard@ehb.be.
If you have administrative questions, you can reach out to the HR department via: ses@ehb.be.